Pitbull returns to full form, TKOs Kennedy to retain Bellator title
BELFAST, Northern Ireland - Patricio "Pitbull" Freire isn't done yet.
Freire finished Jeremy Kennedy via TKO at the 4:07 mark of the third round to retain the Bellator featherweight championship in the co-main event of Bellator Champions Series Belfast on Friday at SSE Arena.
The 36-year-old Brazilian is back on track after suffering two losses in 2023 in bouts that weren't for his 145-pound title.
After being tagged earlier in the third round, Freire hurt Kennedy and teed off against the fence, obliterating him with knees and elbows until the referee intervened.
Freire said in his postfight interview that he wants to defend his belt against Aaron Pico next.
Freire appeared to edge out Kennedy in the first two rounds, staying slightly busier and picking his shots on the feet. But Kennedy briefly dropped Freire and cut him open with a big strike before Freire swarmed back to score the TKO late in the round.
Freire lost to Sergio Pettis by unanimous decision in a Bellator bantamweight title fight last June. Freire, a former lightweight champion, was attempting to become the first three-division titleholder in major MMA history. In July, "Pitbull" accepted a short-notice lightweight bout against Chihiro Suzuki under the Rizin FF banner. Suzuki knocked him out in the first round in a massive upset.
Friday's victory was Freire's first since December 2022. One of the greatest fighters in Bellator history, Freire has held three separate reigns as featherweight champion.
Kennedy snapped his three-fight winning streak with the result. The Canadian hadn't lost since April 2021.