Patricio Pitbull Goes Off On Social Media, Demands Release

By
Eddie Law
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Patricio Pitbull, Bellator 297
Patricio Pitbull, Bellator 297 Credit: Lucas Noonan/Bellator MMA

Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull is fed up with Donn Davis, Pete Murray and PFL’s treatment of fighters brought into the promotion following the merger.

“My management team had a call with @PeteMurrayPFL tonight and despite making clear my desire to leave and some of my reasons, even noticing my contract is up in May, @pflmma won’t let me go and intends to hold me there against my will. @arielhelwani @DonnDavisPFL.”

Pitbull (36-7) has gone to social media before to express his frustration with being put on the shelf after PFL purchased Bellator and absorbed the roster. He last fought in March where he finished Jeremy Kennedy by TKO.

Since then the featherweight claims he’s had poor communication with the promotion and joined fellow Bellator stars bantamweight champ Patchy Mix and light heavyweight champ Corey Anderson in speaking out.

Anderson actually got booked against Vadim Nemkov at heavyweight, but the fight has since then fallen off.

“You say you’re fighters first but decided to keep me hostage @DonnDavisPFL @PeteMurrayPFL. You know I want to pursue something else but want me to fight in April and intend to enforce other clauses in my contract after it’s up. How is that the best for me?”

PFL co-founder Donn Davis has repeatedly said in the past that the PFL is for the fighters, but it’s clear Pitbull doesn’t feel that way.

It’s not surprising that the PFL is planning, according to Pitbull, to enforce clauses in his contract to keep him with PFL/Bellator. Davis has been very critical and outspoken about former PFL champion Kayla Harrison’s move to the UFC.

Losing more of their top talent to the UFC would be a bad look for PFL.

“It’s really absurd and disappointing that I have to come on X to voice all this. Do the right thing and release me @PeteMurrayPFL @DonnDavisPFL. I was a @BellatorMMA fighters and it no longer exists. The promotion is gone and so should I.”

He’s not completely wrong here. Although an official announcement of Bellator’s demise has yet to be put out there, it’s been pretty easy to see some of the signs. A few Bellator events have been canceled without much explanation lately, and it seems as though the top talent in Bellator has taken notice.

 

“I haven’t fought since March. They want me to fight in April. Over a year of my life and career that I’ll never get back. Why force me to stay @DonnDavisPFL @PeteMurrayPFL? Focus on those that want to fight for @PFLMMA and let me move on.”

It’s to be seen, but with Pitbull going very public with his grievances, fans can expect more fighters to join him on social media in a push to gain their release.

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