Patrício Freire
| Patrício Freire | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Patrício Freire July 7, 1987 Natal, Brazil |
| Other names | Pitbull |
| Residence | Natal, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
| Division | Featherweight |
| Reach | 65.0 in (165 cm) |
| Fighting out of | Natal, Brazil |
| Team |
Team Nogueira Black House Pitbull Brothers |
| Rank | Black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu |
| Years active | 2004-present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 30 |
| Wins | 26 |
| By knockout | 9 |
| By submission | 11 |
| By decision | 6 |
| Losses | 4 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Notable relatives | Patricky Freire, brother |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Patrício Freire (born July 7, 1987 in Natal, Brazil) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist currently competing in Bellator's Featherweight division, where he is the current Featherweight Champion. He is the younger brother of Lightweight fighter Patricky Freire. Freire is currently ranked as the #4 Featherweight in the World by Fightmatrix as well as the #1 Featherweight outside of the UFC.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Freire began training Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of ten to help fend off the stigma of his size.[1] As a teenager, he trained at the famed Chute Boxe academy alongside notable MMA stars such as Wanderlei Silva and Mauricio Rua.[1]
Freire made his professional MMA debut in March 2004 at the age of 16. For the first five and a half years of his career, he competed in his native Brazil and amassed an undefeated record of 12-0 with all but two wins coming by way of stoppage.
Prior to signing with Bellator, Freire was ranked as one of the top prospects outside of the North American fight scene.[1]
Bellator MMA
After stringing together an impressive undefeated record on the local Brazilian circuit, he made his American debut on April 22, 2010 for Bellator in their Featherweight Tournament.
He won his first round bout defeating Will Romero via first round submission. At Bellator 18 he won his semifinal bout against fellow Brazilian and former EliteXC Featherweight Champion, Wilson Reis.
Freire faced Joe Warren on June 24, 2010 at Bellator 23 in the Tournament Final.[2] Despite nearly finishing the fight in the waning moments of the first round, Freire lost the fight by controversial split decision.
In Bellator Season Four, Friere earned back-to-back third round KOs against Georgi Karakhanyan and Wilson Reis (a rematch of their bout the previous year) to advance to the finals of the Featherweight Tournament. Friere met Daniel Mason-Straus in the Bellator Season Four Lightweight Tournament Final at Bellator 45. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
A broken hand suffered in training had halted Freire's rematch with Joe Warren for the Bellator Featherweight Championship.[3]
After a near year and a half lay-off, Freire returned to action at Bellator 85 to face Pat Curran who had defeated Joe Warren to win the Bellator Featherweight Championship at Bellator 60. After a back and forth fight, Freire ended up losing a very close split decision.
Freire was set to face Rob Emerson at Bellator 97, but Emerson was forced out of the bout due to injury and was replaced by Jared Downing. Freire won via KO at fifty-four seconds into the second round.
Freire faced former UFC Featherweight contender Diego Nunes at Bellator 99 in the Quarterfinals of Bellator's Season Nine Featherweight Tournament.[4] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.
Freire faced Fabricio Guerreiro in the semifinals at Bellator 103 and won via unanimous decision.
Freire faced Justin Wilcox in the tournament final at Bellator 108. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.
After being skipped over for his title shot, Freire was expected to finally challenge for the Bellator Featherweight Championship in the long-awaited rematch with Pat Curran on June 6, 2014 at Bellator 121. However, on May 21, it was announced that Curran had pulled out of the bout due to a calf injury.[5] The rematch eventually took place at Bellator 123 on September 5, 2014.[6] Freire defeated Curran by unanimous decision to become the new Bellator Featherweight Champion.
Freire made his first title defense at Bellator 132 on January 16, 2015 against Daniel Mason-Straus in a rematch of their bout in May 2011, which saw Freire walk away with a decision victory.[7] Freire won the back-and-forth fight in the fourth round via a rear-naked choke submission.
Freire was expected to defend his Featherweight title against former WSOF Featherweight Champion Georgi Karakhanyan in a rematch at Bellator 138 on June 19, 2015.[8] However, after a torn ACL suffered by Karakhanyan, Freire will instead face Bellator Season Ten Featherweight tournament winner Daniel Weichel at the event.[9] Despite being knocked down in the last seconds of the first round, Freire rallied to knock out Weichel with a perfect counter left hook early in the second round.
Freire had a third fight with Straus on November 6, 2015 at Bellator 145.[10] He lost the fight via unanimous decision, dropping the Bellator Featherweight Championship after two successful defenses.
After the knockout loss of his brother by Michael Chandler, Freire moved up to the lightweight division to earn a title shot in order to face Chandler. He faced Benson Henderson in the main event at Bellator 160 on August 26, 2016. The bout ended in anticlimactic fashion as Freire stopped himself early in round two to declare he had sustained a leg injury. As a result, Henderson was awarded a TKO victory due to injury. It was revealed post-fight that Freire had broken his shin in the first round after Henderson checked a low kick with his knee.
Freire faced Daniel Straus in a fourth fight for the Bellator featherweight championship at Bellator 178 on April 21, 2017. After a back and forth first round, Freire won the bout via a submission due to a guillotine choke early in the second round to become the two-time Bellator Featherweight Champion.[11]
Championships and accomplishments
- Bellator Fighting Championships
- Bellator Featherweight Championship (Two times, current)
- Two Successful Title Defenses
- Most wins in Bellator history (14)
- Most finishes in Bellator history (10)
- Bellator Season Nine Featherweight Tournament Championship
- Bellator Season Four Featherweight Tournament Championship
- Bellator Season Two Featherweight Tournament Runner-up
- Bleacher Report
- 2011 MMA All-Star First Team
- MMA Junkie
- November 2015 Fight of the Month vs. Daniel Mason-Straus on November 6[12]
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 30 matches | 26 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 10 | 1 |
| By submission | 10 | 0 |
| By decision | 6 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 26–4 | Daniel Mason-Straus | Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator 178 | April 21, 2017 | 2 | 0:37 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Won the Bellator Featherweight Championship. |
| Loss | 25–4 | Benson Henderson | TKO (leg injury) | Bellator 160 | August 26, 2016 | 2 | 2:26 | Anaheim, California, United States | Lightweight bout |
| Win | 25–3 | Henry Corrales | Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator 153 | April 22, 2016 | 2 | 4:09 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | |
| Loss | 24–3 | Daniel Mason-Straus | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 145 | November 6, 2015 | 5 | 5:00 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | Lost the Bellator Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 24–2 | Daniel Weichel | KO (punch) | Bellator 138 | June 19, 2015 | 2 | 0:32 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | Defended the Bellator Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 23–2 | Daniel Mason-Straus | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 132 | January 16, 2015 | 4 | 4:49 | Temecula, California, United States | Defended the Bellator Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 22–2 | Pat Curran | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 123 | September 5, 2014 | 5 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Won the Bellator Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 21–2 | Justin Wilcox | TKO (punches) | Bellator 108 | November 15, 2013 | 1 | 2:23 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Bellator Season Nine Featherweight Tournament Final |
| Win | 20–2 | Fabricio Guerreiro | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 103 | October 11, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Mulvane, Kansas, United States | Bellator Season Nine Featherweight Tournament Semifinal |
| Win | 19–2 | Diego Nunes | KO (punches) | Bellator 99 | September 13, 2013 | 1 | 1:19 | Temecula, California, United States | Bellator Season Nine Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal |
| Win | 18–2 | Jared Downing | TKO (punches) | Bellator 97 | July 31, 2013 | 2 | 0:54 | Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States | |
| Loss | 17–2 | Pat Curran | Decision (split) | Bellator 85 | January 13, 2013 | 5 | 5:00 | Irvine, California, United States | For Bellator Featherweight Championship |
| Win | 17–1 | Daniel Mason-Straus | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 45 | May 21, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States | Bellator Season Four Featherweight Tournament Final |
| Win | 16–1 | Wilson Reis | KO (punches) | Bellator 41 | April 16, 2011 | 3 | 3:29 | Yuma, Arizona, United States | Bellator Season Four Featherweight Tournament Semifinal |
| Win | 15–1 | Georgi Karakhanyan | TKO (punches) | Bellator 37 | March 19, 2011 | 3 | 0:56 | Concho, Oklahoma, United States | Bellator Season Four Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal |
| Loss | 14–1 | Joe Warren | Decision (split) | Bellator 23 | June 24, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Louisville, Kentucky, United States | Bellator Season Two Featherweight Tournament Final |
| Win | 14–0 | Wilson Reis | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 18 | May 13, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Monroe, Louisiana, United States | Bellator Season Two Featherweight Tournament Semifinal |
| Win | 13–0 | William Romero | Submission (heel hook) | Bellator 15 | April 22, 2010 | 1 | 2:01 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Bellator Season Two Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal |
| Win | 12–0 | Johnny Iwasaki | Submission (guillotine choke) | Platinum Fight Brazil 2 | December 5, 2009 | 2 | 3:27 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 11–0 | Vinicius Borba | TKO (head kick and punches) | Eagle Fighting Championship | September 26, 2009 | 1 | 1:24 | Sao Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 10–0 | Giovani Diniz | Submission (kimura) | Platinum Fight Brazil | August 13, 2009 | 1 | 2:20 | Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil | |
| Win | 9–0 | Gleristone Santos | KO (flying knee) | Brazil Nordeste Combat | April 2, 2009 | 1 | 2:16 | Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil | |
| Win | 8–0 | Fernando Vieira | Decision (unanimous) | Leal Combat: Premium | June 5, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil | |
| Win | 7–0 | Paulo Mantas | Submission (heel hook) | Rino's FC 4 | September 27, 2007 | 1 | 2:21 | Fortaleza, Brazil | |
| Win | 6–0 | Jadyson Costa | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Leal Combat: Grand Prix | July 5, 2007 | 1 | 4:34 | Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil | |
| Win | 5–0 | Rafael Gargula | Submission (armbar) | Tridenium Combat | April 6, 2006 | 2 | 3:05 | Fortaleza, Brazil | |
| Win | 4–0 | Joao Paulo Rodrigues | Submission (guillotine choke) | Fight Ship Looking Boy 1 | September 8, 2005 | 2 | N/A | Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil | |
| Win | 3–0 | Tarcisio Jardim | KO (punches) | Octagon Fight | February 24, 2005 | 2 | N/A | Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil | |
| Win | 2–0 | Marlon Silva | Decision (unanimous) | Brazilian Challenger 2 | October 21, 2004 | 3 | 5:00 | Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil | |
| Win | 1–0 | Dida Dida | TKO (corner stoppage) | Desafio: Natal vs. Nordeste | March 9, 2004 | 1 | 5:00 | Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil |
See also
References
- 1 2 3 Steven Marrocco (2010-03-01). "FIGHT! Magazine: New Blood". fightmagazein.com. Retrieved 2014-09-06.
- ↑ Dan Stupp. "Louisville's Bellator 23 official with Warren vs. Friere, Shlemenko vs. Baker finales". MMAjunkie.
- ↑ "Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Injured; Bellator 47 Title Fight Postponed". Sherdog.
- ↑ "Bellator 99 Features Vladimir Matyushenko Debut Versus Christian M’Pumbu in Main Event".
- ↑ Guilherme Cruz (2014-05-21). "Pat Curran injured, out of Bellator 121 title fight with ‘Pitbull’ Freire". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
- ↑ "Bellator 123 Fight Card". Bellator.com. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
- ↑ "Bellator 132 Fight Card". bellator.com.
- ↑ Guilherme Cruz (March 31, 2015). "‘Pitbull’ Freire vs. Georgi Karakhanyan title fight set for Bellator 138". mmafighting.com.
- ↑ Staff (April 28, 2015). "Torn ACL sidelines Karakhanyan from Bellator 138, Daniel Weichel meets 'Pitbull' for title". mmajunkie.com.
- ↑ "Bellator 145 Fight Card". bellator.com. 2015-11-06.
- ↑ Steven Marrocco (April 21, 2017). "Bellator 178 results: 'Pitbull' Freire submits Straus in fourth encounter to recapture title". mmajunkie.com.
- ↑ "MMAjunkie’s ‘Fight of the Month’ for November is a classic Bellator title battle - MMAjunkie". MMAjunkie.
