Patricio Freire is open to compete against the best UFC.
“Pitbull” will not follow in the footsteps of former rival Michael Chandler. Bellator lightweight and featherweight champion Freire (31-4 MMA, 19-4 BMMA) is not interested in jumping from Bellator to the UFC right now. However, Freire hopes he can make it a part of history by competing in cross-promotion.
“I definitely want to get a glimpse of those people – especially the ones who say people I can’t beat or who would easily influence me,” Freire told MMA Junkie recently. “It’s not the UFC that interests me the most. I want to create history, something new in the sport – to create a huge crossover, like in boxing (where) your heroes sometimes fight each other. That’s what we’re missing in MMA right now. I’d like to be a boy to start that. ”
For a major crossover to occur, the culture of MMA had to shift. While many in the industry are skeptical that a UFC vs Bellator matchup or cross-promotion event will ever take place, Freire is not in control.
“There’s something more I’d like to add to this sport,” said Freire. “I would like to be part of this big move to make this change (and) push the UFC forward. I have already defeated your future hero. So let’s put everyone together and see who really is the best. The fans would want that. That sport must. No more, ‘This promotion or that promotion?’ There is a business side of things, but people want to see the best fight. ”
While Freire would be willing to fight against any well-known enemy who is in the “best in the world” conversation, “Pitbull” specifically mentioned Max Holloway (22-6 MMA, 18-6 UFC ) was a UFC featherweight winner as a fighter in which he has an interest. .
“(The future) belongs to God,” Freire said. “We’ll see what happens now. Max Holloway may be tired of making a penny in the UFC and coming to Bellator so we can do a big stadium show in Hawaii. We could see a change from the top guys from the UFC (coming) to Bellator.
“If they don’t think there’s money here, that’s a lie. Bellator would be willing to pay for those who deserve it. We’ll see what the future stores are – where I will be, where they will be, and what Bellator will be willing to do. But I’m not worried. I know it will do something good. ”