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Andreas Hale
Over the yearsUFC has a number of imports from the now extinct Bellator MMA. While some have arrived highly decorated, no fighter in this organization has been a standard success carrier such as a four -time world champion Patricio Pitbull. Brazilian, who has a litany promotional records and is widely recognized as the biggest fighter in the history of Bellator MMA, will start his way to connect Eddie Alvarez as the only fighters holding gold in Bellator and UFC when debuting against the promotional debut Yair Rodriguez on UFC 314.
Pitbull, 37, holds Bellator Records for most of the fighting (30), Wins (24), title martial victory (15) and completion (15). He is also one of the two fighters who hold world titles in two divisions at the same time (Ryan Bader is second). But while these awards are exceptional, it is a pit bull combat style that is likely to drop the attention of those who have never seen it in action.
“Violence. Lots of violence,” Pitbull ESPN said through a translator of what to expect when he is locked in an octagon with Rodriguez in Miami. “Three wheels of violence – if I don’t take off my head before.”
A disposable light champion and triple feather champion lectures a hyper-lingering style that mixes a proficient striking and devastating knockout power with attacking wrestling and black belt in Jiu-Jitsu, Brazil, making it an absolute nightmare to deal with where it is. Its goals came in different ways, be it its disposable knockout force that cuts the lights Daniel Weichel and the current favorite UFC fan Michael Chandler or his ugly gilotin choke that had Daniel Straus frantically tapping on the pad and Emmanuel Sanchez sleep. Pitbull plans to demonstrate its fertile finishing bravery to the new audience 12 April.
And whether he likes it or not, he will have the history of Bellator MMA on his back when he debuts his octagonal.
“People will always see me as a representative of this organization,” Pitbull said. “Most of my career victories were in Bellator, so there’s a huge history. And with this history comes a lot of luggage. For me it’s a new chapter in my career and everything is new.
What he did before is Brazilian one of the most decorated warriors who have never competed in UFC. Despite all her achievements, the history of those who came before him could signal a significant challenge for his highly anticipated UFC.
Pitbull will not be the first former Bellator MMA champion to love an octagon. The fertile finisher fighting from Rio Grande to Norte, Brazil, will be the ninth champion Bellator, who will fight in UFC, in the footsteps of I ask (1-2), Lyman well (3-3), Alexander Volkov (12-5), Hector Lombard (3-8), Will Brooks (1-3), Joe Soto (3-5), Kept makovsky (3-4) and Alvarez (4-3). The Bellator’s combined record in UFC is 30-33, a stunning 47.6% percentage of victories.
Bellator Champions, who competed in UFC before Pitbull, were neutralized as soon as they arrived at UFC. Lombard was 8-0 with six targets in Bellator MMA and never stopped in his career MMA before entering the octagon. He was discarded in UFC three times and had only two wins in 11 fighting before he won in the last seven fighting.
Askren was 18-0 when UFC debuted with a controversial victory Robbie Lawler And it was expected to question UFC Gold. Instead his short time in promotion ended with two combat losses, one of these losses came with a kind permission Jorge MasdalFlying knee. Pitbull, 37, enters the octagon as another seasoned 21 -year -old veteran with 43 MMA fighting under the belt.
“There were some people in UFC who raised questions about my age, but if you look at the weight class, there are not many young warriors in the TOP 15,” Pitbull said.
Youssef Zalal28, is the only rated UFC feather weight under 30 years old, but the fact remains that pit bull will be the second oldest in 40 years Josh Emmett As soon as he enters the octagon. He has a large amount of kilometers on his body, but he is convinced that he has enough in the tank to join Alvarez as the second Bellator warrior to hold gold UFC.
“I will make all the victims to be at best. No one is to concentrate.”
Pitbull maintains a strict diet and training regime that allows him to continue his high -level performance. He said he was fully prepared for the best promotion.
“I’ve always been sure I’m the best feathers in the world,” Pitbull said. “I can do it now.”
Alvarez’s holding UFC did not start the way he planned with the loss of decisions Donald Cerrone in 2014. Alvarez eventually settled and beat Gilbert and Anthony Pettis Before Rafael Dos Anjos for a light title. Although in the next fight would cancel the title Conor McGregor“The Underground King,” he said he remembers that he would feel pressure when he was preparing for his octagonal debut.
“You felt it was the biggest show on Earth since the promotion of fans standing in front of the hotel. No one closer to what (UFC) was doing,” Alvarez ESPN said. “It may be stunning, but I have fought for 13 years in my career, so I was ready. I was still trying my best to make a big problem from three letters and reminded myself that it was just another fight.”
It is something UFC CEO has created “The Octagon Jitters”. The deadline concerns when promotional newcomers succumb to the high -pressure UFC environment. While the concept can carry some weight, there is also a reality that UFC historically had a mentality of a sink-or-whim when he was throwing highly decorated fighters from other promotions for his debuts. Askren fought with Lawler, and Alvarez faced Cerrone in their debts.
“When they knew UFC, they wanted their fighters to be number one,” said Alvarez, who also admitted that he only asked for a competition against the best fighters in the light division UFC when he signed promotion in 2014. Without him, he believes his name would be an asterisk.
“(UFC) He wants the perception that UFC has the best fighters in the world,” Alvarez said. “UFC is not there for people like us to look good. They sign us because they want the biggest and worst fighters in the world, but whether they sign them to do well in their promotion is a completely different story.”
UFC refused to comment on her decision to tighten.
Like Alvarez, Pitbull did not want to waste time and asked to end UFC for his debut. Rodriguez is currently the fifth evaluation of the fifth rating of feathers and two fights removed from the challenge for the £ 145 championship.
Certainly it is no coincidence that Pitbull will compete on the card with the headline of the former champion Alexander Volkanovski Squaring with Diego Lopes For the Feather Championship. Given Division has more questions than answers After leaving Ulli tepriaria To be easy, it is possible that the UFC 314 victory could bring Pitbull to the title picture of the feathers before the end of the year.
“UFC didn’t tell me I would have another title struggle, but it makes sense,” Pitbull said. “I’m fighting the same day when the feather division will have a new champion. The victory will put me in a great place and that’s what I’m looking for.”
Interestingly, clearing with Volkanovski was once considered a fantasy struggle, but now has the potential to become a reality.
“I think (pit bull) could do quite well (against) the feather champion in UFC,” said coach Duke Roufus Espn in 2023. Roufus trained then-Bantam weight Sergio Pettiswho thwarted Pitbull’s attempt to become the first champion of the three Bellator division. “It won’t happen, but I would like to see him and (Volkanovski) fight against each other.
Will A lot of support comes for Pitbull from warriors who competed for Bellator, including the former champion of two Division Ryan Bader.
“It’s great to see how Pitbull goes to UFC and I hope he’s doing well,” Bader ESPN said. “There are people who think that because UFC is the highest promotion, they will beat fighters from every other promotion and that does not necessarily be true. The possibilities are what MMA makes fun.”
It fights not only for itself, but also to confirm the idea that the best fighters can come from other promotional events. If Alvarez justified that Bellator could make a UFC champion, Pitbull aims to put a stamp to add the Hall of Fame to the stamp.
“Great fighters come from anywhere,” Pitbull said. “People who say that all the best fighters are in UFC and everyone else is the garbage about this sport know nothing about this sport.
“I fight for history, heritage and honor. I want to take the belt and prove to myself and everyone else that I am the best feathers of all time.”
