Count Patricio
Freire among those who was impressed by Patrick
Mix’s first-round knockout of Raufeon
Stots in the finals of Bellator’s bantamweight grand prix on
Saturday.
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“No doubt it was a spectacular knockout,” Freire told
Sherdog.com. “I have to admit that I was expecting a long,
technical fight, but Mix knew what he was doing when he [timed that
knee]. Very impressive. Mix is definitely a great opponent.”
Freire is scheduled to face Sergio
Pettis for the undisputed bantamweight crown in the Bellator
297 co-main event on June 16 in Chicago. The reigning featherweight
king revealed that his weight cut is going better than
expected.
“I should be weighing [156 pounds] by Monday, but I reached that
weight one week ago. Now it’s just a question of following the
plans of my nutritionist, losing [11 pounds] in eight weeks
naturally and leaving around [10 or 11 pounds to cut] during fight
week. The most important thing is not to have my performance
affected by my weight cut process. The way we are doing it, since
my fight with [Kleber
Koike Erbst] last December, I’m sure I’ll be able to bring the
best Patricio Pitbull on June 16.”
While a win over Pettis would likwly set up a future showdown with
Mix, who is the interim champion, Freire is only focused on the
task in front of him.
“I prefer to face one challenge at a time. My focus now is 100
percent on Pettis,” he said. “I’m training hard and working hard to
do a perfect weight cut to make history as the first fighter to win
a belt in three different divisions. My original category, where I
intend to stay, is [featherweight], but I’m moved by great
challenges and after that beautiful win by Mix, he got me
excited.
“Depending on what Bellator plans, I’ll be available to face Mix
after capturing the bantamweight belt. But one step at a time. My
target now is Sergio
Pettis.”