Patricio Pitbull, brother Patricky, and Bellator MMA will continue their relationship, with the promotion’s top Brazilian stars inking new, multi-fight deals.
Bellator MMA is making sure that a couple of their cornerstone fighters are staying in the fold. Home grown stars Patricio and Patricky Freire, better known as the Pitbull brothers, have been inked to multi-fight, multi-year deals, the promotion announced via press release Wednesday. The move locks up two of their biggest stars just months after another key player, Michael Chandler, re-upped his own contract. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Chandler and Patricio Pitbull, Bellator’s featherweight champ, will face off in May at Bellator 221, with Chandler’s lightweight title on the line.
“When I think about the talent on the Bellator roster, the Pitbull brothers are two of the fighters that immediately come to mind,” said Bellator President Scott Coker in Wednesday’s press release. “They started early on in their careers here, have climbed to the top of their respective divisions and have come to represent what this promotion is all about. I’m thrilled that we’ll continue to see them compete inside the Bellator cage for our fans around the world for many years to come!”
“There are a lot of people on the Bellator roster I want to put my hands on – the first on the list, I’m fighting on May 11th, so renewing made perfect sense for me,” said Patricio Pitbull (28-4). “I’m happy with the agreement and the plans for the future. Of all the fighters currently active on the promotion, I’m with Bellator the longest and the most successful. I plan to set that bar even higher. For years, I said ‘I’d become the number one in the world here.’ If anyone still has any doubt, keep an eye on the next chapters.”
“A lot of people” would likely include A.J McKee and Aaron Pico, the young Team Bodyshop stars who have been gunning for the champion. And with a featherweight grand prix kicking off in the fall, it was the perfect time to renew Patricio’s deal, as many of his biggest threats are likely to be involved in the tournament.
Patricky Pitbull (21-8), meanwhile, added “Bellator is growing and so am I. I’m in the best moment of my career and the same can be said of the promotion with the quality of shows, the new TV deals and names under the roster. I’ve set the goal of becoming world champion and setting records. I already am the fighter with most finishes and fights in the organization and I don’t plan to let anyone catch up with me. I have grudges to settle and names to add to my belt. If things line up well, I’m looking at making noise in three weight classes in the near future, so expect the best of me! I’m glad to have reached a new agreement with Bellator and very excited for the new things to come.”
