Despite rumors and early reports following the cancelation of his scheduled UFC Paris bout due to weight management issues, it appears Losene Keita will remain on the UFC roster.
During the post-fight press conference for UFC Paris, UFC Senior Vice President of International and Content David Shaw stated that Keita has not been cut by the promotion.
“I believe [Keita has a future in the UFC],” Shaw said. “Honestly, I don’t know the specifics. I think a few of us were surprised the fight didn’t happen, but in any case, it’s going to be good to have him on the roster.”
Not long after the incident, Pitbull reportedly refuted any apology attempts from Keita, criticizing him for the weight miss and calling him “Fat Panther.”
Keita made his professional MMA debut in 2015, going on to be a notable presence in Oktagon MMA. In 2022, he’d win the Oktagon interim lightweight title before becoming undisputed champion about four months later. Keita would then interim featherweight gold in 2023 before becoming undisputed featherweight champ before the end of the year, becoming the first champ-champ in Oktagon MMA history.
Keita would regain the Oktagon lightweight title before the end of his time with the promotion by winning the promotion’s lightweight tournament, defeating Agy Sardari, Predrag Bogdanović, Mateusz Legierski, and Ronald Paradeiser in 2024.
Patricio Pitbull is left fuming as his fight with Losene Keita is cancelled.
Pitbull was set to face two-division OKTAGON champion Keita on the main card of UFC Paris this weekend at the Accor Arena in France.
However, at Friday’s official weigh-ins, Keita tipped the scales three pounds over the 146-pound featherweight limit for his UFC debut, leading to the cancellation of his bout with Pitbull, who successfully weighed in at 145 pounds.
❌ Patricio Pitbull vs Losene Keita is OFFICIALLY OFF after Keita missed weight by 3lbs today at the UFC Paris official weigh ins pic.twitter.com/7HVcxg77Ur
After the fight was scrapped, “Black Panther” took to social media to apologize to fans, admitting that the grueling cut had drained his body to the point where he couldn’t push any further.
For the first time in 25 fights, I failed to make weight, and it had to happen on my UFC debut…
I wanted to continue and would have given everything to make weight, but my body didn’t want it.
I sincerely apologize to all my fans. I will be back, like every time I fall in life pic.twitter.com/qvTTY4Y1kz
Keita insisted he was determined to keep the fight alive, even offering to forfeit his purse to Pitbull. However, he alleged the former Bellator champion declined the proposal.
Losene Keita says he offered Patricio Pitbull his purse to try and make the fight happen:
"But it seemed you were happier for the fight not to happen than to give me a chance to make it right." 😬 #UFCParispic.twitter.com/x8D7vEUw8X
Patricio Pitbull Left Disappointed After Losene Keita Misses Weight For UFC Paris
During a recent interview with Full Send MMA, Patricio Pitbull didn’t hold back when addressing the cancellation of his UFC Paris bout after Losene Keita missed weight. The featherweight veteran criticized Keita for failing to make the extra effort during the additional time given to cut down and made it clear he wasn’t after his opponent’s purse, he just wanted the chance to compete.
“I can’t believe that [he didn’t put effort to make weight] so he’s not professional. I am professional,” Pitbull said. “He said in some interviews he’s faster, younger, stronger but he can’t make weight. I have a video he came to me saying that was his fault… I am about 11 or 12 years making championship weight. If the people want to blame somebody, blame the fat panther.”
Pitbull later took to X, reminding fans that he had accepted the fight with Keita on short notice and voicing his frustration over how it fell apart. The former Bellator champ also set his sights on a quick turnaround, declaring his desire to compete at UFC Rio on October 11 and even calling out Arnold Allen as his preferred opponent.
I did my part, but my opponent didn’t do his. I was called on short notice, traveled, dealt with jet lag and made weight. My opponent was at home, had 3 more hours to try and chose not to. I really would like to fight on the UFC Rio card. I’ll face anyone who makes weight @ufc
Patricio Pitbull last competed at UFC 318 in July, earning a unanimous decision victory over Dan Ige to rebound from a one-sided defeat to Yair Rodriguez in his Octagon debut at UFC 314. The 38-year-old Brazilian now carries a professional record of 37-8, with a 24 of those victories coming by way of finish.
The upcoming Fight Night card will see a high-stakes middleweight clash between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho in the main event, a bout carrying significant title ramifications. The UFC Paris co-main event will pit Benoit Saint Denis against Mauricio Ruffy in a lightweight matchup
The rest of the card is packed with rising French talent, including a much anticipated featherweight clash between Patricio Pitbull and the highly touted two-division OKTAGON champion Losene Keita, who was set to make his UFC debut. Unfortunately, the fight was canceled ahead of the event.
At Friday’s official UFC Paris weigh-ins, Keita came in three pounds over the 146-pound featherweight limit, forcing the cancellation of his fight with Pitbull, who weighed in at 145 pounds.
Keita was coming off a five-fight winning streak, most recently competing at OKTAGON 65 in December 2024, where he scored a second-round TKO over Ronald Paradeiser to successfully defend his lightweight title. The 27-year-old Belgian boasts a 16-1 professional record, including 10 wins by knockout.
Image: @keitaplusser/Instagram
UFC Paris Complete Weigh-In Results
Main Card
Middleweight bout: Nassourdine Imavov (185) vs. Caio Borralho (185)
Lightweight bout: Benoit Saint Denis (155) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (156)
Light heavyweight bout: Modestas Bukauskas (205) vs. Paul Craig (205)
Lightweight bout: Bolaji Oki (156) vs. Mason Jones (156)
Welterweight bout: Axel Sola (170) vs. Rhys McKee (170)
Featherweight bout: Patricio Pitbull (145) vs. Losene Keita (149)*
Preliminary Card
Featherweight bout: William Gomis (145) vs. Robert Ruchala (146)
Light Heavyweight bout: Oumar Sy (206) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (206)
Heavyweight bout: Marcin Tybura (256) vs. Ante Delija (239)
Lightweight bout: Harry Hardwick (156) vs. Kaue Fernandes (155)
Welterweight bout: Sam Patterson (170) vs. Trey Waters (171)
Middleweight bout: Brad Tavares (186) vs. Robert Bryczek (186)
Welterweight bout: Andreas Gustafsson (171) vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov (170)
Strawweight bout: Shauna Bannon (116) vs. Sam Hughes (116)
*Losene Keita came in over the 146-pound featherweight limit, leading to the cancellation of his bout with Patricio Pitbull.
Patricio Pitbull will reportedly return for his third UFC fight of the year.
According to Maîtres Fumiers on Instagram, Pitbull is expected to face promotional newcomer Losene Keita at UFC Paris on September 6 inside the Accor Arena in France.
🇧🇪Losene Keita (16-1) will face 🇧🇷Patricio Pitbull (37-8) at #UFCParis on September 6th.
The upcoming Fight Night will be headlined by a pivotal middleweight showdown between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho, with potential title implications on the line. Meanwhile, the main card will also feature Benoît Saint Denis facing rising talent Mauricio Ruffy in a lightweight showdown.
Image: UFC.com
How Does Patricio Pitbull’s Record Compare To Losene Keita’s Ahead Of UFC Paris?
Patricio Pitbull kicked off his UFC journey earlier this year at UFC 314, facing former interim featherweight champion and suffering a one-sided unanimous decision loss. The former Bellator two division titleholder bounced back at UFC 318 last month, reclaiming victory with a hard-fought decision over Dan Ige.
Pitbull boasts a professional MMA record of 37-8, with an impressive 24 of those victories earned via stoppage.
Meanwhile, Losene Keita, who officially signed a UFC contract on Friday, is a two-division champion in OKTAGON. “Black Panther” enters UFC Paris on a five-fight winning streak, having last competed at OKTAGON 65 in December 2024, where he secured a second-round TKO over Ronald Paradeiser to successfully defend his lightweight title.
Keita currently holds a 16-1 professional record, with 10 of those victories coming by way of knockout.
It wasn’t the most exciting performance, but former Bellator featherweight and lightweight champion Patricio Pitbull achieved his first UFC victory at UFC 318, defeating Dan Ige.
The opening round was fairly quiet, as the two seemed to be tactically waiting for the other to make a move. Pitbull managed to strike and score a pair of takedowns on Ige. Ige reversed the position for a bit, but Pitbull managed to get the fight back to the feet fairly quickly.
The second round continued with the low activity until Ige worked a combination a couple of minutes in. But with less than two minutes left, Pitbull connected on an uppercut that appeared to hurt Ige. Pitbull worked combinations on Ige, continuing to do damage, while Ige defended and landed an elbow. Pitbull landed a takedown before the round’s conclusion to cap the best round of his UFC run thus far.
Ige, however, came back in a big way, landing a head kick that wobbled Pitbull in the opening minute of the third round. Pitbull managed to guard himself well and grapple his way to recovery, albeit his nose was busted up bad. Ige landed on the inside again later in the round, but Pitbull threatened another takedown. In fact, he’d grab a hold of Ige with less than 90 seconds left; however, Ige somehow defended Pitbull’s attempts to grapple well. Pitbull would take Ige down in the bout’s final minute, with both men landing strikes to the horn.
All three judges scored the bout 29-28 for Pitbull.
Patricio Pitbull Earns Decision Over Dan Ige At UFC 318
The veteran Brazilian received a stern test in his first foray into the cage as a UFC fighter against ex-interim champ Yair Rodriguez. The Mexican utilized his famed striking arsenal to provide an immediate blow to Pitbull’s ambitions.
But Patricio Pitbull has not appeared too disheartened by the result and is already turning his attention to what could await him down the line.
With that in mind, the 37-year-old recently put his choice of next opponent down to the fans, asking them to vote between Diego Lopes, Dan Ige, Josh Emmett, and Aljamain Sterling.
These are four names many people mentioned in reply to my last tweet. Which one would you like to see me face next? #UFC314#ufc
The Brazilian great jumped into the deep end against ex-interim titleholder Yair Rodriguez, and the Mexican’s renowned striking game ultimately proved too much for Pitbull on the night.
While Pitbull would appear to have limited time to reach his championship ambitions on MMA’s biggest stage given he’s joined at the age of 37, he remained positive about his goals while making his first public post-fight statement on social media.
Congratulations to @panteraufc, we’ll see each other again. I’m injury free and ready to go at any time @ufc. Thank you to all the fans, I’ll make you all proud, you can count on that. #UFC314
“Congratulations to @panteraufc, we’ll see each other again. I’m injury free and ready to go at any time @ufc,” Pitbull wrote. “Thank you to all the fans, I’ll make you all proud, you can count on that. #UFC314“
The long-awaited UFC debut of former two-division Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull ended in major disappointment, as he suffered a dominant decision loss to former interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314.
Rodriguez started out the aggressor, with a kick-focused attack. Rodriguez landed a number of kicks, including a low kick combined with a quick right hand, while Pitbull stayed patient and calculating. Pitbull finally clinched up with Rodriguez with 90 seconds left in the first round, but Rodriguez was able to easily slip away. Pitbull landed a low kick that slipped up Rodriguez, with Pitbull scrambling to get on top and ending in side control despite a lack of offense.
Pitbull started to pick things up in the second round, answering Rodriguez’s kicks with a pair of strong left hands. Rodriguez, however, continued to have the better pace, forcing Pitbull into retreat with a series of kicks. Pitbull scored a takedown about halfway through the round, only for Rodriguez to quickly return to the feet. Rodriguez continued to keep distance and land kicks — mixing in some combinations — and even scored a takedown on the former Bellator champion before the end of the round.
Pitbull seemed to pick things up in the third round, as both men landed their strongest strikes during the round. Rodriguez scored a knockdown on Pitbull — only for Pitbull to nearly lock up an armbar seconds later. Rodriguez, however, escaped and got the upper hand by nearly scoring a leg lock. Though Pitbull escaped, he quizzically did nothing for the last 20 seconds, as Rodriguez cruised to 30-27s across all three scorecards.
Yair Rodriguez Cruises To Decision Win Over Disappointing Patricio Pitbull At UFC 314
Damn Pitbull really is washed, made the move too late😔
— Combat Sports Insider (@combat_insider) April 13, 2025
"Patricio, you're down 2 rounds to 0. You gotta do something!!!"
Rodriguez scores his first win since his interim title win over Josh Emmett at UFC 284. Since then, he had unsuccessfully attempted to become undisputed champion against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 290 and was submitted by Brian Ortega in Mexico City in February 2024.
Pitbull was a longtime face of Bellator prior to its purchase by the Professional Fighters League (PFL). This was his first fight since retaining the Bellator featherweight championship with a finish of Jeremy Kennedy at Bellator Champions Series 1 in Dublin in March 2024.
Saturday’s UFC 314 lineup is topped by a championship clash, with former featherweight kingpin Volkanovski looking to become a two-time titleholder at 145 pounds. If the Australian is to begin a new rule atop the featherweight mountain, he must stall the title ambitions of a rising name in Lopes. Since impressing in a short-notice debut against Movsar Evloev, the Mexico-based Brazilian has won five straight to earn a first shot at gold.
Before those two collide in the UFC 314 main event, there will be high stakes in the division above. Setting the stage for UFC 314’s title bout will be a key lightweight contest between Michael Chandler and Paddy Pimblett. While “Iron” will return five months on from a second defeat to Charles Oliveira that has left him 2-4 in the UFC, the surging Scouser will look to carry the momentum from his quick submission of King Green last July en route to a place in the 155-pound title picture.
Elsewhere on the UFC 314 card, the controversial Bryce Mitchell faces the power of Jean Silva, Bellator legend Patricio Pitbull debuts in the Octagon against Yair Rodriguez, and top 10 light heavyweights Nikita Krylov and Dominick Reyes collide.
UFC 314: MMA News Staff Predictions
Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 314 event, Thomas Albano, Ryan Jarrell, Pranav Pandey, and Aakrit Sharma have provided their picks for the five matchups set for the main card.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through three cards in 2025.
Thomas Albano (9-4) & Pranav Pandey (9-4)
Ryan Jarrell (7-5)
Aakrit Sharma (5-8)
And with that, it’s time for the team’s predictions for UFC 314.
Light Heavyweight: Nikita Krylov vs. Dominick Reyes
Images: UFC.com
Thomas Albano: Nikita Krylov hasn’t been seen in the Octagon in two years now, and it’s a long-awaited return at UFC 314 for a guy who’s looking to position himself for a future crack at the light heavyweight title. Dominick Reyes is a man who has had those shots at the gold previously, and it had been a rough road since that point. Admittedly, however, it has been nice to see him get his hand raised in his last pair of outings against Dustin Jacoby and Anthony Smith.
I’ll keep this one pretty simple: grappler vs. striker. Krylov will look to bring this one to the ground and control the action there. Reyes will look to prevent those takedowns and do work on the feet with his punches and kicks. Ultimately, I side with the man who – while not having competed for some time – is a strong finisher and has the true momentum between these two. (Prediction: Nikita Krylov)
Ryan Jarrell: What a fun fight to kick off the UFC 314 main card. Both of these guys have a ton of power and know how to close a fight. Krylov is dangerous wherever the fight goes and only actually loses fights to the best in the division. At one point in time, Reyes was considered one of the very best at 205 pounds. Now on a two-fight winning streak with huge wins over veterans Dustin Jacoby and Anthony Smith, the former title challenger is looking like his younger self again.
If Reyes shows up at his best, I expect him to continue his resurgence. But I am not super confident that will be the case, which makes me question if Reyes is the play here. I won’t be placing any bets on this one, but I’m leaning Reyes to get his hand raised. (Prediction: Dominick Reyes)
Pranav Pandey: I’ll be honest, this isn’t the most exciting matchup on the card for me, but it could still surprise us. On paper, it seems to lean toward Krylov. “The Miner” will likely aim to lean on his grappling and control Reyes from the outset. The big question is the layoff. Krylov has been out of action for more than two years, and it’s tough to tell whether he’ll return sharp or show signs of regression. On the other hand, “The Devastator” has looked solid in his last two outings and carries the more polished striking arsenal. That being said, my pick is Krylov. If he sticks to his strengths and avoids unnecessary exchanges, I think he gets the job done. (Prediction: Nikita Krylov)
Aakrit Sharma: This is a tough one to pick! The Reyes that showed up against Jon Jones should’ve been able to beat any light heavyweight on the planet with ease, but he went on a four-fight losing skid instead, which were all decent losses except the Ryan Spann knockout. Anyone can land a KO blow at a heavy division like light heavyweight, but because Reyes has looked crisp with his 1-2 in his last two victories, I’m backing him to continue his much-needed winning streak at UFC 314. Reyes’ chin and openness to body kicks are his biggest weaknesses, and I don’t think Krylov has the style to exploit any of these. (Prediction: Dominick Reyes)
Consensus: 2-2
Featherweight: Bryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva
Images: UFC.com & Chris Unger/UFC/Zuffa LLC
Thomas Albano: As I’ve said in previous predictions pieces, if there’s one gym that is to watch for in 2025, it’s the Fighting Nerds. Jean Silva and his teammates have become some of the most entertaining fighters to watch in the Octagon and have developed such a system that has led to early success. If Silva is able to get a win over Bryce Mitchell, then the featherweight division needs to watch out.
“Thug Nasty” took a year off from the Octagon after getting brutally stopped by Josh Emmett. His return fight, unfortunately, I feel nothing can be taken away from because he defeated Kron Gracie in what was certainly one of the worst fights I’ve seen watching the UFC. Mitchell’s grappling is great, but that won’t help him here against a rising star in Silva, who is turning into one of the best all-around combatants at 145 pounds. (Prediction: Jean Silva)
Ryan Jarrell: The Fighting Nerds are on an absolute tear and Silva might be the most exciting fighter of them all. Mitchell has had a tough time as of late, and I believe that will continue in Miami. Silva moves so well and his striking is a thing of beauty. The Brazilian is now 4-0 in the UFC, stopping all of his opponents inside of the distance. The man nicknamed “Lord” will eventually land a shot that Mitchell will not be able to recover from and will continue his impressive rise toward stardom at UFC 314. (Prediction: Jean Silva)
Pranav Pandey: This one’s got some heat behind it, and I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing how it unfolds. On the feet, I don’t think Mitchell has much to offer against Silva’s striking. If this stays standing, “Lord” could pick him apart with ease. That said, Mitchell’s grappling-heavy approach is a real threat. If he’s able to drag Silva into his world, things could get tricky fast. But the key for Silva is to stay upright and avoid getting tangled in Mitchell’s grips. If he can do that, I see him taking over quickly. The way I picture it, once “Lord” starts finding his rhythm, it’s going to rain hard on “Thug Nasty.” (Prediction: Jean Silva)
Aakrit Sharma: Mitchell’s only two losses in MMA are to Josh Emmett, a KO machine who can knock out anyone, and Ilia Topuria, the former featherweight kingpin. On the other hand, Silva is riding one of the most impressive KO streaks in the UFC right now. I do think Mitchell has a good chin, and his ground game could be overwhelming for Silva, who hasn’t been tested by an elite grappler in the featherweight division yet. On the flip side, Mitchell is no stranger to taking on scary strikers, and his approach should be very similar to how he fought Edson Barboza.
Silva’s walking into the bout as a huge favorite, but I don’t think he’ll fire through “Thug Nasty” that easily. In fact, on paper, Mitchell has more tools to emerge victorious at UFC 314, and I’m expecting him to pull off a submission upset. (Prediction: Bryce Mitchell)
Consensus: 3-1 Jean Silva
Featherweight: Yair Rodriguez vs. Patricio Pitbull
Images: UFC.com & Bellator MMA
Thomas Albano: Man, do I pray that this ends up being a Fight of the Night style bout. It has been a long time coming that Patricio Pitbull into the Octagon after – like fellow card member Michael Chandler – being one of the faces of Bellator for years. Pitbull was dominant in his time with Bellator, being a longtime king of their featherweight division, as well as a one-time champ-champ. Pitbull may have had a couple of rough outings in recent fights against Sergio Pettis and Chihiro Suzuki, but his title defense over Jeremy Kennedy last year showed he’s still one of the best in the world.
And then you have Yair Rodriguez. His wins over Brian Ortega and Josh Emmett – as well as his gutty performance against Max Holloway – led him to challenge Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 290 for the featherweight title. Even though he did not come out on top, there was still plenty of high expectations and feelings of a bright future. The loss against Brian Ortega last year, however, may have spoiled some of that, and he’ll need a strong outing against Pitbull to maintain the idea that he is a viable title challenger, especially with names like Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev jumping into the title picture over the last year or so.
This is a rough one to predict, and as I said, I hope this one is a back-and-forth war. Ultimately, I do see Pitbull doing just enough for a memorable UFC debut. (Prediction: Patricio Pitbull)
Ryan Jarrell: MMA fans have always speculated how Pitbull would do against the elite the UFC has to offer. It’s too bad we are just getting to see it now, when the former Bellator star is closing in on 40 years of age. That said, Pitbull is still competing at a high level and is fully capable of upsetting Rodriguez. If the Mexican fights smart and uses his length, he should be able to outpoint the veteran and cruise to a decision victory, which is what I expect to see in this one. (Prediction: Yair Rodriguez)
Pranav Pandey: This one has fireworks written all over it; props to the UFC matchmaking team for putting together such stylistic clash. “El Pantera” is pure artistry in motion. His striking flows effortlessly, and the way he blends creativity with chaos makes him a joy to watch. Add in his unorthodox style, and he becomes a puzzle not many can solve. However, Pitbull is a tank. He is powerful, relentless, and well-rounded. He is not just a knockout threat on the feet but also a seasoned grappler with a wealth of experience in high-pressure situations.
Sharing the cage with someone who brings that kind of forward pressure and physicality is never an easy task. I believe this one will remain close, but Pitbull might just tilt the momentum in his favor. (Prediction: Patricio Pitbull)
Aakrit Sharma: Pitbull claimed that he would’ve retired if he hadn’t signed with the UFC. Is it really the mindset with which you plan to take on a top contender like Rodriguez? Pitbull has a wealth of experience, but fighting in Bellator and Rizin, as harsh as it sounds, is not the truest test for a martial artist. Pitbull’s age is one of my first concerns, and I just see quite a many tools in Rodriguez’s arsenal to finish this fight. He’s just 32, which is why I am favoring him to win despite coming off consecutive losses to Volkanovski and Ortega as well.
Pitbull’s only path to victory here is an upset submission win, but I believe the Mexican has a solid ground game to get out of troubling positions. (Prediction: Yair Rodriguez)
Consensus: 2-2
Lightweight: Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett
Images: UFC.com
Thomas Albano: Michael Chandler couldn’t score the mega fight with Conor McGregor he’s been yearning for years. But Paddy Pimblett is probably the next best thing he can get, especially on the losing skid he has (and some may even feel this fight is a more entertaining one than McGregor-Chandler would have been). Pimblett has been a rising name in the lightweight division, and a win in this fight – namely a finish in this fight – would mean everything for his hype value. That being said, he’s taking on a veteran name in Chandler who has had his fair share of wars.
It will be interesting to see what happens if this fight goes to the ground, but it will be even more interesting to see if Chandler’s chin can hold up against a younger and speedier Pimblett – or if Pimblett’s weak striking defense hasn’t improved and Chandler lands a cracking shot. Pimblett has recently put out a big prediction that he’ll need just two rounds to finish Chandler, who has lost four of his last five fights. And it’s not out of the realm of possibility. (Prediction: Paddy Pimblett)
Ryan Jarrell: Any time “Iron Mike” steps inside of the UFC octagon, it is must see TV. I have never been completely sold on “Paddy the Baddy,” and I do believe he will be exposed in this fight. Chandler’s wrestling and takedown defense will allow him to dictate where this fight takes place. Ultimately, I think Chandler will stun the Englishman and capitalize with a barrage of unanswered shots leading to a much needed TKO victory. (Prediction: Michael Chandler)
Pranav Pandey: Another tricky one to call. I expect this to be a competitive fight, though not necessarily a striking clinic. I can see Pimblett relentlessly pursuing takedowns, trying to drag Chandler into grappling exchanges, while “Iron” will likely do everything he can to keep it standing — where he’s most dangerous. “The Baddy” is a real wildcard here. He’s unorthodox and can create problems if he finds the right position on the ground — or even on the feet. That said, for all the criticism Chandler receives, particularly regarding his recklessness and questionable fight IQ, he’s still a seasoned competitor with legitimate knockout power and a persistent pace.
I can see Pimblett getting caught in one of those chaotic exchanges. Chandler might just need one opening, and if he finds it, he’ll likely close the show. (Prediction: Michael Chandler)
Aakrit Sharma: Pimblett gets hit a lot, and it could very well cost him the fight against Chandler, even though the latter looked slow and inaccurate against Charles Oliveira. “Iron” has all the power in the world, and he showed that his cardio, even at 38, is still good enough for the lightweight division. Oliveira couldn’t submit Chandler despite almost always having his back for 20 minutes. This is as impressive as it gets, and I’m not expecting Pimblett to surprise the veteran in any way on the ground.
On the feet, again, Chandler has a titanium chin, and Pimblett hasn’t showcased KO potential at lightweight yet. My hot take is that the English fighter is just not that good and has been in really lucky matchups so far. At UFC 314, I’m picking Chandler to hand Pimblett his first UFC loss. (Prediction: Michael Chandler)
Consensus: 3-1 Michael Chandler
UFC Featherweight Title: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes
Thomas Albano: For the first time in over a year, Alexander Volkanovski is back in the Octagon. And just when we thought Ilia Topuria would rule over featherweight, in just 14 months it will end with his venture up to 155 pounds, leading to either Volk reclaiming the featherweight throne, or for it to be seized by the rising Diego Lopes.
Ever since coming in on short notice in his UFC debut and controversially losing to Movsar Evloev, Lopes quickly built a name for himself with wins over the likes of Dan Ige and Brian Ortega. His power is something to behold, and it will be interesting to see how Volkanovski’s accurate striking holds up against the wilder, but more powerful, shots that Lopes can deliver. And even though Volkanovski usually is able to bring the fight to the ground more than once during a fight, Lopes has some slick submissions that can catch him (or anyone for that matter) off guard.
This fight comes down to three things: How Volkanovski looks after more than a year away from the cage, if Lopes is able to get off to a strong start (which I feel he may need), and how Lopes is able to pace himself. That last part can be particularly important when considering that Lopes hasn’t gone five rounds before and he’s taking on a way-more experienced Volkanovski. Having said that, I’m getting this strange suspicion that youth will win out over experience here. (Prediction: Diego Lopes)
Ryan Jarrell: This is a very interesting fight for a number of reasons. The former champion has had a tough run as of late, but his only losses are to a couple of fighters considered the pound-for-pound best in the world. I think Volkanovski took the fight with Topuria way too soon and didn’t allow himself to fully recover from his KO loss to Makhachev. Now that he’s had a year off from active competition, I think we will see a vintage performance from the former champ and he will prove he’s still on that championship level. Lopes is legit and he very well may claim the title down the line. I just don’t see it happening here. Give me Volkanovski to win via decision. (Prediction: Alexander Volkanovski)
Pranav Pandey: This is one of those matchups where my heart wants Volkanovski to pull through, but my mind leans toward Lopes. As much as I want to back “The Great” given everything he’s accomplished and the kind of fighter he is, I can’t ignore what Lopes brings to the table. With Ilia Topuria no longer part of the featherweight equation, the Brazilian might be the most dangerous contender in the division right now. Lopes brings a potent blend of finishing instincts and high-level grappling that could create real problems for Volkanovski. Stylistically, he has the kind of game that can disrupt the former champion’s rhythm. Still, this isn’t unfamiliar territory for Volkanovski.
Back-to-back losses might suggest a decline, but with “The Great,” it’s never that simple. Volkanovski has a proven ability to read opponents, make adjustments, and exploit even the smallest gaps in their game. And while Lopes is a serious threat, he’s not flawless. I have a feeling the Aussie will weather the early storm, make the right reads, and gradually start pulling ahead. If it goes into deep waters, I think that’s where Lopes starts to fade. (Prediction: Alexander Volkanovski)
Aakrit Sharma: This was the toughest pick to make on the UFC 314 card. My heart wants Volkanovski to win, but it is factually proven that fighters, especially in lower weight classes, show a significant decline in performance and durability after 34. Lopes is powerful, but his fight against Dan Ige proves that he’s not at all ready to face the former UFC featherweight champ. However, again, age is a primary concern here, and I’m skeptical about Volkanovski’s ability to calm the early storm as he used to do gracefully.
This is a five-round fight, and I believe that Lopes only has the first two rounds to win the title. If the fight goes on to the later rounds, even a washed-up Volkanovski should be able to manhandle the Brazilian. My pick, though, is Lopes winning the title early by knocking out one of the greatest featherweight fighters of all time. (Prediction: Diego Lopes)
Consensus: 2-2
That’ll do it for our UFC 314 staff picks! What do you think? Do your predictions look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the full UFC 314 card below.
Main Card:
Featherweight Championship: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes
Lightweight: Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett
Featherweight: Bryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva
Featherweight: Yair Rodriguez vs. Patricio Pitbull
Light Heavyweight: Nikita Krylov vs. Dominick Reyes
Preliminary Card:
Featherweight: Dan Ige vs. Sean Woodson
Women’s Strawweight: Yan Xiaonan vs. Virna Jandiroba
Lightweight: Jim Miller vs. Chase Hooper
Featherweight: Darren Elkins vs. Julian Erosa
Early Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Sedriques Dumas vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
Flyweight: Sumudaerji vs. Mitch Raposo
Middleweight: Tresean Gore vs. Marco Tulio
Women’s Bantamweight: Nora Cornolle vs. Hailey Cowan
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 314!
MMA legend Patricio Pitbull has vowed to give UFC fans who are unfamiliar with his career an emphatic and impressive introduction this weekend.
Pitbull, who entered the year holding the Bellator featherweight title, was officially released by the Professional Fighters League (PFL), bringing an end to his tumultuous saga with the organization.
And at the expense of former interim UFC featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez, an extremely “motivated” Pitbull expects to introduce himself to a new audience in a major way.
“I feel very motivated,” Pitbull said during an interview with Thomas Gerbasi for UFC.com. “I’ve always been motivated, but I’ve never been this motivated before. This is something that I always wanted to do; I want to be here and to get that belt. And I don’t think any fighter on the planet is more motivated than me. It’s not just motivated to fight; it’s even to train. You can be sure that no one wants this more than I do right now.
“The most violent and complete featherweight in the world. That’s what they (UFC fans) are going to see,” Pitbull added.
This comes as both fighters, who dominated their respective featherweight divisions in Bellator and UFC for years, find themselves under the same promotional banner.
Pitbull, with a stellar 24-6 record in Bellator, sees the fight as a resolution to a long-standing “what if” scenario.
“I don’t have this desire to fight Aldo, nothing like that, but for the context, if an offer comes from the UFC, I would be happy to take it,” Pitbull stated to MMA Fighting.
While Pitbull doesn’t believe a victory over Aldo would definitively crown him the greatest featherweight of all time, he recognizes its significance in settling a long-debated topic. He feels that there’s a bias towards UFC fighters in these discussions.
“For Aldo and people in the UFC, everybody is sure he’s the best featherweight of all time,” Pitbull said, “But some people that know fighting [say], ‘There’s also Patricio, and maybe he could be fighting for the title of who’s the greatest.’”
He proposes that a fight would provide a tangible answer, even if it wouldn’t fully define their legacies.
“We know it wouldn’t determine who was the best or who has done more, but in a fight we would at least have an answer, we’d know who catches fire first, and the winner would leave a great mark.”
Pitbull’s career boasts titles in both Bellator’s featherweight and lightweight divisions, including a victory over RIZIN’s featherweight champion Kleber Koike. His attempt to capture the bantamweight title from Sergio Pettis was unsuccessful, but he remains open to exploring different weight classes within the UFC.
“Depending on the challenge, we’d do it,” Pitbull said, indicating his willingness to compete from 135 to 170 pounds. He emphasizes the importance of the opponent’s history and experience, suggesting he’d be more inclined to fight a seasoned veteran.
The potential fight between Pitbull and Aldo carries significant weight, representing a clash of two eras and promotions. It would serve not only as a spectacle for fans but also as a means to settle a debate that has persisted for years. Pitbull’s entry into the UFC and his openness to this matchup have added an intriguing layer to the promotion’s landscape, generating anticipation for what could be a historic encounter.
Chandler, who himself transitioned from Bellator to the UFC, understands the frustration faced by many former Bellator athletes following the PFL’s acquisition. He’s acknowledged the lack of consistent opportunities that contributed to Pitbull’s demand to be released and subsequent signing with the UFC.
This shared experience highlights the challenges of navigating a merger and the desire for top-level competition. Chandler has a history with the Freire family, including a loss to Patricio and wins over his brother Patricky.
Chandler has previously stated that he thinks Patricio’s move to the UFC will be a significant career change. He anticipates that the Brazilian will find the competition and opportunities within the UFC to be a substantial step up, providing a platform to truly showcase his skills on a global stage.
While doing a Q&A on X, Chandler was asked whether he was interested in renewing hostilities with Pitbull after the Paddy Pimblett fight at UFC 314. He said, “Nope. Never.”
With that in mind, it would appear unlikely that the pair’s past feud will cross over onto mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.
Both men will be focused on their respective pushes toward different divisional gold, with Michael Chandler targeting the lightweight belt and Patricio Pitbull looking to add UFC featherweight gold to his trophy cabinet.
After staging its latest numbered event close to its home base at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena this past weekend, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will soon head back to Miami.
And for its usually annual April PPV inside the Kaseya Center, a stacked lineup is set to unfold, topped by a featherweight championship clash between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes.
To the surprise of many, that contest will close out the preliminary card on April 12, with the light heavyweight bout between Nikita Krylov and Dominick Reyes getting the nod to feature on the five-fight main card instead.
Michael Chandler understands Patricio Pitbull’s decision to join the UFC.
Both fighters made the transition from being Bellator standouts to competing in the UFC, and Chandler acknowledges the frustration that many former Bellator athletes experienced due to a lack of consistent opportunities following the PFL’s acquisition of their employer.
This frustration ultimately led to Pitbull’s release and subsequent signing with the UFC.
Chandler, who has a personal history with the Freire family — including a 2019 first-round TKO loss to Patricio for the Bellator lightweight title and two victories over his brother, Patricky — believes Patricio will experience a significant career shift now that he’s in the UFC.
“Not surprised,” Chandler said on The Ariel Helwani Show regarding Freire’s UFC signing. “Not surprised at him or the laundry list of everybody who is tweeting at Donn Davis and PFL, and before that Bellator. It just continues to solidify that the UFC is the only place for mixed martial arts. Take it from me. Take it from a guy like Patricio ‘Pitbull.’ Two years from now, a year from now, sit him down on your show and have him answer honestly what the difference is and how much bigger it (UFC) is, how much more significant it is here.”
Chandler believes that the UFC provides a level of exposure and activity that was missing from the post-acquisition Bellator environment.
“If he plays his cards right and does his job, how much more lucrative it is. It’s very interesting. I have the best perspective of anybody in mixed martial arts when it comes to the significance of the UFC, and I love the UFC not because it’s the UFC. I love the UFC because I know what the opposite of the UFC is. I know what it’s like to be outside of the UFC.”
The upcoming UFC 314 event in Miami will mark a significant crossover moment for both Chandler and Pitbull. While the former co-headlines against Paddy Pimblett, the Brazilian will debut opposite Yair Rodriguez.
This fight represents Pitbull’s first chance to test himself against elite UFC competition after dominating Bellator for years.
Although there was bad blood between them in Bellator, Chandler admits that much of the tension stemmed from his own frustrations at the time.
“Honestly, I haven’t seen a fight. I haven’t seen one of his fights in a very long time, so I don’t know where his skillset is at,” Chandler said. “All I do know is I wish him well. There was a little bit of animosity, a little bit of bad blood. I think a lot of that actually stemmed from my discontent with where I was in my life, knowing that I was stuck in Bellator and wanted to get out. So I needed something to blame it on, and sometimes my opponents were that.”
He also reflected on a misunderstanding that escalated their feud.
“Patricio was an easy target because I had beat his brother, and he F-U’d me when I stood on the cage. And I said something about family, obviously because I thought his brother—they are by definition family. So when I used the word family, I think he was thinking I was talking about his wife and his kids and his mom and his aunts and all that stuff. So, it became a language barrier. Unfortunate set of circumstances, but I wish him well. I think he’s dynamic. I think he’s explosive.”
With both men now competing under the UFC banner, their past rivalry is behind them. Pitbull’s debut against Rodriguez could set the tone for his UFC career, while Chandler looks to make a statement against Pimblett.
The former Bellator featherweight champion has long expressed his eagerness to join the UFC, and that moment has finally arrived.
After a report from Japanese media outlet MMAPLANET that claimed Pitbull has signed with the UFC was deleted and branded a mistake, CEO Dana White confirmed just hours on that the Brazilian is indeed now under the organization’s banner.
And the MMA legend already has his debut set, joining a stacked UFC 314 lineup in Miami on April 12 opposite former interim featherweight champion Yair Rodríguez.
The 37-year-old Brazilian last competed at Bellator Champions Series Belfast in March 2024, where he delivered a dominant third-round knockout victory over Jeremy Kennedy to successfully defend his title.
Pitbull spent the majority of his career dominating Bellator’s featherweight division, holding the championship on three separate occasions, while also briefly reigning as the promotion’s lightweight titleholder. He currently holds a professional record of 36-7, with 13 wins by knockout and 11 by submission.
UFCwelterweight contender Gilbert Burns is looking forward to the UFC signing three Bellator fighters to its roster. The Brazilian believes these fighters not only boast considerable star power, but also have the potential to defeat many top contenders and even the champions of their respective divisions.
Burns is currently on a three-fight losing skid and he’ll return at UFC 314 in Miami, Florida, to face undefeated prospect Michael Morales on April 12, 2025. The former UFC title challenger is on the longest losing streak of his career, making this matchup really important for his title aspirations and future in the promotion.
As of now, “Durinho” is ranked 8th in the division and he definitely can’t afford losing to the no. 12 ranked prospect in Morales.
In a recent episode of Show Me The Money, Burns appeared alongside popular UFC lightweight Renato Moicano to discuss UFC 312 and all things MMA. While talking about potential signings for the UFC, Burns named three fighters who are yet to fight for the promotion but have all the tools to make it big there.
“That’s one guy that I really want to see in the UFC is freaking Patchy Mix. That guy is so good, so good, and I hope they release him because they don’t give him a fight. It’s two guys that I think—so many guys from Bellator, but I’ll say my three favorite guys to be in the UFC now from Bellator is Johnny Eblen. That’s the number one. That guy, he could go head-to-head with Dricus Du Plessis.”
He further added:
“That’s one thing, I think he’s a top five for sure. I don’t know if he is gonna beat DDP. I think he can, I think he can, but we got to see, you know? That’s one thing. So, Johnny Eblen should be in the UFC. Patchy Mix, 100%, should be in the UFC. And I think Patricio Pitbull, you know, he can—I don’t know if he’s going to make that run now, but yeah, I wanna see Pitbull in the UFC. Those are my three guys outside of the UFC with the whole Bellator-PFL history. Those three guys I want to see so much in the UFC right now, especially Patchy Mix and Johnny Eblen. Those guys are in their prime and I think it’ll be a couple of great fights.”
While Patricio “Pitbull” Freire is 37 and arguably in the latter half of his career, both Patchy Mix (31) and Johnny Eblen (33) are very well in their physical primes. Mix boasts an impressive 20-1 record as a bantamweight and Eblen is an undefeated middleweight. This explains why Burns, alongside many in the MMA community, is excited to see how these fighters perform in the UFC.
Considering that the PFL brand is struggling amidst its acquisition of Bellator, many of its fighters want to be relieved of their contracts. It is undoubtedly a good time for the UFC to sign these stars and give its champions a run for their money. As for fans, they simply want to see the best fight the best, regardless of promotions.
Pitbull had said that he wasn’t being offered fights and had reached a point where he had already made up his mind about fighting for another promotion, with one specific destination in mind. Davis argued against this during the Town Hall interview where he gave more context from the PFL’s point of view.
Davis said that the reason this had been going on for several weeks is because the promotion was trying to keep Pitbull with them by making a deal work. He said that they also tried to get the Bellator featherweight champion to fight the only bout left on his contract before leaving, with a huge clash against Aaron Pico being the option that they were heading in.
Pitbull quickly posted a response on X where he claimed that both of these points aren’t a fair reflection of the communications between the two parties.
“Hi @DonnDavisPFL, let’s keep things true all the way. You never oficially offered me the fight with Pico, and I never said no. Pete told my management that Pico was the number 1 choice but he might be hitting free agency and if so you’d find someone else. Also…
“You never said ‘fight for us this one time and we will let you go’. You said my 15 years in Bellator provided value for them and now you wanted me to provide value for PFL. And Pete said you’d exercise every legal right you guys had to prevent me from going to the competition.”
You never said “fight for us this one time and we will let you go”. You said my 15 years in Bellator provided value for them and now you wanted me to provide value for PFL. And Pete said you’d exercise every legal right you guys had to prevent me from going to the competition.
Pitbull added one more message to the statement, stating that he will continue to dispute any claims that he believes aren’t factual. The 37-year old said that he doesn’t want to have to continue talking negatively about the promotion but he will if the truth isn’t being put out there.
“I had all the intention of leaving everything behind and not talking about it anymore, but if I see any lies about me out there I won’t stay silent. As I said on our last conversation @DonnDavisPFL I hope @PFLMMA improves and can succeed, so do not go this route.”
I had all the intention of leaving everything behind and not talking about it anymore, but if I see any lies about me out there I won’t stay silent. As I said on our last conversation @DonnDavisPFL I hope @PFLMMA improves and can succeed, so do not go this route. https://t.co/39fTMvXnlx
Patrício Pitbull has been one of the top fighters in the featherweight division throughout his career. If there’s one thing that has held back the Bellator icon and record holder in the promotion it is that he hasn’t had the opportunity to face the best fighters in the UFC.
That could change in the near future following the news that after voicing his complaints, the 37-year old has been granted a release from his PFL contract following a breakdown in communication between the two parties. Pitbull also said at this time that he hopes to sign with the UFC if the PFL let him go so that he could step inside the Octagon before retiring.
Similarly to what we have seen in the past when other Bellator stars like Michael Chandler and Michael “Venom” Page made the jump over, it would make sense for the former two-weight champion to skip the line to some degree rather than debuting on the Fight Pass prelims. He already has the high-level experienced needed and with the clock running down on his career, it’s now or never to see him in the big fights that would make his signing worthwhile.
With that in mind, Pitbull is targeting the very top of the UFC’s featherweight division. Right at the top of the 145-pound pile are the current superstar champion, the legendary former titleholder and one of the division’s most exciting rising talents who has become a huge fan favorite in recent years.
Patrício Pitbull is now officially a free agent after being granted his release from the PFL. The Bellator featherweight champion has been very vocal about wanting to leave the promotion in recent months after a breakdown in communications with the promotion and he has finally been granted his wish.
The Brazilian is a legend of the Bellator promotion but with that brand now officially dead, he realizes that he doesn’t have long left to tick off some bucket list items in his career. At 37-years old, he has recently spoken about dreaming of getting to fight in the UFC before he hangs up the gloves for good.
As a 30-fight veteran in Bellator with the most fights, wins and finishes in the history of the promotion, it didn’t ever look like we would see him step inside the Octagon but that is quite clearly the destination which he hopes to arrive at in the coming days, weeks or months. In fact, shortly after PFL founder Donn Davis announced the news that Pitbull would be parting ways with the promotion, the Brazilian had already set his sights on a potential opponent.
It appears that whilst he has spent a lot of time talking about a move to lightweight coming sooner rather than later, UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria will face former champ Alexander Volkanovski in a rematch which he agreed to after being joined in the cage by “The Great” following his win over Max Holloway last October. Given the fact that Pitbull is towards the end of his career, it makes sense for him to jump in at the deep end against the best 145-pounders that the UFC has to offer.
If the rematch doesn’t take place in the near future for whatever reason, Pitbull would like to share the cage with Volkanovski in a dream fight that no one would have seen coming several years ago.
The leading star brought over to the PFL when it acquired Bellator MMA will not be part of the promotion’s future.
Patricio Pitbull, who entered the year holding the Bellator featherweight title, has officially been released by the Professional Fighters League (PFL), bringing an end to his tumultuous saga with the organization.
Alongside another Bellator champ in Patchy Mix, Pitbull has been publicly criticizing the PFL and calling for his release for the past few weeks and months. He’s berated the promotional higher-ups for allegedly not honoring contracts and refusing to give him the level of activity he wants.
Pitbull’s posts evidently did not fall on deaf ears this time around, with Davis announcing in his own post on X that Pitbull has been granted his release.
“We are releasing @PatricioPitbull,” Davis wrote. “@PFLMMA is all about opportunity. I founded this company to create new great opportunities for top fighters. PFL has and will continue to do that for all top fighters who want to be here #PFLMMA“
The news comes a day on from the emergence of big news regarding the PFL in 2025.
After a difficult first year post-acquisition, the promotion has taken the decision to dissolve the Bellator brand. It’s unclear what that will mean for the current titleholders, with Corey Anderson and Johnny Eblen among those to question their status on social media.
It’s no secret where Pitbull sees his future, meanwhile. During his final days under the PFL banner, the Brazilian legend was clear in outlining his plans to join the UFC. And with the decorated Bellator great now a free agent, the ball appears to be in the MMA leader’s court.
The mounting discontent among Bellator fighters signed under the PFL banner has reached a fever pitch, prompting a reigning champion to call on Francis Ngannou to step in.
The PFL finalized its takeover of Bellator MMA in November 2023, allowing it to operate as a distinct entity and enabling its roster of fighters to transition seamlessly under the PFL spotlight.
After a difficult first year post-acquisition, it was reported by Ariel Helwani this week that the Bellator name has officially been consigned to history. It will now be rebranded as the PFL Champions Series, a platform dedicated exclusively to title bouts for the PFL’s newly established divisional championships.
Pitbull has persistently called out top-tier PFL executives, including Donn Davis and Peter Murray, on social media, demanding his release from the promotion. He points to the alleged lack of clarity regarding his fighting future and the scarce opportunities offered to him since the merger.
The reigning Bellator featherweight champion recently took to X, once again venting his frustration with the organization amid the ongoing turmoil. In a series of fiery posts, Pitbull accused the PFL of ruthlessly cutting fighters from its roster and “forcing” others into accepting massive pay cuts.
He further claimed that the organization is manipulating contracts, making it nearly impossible for fighters to become free agents and pursue opportunities elsewhere.
“Self called co-leader in MMA and fighters first organization is cutting a bunch of fighters and forcing others to take pay cuts of up to 70%. No respect for fighter contracts and what they’ve accomplished,” Pitbull wrote on X.
Self called co-leader in MMA and fighters first organization is cutting a bunch of fighters and forcing others to take pay cuts of up to 70%.
No respect for fighter contracts and what they’ve accomplished.
The 37-year-old Brazilian went a step further, calling on the PFL’s biggest star and reigning Super Fights Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou to use his influence to address the ongoing issues and stand in solidarity with those caught in the crossfire.
“Hey Francis Ngannou are you aware of all the absurd things PFL is doing to fighters and putting on the new contracts? Will you ever speak up for us? I’m thinking it’s time we start a PFL Fighters Union. What do you think?”
Hey @francis_ngannou are you aware of all the absurd things PFL is doing to fighters and putting on the new contracts? Will you ever speak up for us? I’m thinking it’s time we start a PFL Fighters Union. What do you think?
Pitbull has been absent from the cage since March 2024, when he defended his featherweight title with a stunning third-round knockout of Jeremy Kennedy at the Bellator Champions Series in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Patrício Pitbull has been very outspoken about his desire to leave the PFL after claiming that he has not been offered any fights in the second half of 2024. The Bellator champion states that during preparations for a recent return, the fight was cancelled and he was not given a new date or opponent.
The Brazilian recently posted a series of messages on social media where he provided the latest update in his communications with the promotion. Pitbull started by saying that following a call between the PFL’s Pete Murray and his management, it was made clear that he will not be granted his release from the promotion with his contract running out in May.
He criticized the promotion for claiming to be fighter first whilst planning to book him in April next year instead of allowing him to be active. In one of several posts, the champion wrote:
“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 fighter and it no longer exists. The promotion is gone and so should I.”
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 fighter and it no longer exists. The promotion is gone and so should I. @arielhelwani (3/4)
The GFL also claims to be putting the fighters first and has implemented systems like a revenue share and retirement fund in order to prove this stance. The new promotion on the block recently commented on the recent situation regarding Pitbull and his PFL contract by criticizing the way that he has been treated.
“The GFL was designed, in part, to avoid these kinds of issues. ‘Fighters’ are athletes, and more importantly, people. They needn’t be treated merely as commodity. We hope there is a positive resolution to this issue for @PatricioPitbull.”
The GFL was designed, in part, to avoid these kinds of issues. "Fighters" are athletes, and more importantly, people. They needn't be treated merely as commodity. We hope there is a positive resolution to this issue for @PatricioPitbull. https://t.co/YhJSY6Toh4
2024 has provided some problems for the PFL that they haven’t had to deal with in the past. Despite having the PFL debut of Francis Ngannou and some great performances on the 2024 World Championships card, a lot of the talk surrounding the promotion as of late has revolved around the fighters that haven’t been in action.
Following the acquisition of Bellator last year, the PFL was always going to have to work out how to keep a huge amount of new fighters on the roster busy and happy. This has not been the case for some of the top names in the promotion including Bellator champions like Patrício Pitbull, Cris Cyborg and Patchy Mix who have all complained about not being as active as they would like.
In a recent social media post, PFL founder Donn Davis hit back at some of the criticisms by stating that the promotion always has and always will offer each athlete the opportunity to compete twice per calendar year. It is also worth noting that the following post was edited with a slight change to the wording.
The post originally read that the PFL did “a good job” before it was later changed to state that the promotion did the “best we could”.
“PFL has ALWAYS provided all fighters 2 fights a year … When we acquired Bellator THEY had ZERO fight events scheduled for their Bellator 210 fighters in 2024. @PFLMMA stepped in and did best we could for them in 2024 … 2025 ALL fighters again 2 fights a year!”
PFL has ALWAYS provided all fighters 2 fights a year …
When we acquired Bellator THEY had ZERO fight events scheduled for their Bellator 210 fighters in 2024.@PFLMMA stepped in and did best we could for them in 2024 …
Cyborg, who is the Bellator featherweight champion, has been one of the most vocal about her issues with the PFL but this has quietened down since her fight with Larissa Pacheco in October. The Brazilian icon responded to Davis’ post and showed her support for the promotion.
Excited to be a part of this as part of my Legacy Tour 🙏🏽 loved having the opportunity to be the first women world championship in the sport of MMA to fight in the country of Saudi and feel motivated seeing women like @hattanalsaif24 come behind me as the future of @PFLMENA 🔥
Bellator is PFL’s property, many fighters didn’t fight a single time and many like me only fought once.
You said you’d honor everyone’s contracts and give them 2 fights this year. You didn’t. You cut over 70% of the roster and had many renegotiate their pay. (1/2) https://t.co/Zvx4NS45H8
Patrício Pitbull has spoken out once again about wanting to be released from his PFL contract so that he can go and fight elsewhere. The Bellator featherweight champion last fought in March where he stopped Jeremy Kennedy to defend his title in Belfast.
He recently stated in an article from MMA Fighting that he has had several fights cancelled with no plans to reschedule them or find him a different opponent. The Brazilian claims that fights with Aaron Pico and a rematch with Chihiro Suzuki in RIZIN both fell by the wayside and as a result, he would like to leave the promotion if they don’t have any plans for him.
Pitbull specifically mentioned wanting to use this opportunity to finally fight in the UFC before it is too late for him.
“I have to fight in the UFC. I have to face those guys. I see myself doing a good job there. I don’t see anything very special there. I can fight anyone there, even the champion. [Ilia Topuria] has some holes we can take advantage of. I’m sure they think the same about me, but I have to trust myself. This is the time.”
Dana White was asked to give his opinion on this during his post-fight press conference after UFC 310 this past weekend. In response to the UFC boss’ comments, Pitbull posted on X to vent his frustrations about the lack of communication and activity for some of the fighters on the PFL roster.
He ended the post by giving the promotion a deadline that he wants answers by.
“The lack of transparency, events and answers from @PFLMMA about its future and @BellatorMMA ‘s is making both promotions look bad. What do you all think about what’s going on? Christmas is coming up and I’d love to receive my release by then.”
The lack of transparency, events and answers from @PFLMMA about its future and @BellatorMMA ‘s is making both promotions look bad. What do you all think about what’s going on? Christmas is coming up and I’d love to receive my release by then. https://t.co/2Pr2rctZJU
Two of the biggest names that the PFL acquired in the Bellator deal have recently voiced their frustrations with not being offered fights. Both Patrício Pitbull and Patchy Mix are reigning Bellator champions who have recently had upcoming bouts cancelled and they don’t seem happy with the communication that has taken place.
Pitbull hasn’t fought since March where after finishing Jeremy Kennedy, he says he was told that he would be able to return to RIZIN for a rematch with Chihiro Suzuki to try and get his revenge. He also claims that he was then told he would be fighting Aaron Pico instead but this has also not materialized for him.
As for the bantamweight champion Mix, he defended his title in May and was recently preparing for another title defence against Leandro Higo in November but since that event was postponed, he says that he hasn’t received word on when he will receive his next outing. Posting on X, Mix vented his frustrations and said that similarly to what has happened with other big names like Gegard Mousasi, he would like to be released if they don’t have any plans for him in the near future.
“My manager told me to hold off but haven’t heard anything from PFLMMADonnDavisPFL If you are not gonna have me fight then just please release me from contract. This is not what I want but if I’m not important to the company being a multi time champ. Then let me go respectfully”
My manager told me to hold off but haven’t heard anything from @PFLMMA@DonnDavisPFL If you are not gonna have me fight then just please release me from contract.This is not what I want but if I’m not important to the company being a multi time champ. Then let me go respectfully
Pitbull made similar statements in a recent interview with MMA Fighting where he criticized the way that the promotion has handled the Bellator fighters since the acquisition last year.
“PFL guys seem a bit lost there. Looks like Bellator is a bit too big for them, and they don’t know how to act properly.”
Pitbull, like Mix, just wants to be active and he believes that leaving the PFL is the best way for him to do that at this stage in his career.
“We were left with only promises. We lost rhythm, we lost part of our careers waiting for something that never came. It’s bad for me as a champion. I need to stay active. We know I’m not getting any younger, too. So I spoke with my managers and since my contract is not that long, it’s close to the end, we’ll ask to leave. I need to work.
“Basically, Douglas Lima and my brother [Patricky Pitbull], the high-caliber guys of the organization, they either re-signed with their purse cut in half or they would be cut. That was basically forced, you know? Donn Davis said early in the merge that that would not happen, but it happened. We know the organization has valued semi-retired fighters and internet celebrities more than actual fighters that put on a show.”
