Bellator MMA two-division champ Patricio
Freire is comfortable with his promotion, although he has
plenty of thoughts on those that compete for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Shortly after the
announcement of the Bellator featherweight grand prix final
atop
Bellator 263, Sherdog spoke with Freire (32-4) about his
upcoming match with A.J. McKee
(17-0). “Pitbull” was positively brimming with confidence about the
final in July and guaranteed that his experience would be the key
to victory.
“I’ve already started the camp one month ago and we have a great
strategy to surprise him,” Freire admitted. “No doubt [that] McKee
is dangerous and complete, but he is too clumsy, and I’m very
confident that I’ll finish him.”
One of the most frequently asked questions for “Pitbull” in his
home country of Brazil is when he will transition to the UFC.
Freire has learned to take the question in stride, even when asked
time and time again by a legion of fans.
“That question is normal,” Freire explained. “UFC was the event
that made the sport popular. It was created 30 years ago. But the
situation is totally changing. There are great fighters in all
organizations and some of them are better paid than UFC fighters.
When I see Jon Jones and
[Henry]
Cejudo retired for money. [Paulo
Costa] leaving a card for not being well paid, I think to
myself is it worth to be humiliated for a little more fame? Because
the only difference from UFC to other organizations is the
tradition and audience. ‘Borrachinha’ is totally right. Someone has
to complain about this absurdity and I hope others have balls to do
the same.”
As one of a small number that have knocked out ex-UFC title
challenger Michael
Chandler, Freire wanted to weigh in on that fight that
headlined UFC 262 in May. In that match, Freire’s countryman
Charles
Oliveira put Chandler away early in the second round with
strikes to become the UFC lightweight king.
“Actually, Charles surprised me twice,” Freire explained. “First in
the throw, putting a high-level wrestler down, and second, knocking
Chandler out, which I didn’t expect either.”
When breaking down the moment that decided the fight, Freire saw
multiple similarities with his win over “Iron Mike.”
“I recall that Charles said he studied my fight with Chandler and
his knockout sequence was basically the same. He threw the right
punch over the jab and was countered with a cross. I returned with
an uppercut, but my straight punch, over the jab, caught Chandler
before. All my greetings to Charles.”
When asked to analyze the possible matchup between Chandler and
Justin
Gaethje, the man known as “Pitbull” didn’t mince words.
“It’s gonna be fireworks,” Freire said. “They have a pretty similar
style, but I’m not sure if Chandler will resist to Gaethje´s bombs.
His chin looked fragile to me, so I think Justin is the favorite.
After Oliveira showed that [hole] in [Chandler’s] game, I don’t
think the other top of the division will respect him anymore
walking backwards, and Gaethje has all the tools to defend his
takedown and neutralize his game.”
In Freire’s opinion, Conor
McGregor will be the next one to face “Do Bronx” should he get
past Dustin
Poirier in July. This would free Chandler to take on Gaethje,
making the aforementioned hypothetical matchup a reality.
“[McGregor] is good at revenge. Actually, McGregor was winning
clearly until Dustin started to shoot his leg and change the fight.
Conor is much more technical, and I think he is going to win that
one,” the 33-year-old concluded.