Patricio 'Pitbull' signs with UFC, will debut vs. Rodriguez

Former Bellator two-division champion Patricio "Pitbull" Freire has agreed to a deal with the UFC and will make his debut against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314 on April 12 in Miami.

UFC CEO Dana White announced the news Wednesday.

Freire was granted his release from the PFL in January after he publicly criticized the promotion for not keeping its fighters active and communicating with them. The Brazilian featherweight came under contract with the PFL when it acquired Bellator in late 2023.

"It's time to conquer a new crown," Freire wrote on X. "Featherweights, your future king has arrived."

Freire was the face of Bellator and is considered one of the greatest fighters who has never fought in the UFC. He held the Bellator featherweight title on three occasions and the lightweight belt once.

The 37-year-old most recently stepped into the cage last March, finishing Jeremy Kennedy by third-round TKO in a featherweight title defense at Bellator Champions Series Belfast.

Freire's most notable victory came against current UFC lightweight Michael Chandler in 2019. Freire knocked out Chandler in 61 seconds to capture the Bellator lightweight title. He has also beaten the likes of AJ McKee, Juan Archuleta, Emmanuel Sanchez, and Adam Borics.

Freire was Bellator's second-ever simultaneous two-division champion, defended the 145-pound title nine times overall, and has the most wins in Bellator history (24).

Rodriguez will look to snap a two-fight skid when he welcomes Freire to the Octagon. The 32-year-old Mexico native suffered a submission loss to Brian Ortega in February 2024 and a TKO loss to then-champ Alexander Volkanovski in a July 2023 featherweight title bout. Rodriguez is a former UFC interim champion and is ranked No. 5 in the division.