Even with little left to prove at this stage of his remarkable
career, current Bellator
MMA featherweight champion Patricio
Freire still finds ways to keep himself motivated.
“Pitbull” will face reigning
Rizin Fighting Federation champion Kleber
Koike Erbst when the companies they represent link arms to
co-promote
Rizin 40 on Saturday at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama,
Japan. Only bragging rights and company pride are on the line in
the co-main event.
Advertisement
“The belts are not at stake,” Freire told Sherdog.com. “This is
organization versus organization and champion versus champion.”
Erbst, 33, marches into the three-round confrontation at 145 pounds
on the strength of a seven-fight winning streak. The Bonsai
Jiu-Jitsu representative last competed at Rizin 39, where he
dispatched Juntaro
Ushiku with a triangle choke in the second round of their Oct.
23 pairing. Erbst prefers to do his business on the canvas.
“Kleber is a tough and experienced fighter,” Freire said. “He has
27 wins by submission. He’s dangerous. I have to remain keenly
aware of his attacks on the ground.”
The 35-year-old Freire has rattled off back-to-back victories. He
reclaimed his featherweight crown with a five-round unanimous
decision over A.J. McKee in
their April 15 rematch at Bellator 277, then retained it with by
outpointing Adam Borics
to a unanimous verdict across five rounds in their Bellator 286
headliner on Oct. 1.
“I had dominant performances, but I always think I could have done
something more,” Freire said. “In terms of preference, I’d rather
win by knockout or submission.”
Freire has never before fought in Japan, his assignments to this
point having been confined to his native Brazil, the United States,
Israel and Italy. He spent his training camp in friendly confines
surrounded by familiar faces, including older brother and former
Bellator lightweight champion Patricky
Freire.
“The preparation for the fight was great,” he said. “I always do my
camps in Brazil with my team: Pitbull Brothers. I arrived in Japan
on Dec. 19 to adapt to the time zone and took the opportunity to
train at [Norifumi] ‘Kid’ Yamamoto’s Killer Bees academy.”
Though nothing tangible will be at stake when Freire confronts
Erbst on New Year’s Eve, he would like to see the event foster more
cooperation between MMA organizations in the future.
“We’re here to prove who is better between us two,” Freire said.
“We’re hoping this opens doors to similar challenges against other
champions in other organizations.”