Former Bellator MMA double-champ Patricio Pitbull has officially signed with the UFC.
UFC CEO and President Dana White announced the news on Wednesday, revealing that Pitbull (properly Patricio Freire) will debut against #5-ranked featherweight Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314 this April.
Promotion officials later confirmed the news on social media.
Pitbull (36-7) has long been considered one of the best featherweights outside the UFC. Cut from the same cloth as Michael Chandler and Eddie Alvarez in the heyday of Bellator MMA, he became the de facto face of the promotion after both of those names signed with the UFC.
In more recent times, Pitbull has been used as a feature attraction, placed on crossover events with RIZIN and booked on the new-look “Bellator Champions Series” against Jeremy Kennedy earlier this year. That was a show run by the PFL, who purchased their rival just over a year ago. Due to a lack of activity, however, the 37-year old requested (quite publicly) his release, which was later granted.
Patricio Pitbull had three reigns as Bellator featherweight champion, and also captured lightweight gold in the promotion, later vacating the belt after a logjam formed in the weight class. In 2023, he dropped to bantamweight, challenging then-champ Sergio Pettis in an attempt at becoming a triple-champ. He lost a unanimous decision, and was knocked out in his following match-up, essentially at lightweight (154lb catchweight) in RIZIN against Chihiro Suzuki. Pitbull then rebounded with the Kennedy fight.
Welcoming the Brazilian legend to the UFC will be Yair Rodriguez (19-5, 1NC). Ranked #5 at 145lbs, the Mexican star has lost his last two bouts, against Alexander Volkanovski (in a title fight) and Brian Ortega.
UFC 314 takes place at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida on April 12, 2025 with Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes headlining.
