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Odds of this happening are slim and none, but one can dream right?
Bellator MMA two-division champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire is waiting to return to action in his promotion, but he has interest in taking on the UFC’s featherweight king.
After UFC 251’s co-main event between Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, Pitbull tweeted out his wish for both the Muhammad Ali Act for MMA, along with a champion vs. champion showdown with Volkanovski.
We need the Ali Act for MMA. I could fight one of these guys, Champion vs Champion. That’s what MMA fans want to see.
— Patricio Freire (@PatricioPitbull) July 12, 2020
Let’s make MMA better. @BellatorMMA vs @ufc. Me vs @alexvolkanovski. I heard you’re a betting man @danawhite, let’s bet. Let’s go @ScottCoker
— Patricio Freire (@PatricioPitbull) July 12, 2020
Presumably his call for the Ali Act in MMA is with the hope that such implementation would pave the way for more cross-promotional fights to exist.
While it’d be great to see the Brazilian powerhouse take on the UFC’s best, odds of it actually happening through his vision are less than minuscule. Co-promotion involving the UFC and another MMA promotion just doesn’t happen. There’s far less major co-promotion in MMA than boxing, and as such usually the only way for non-UFC fighters to get their desired fights against UFC opposition is to sign exclusive contracts with the UFC. Freire has been with Bellator for 10 years and (alongside his brother Patricky) just signed new contracts with the Viacom owned promotion.
Bellator MMA intends to return on July 24th from Connecticut, where Patricio’s grand prix quarterfinal bout vs. Pedro Carvalho was due to take place back in March before the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down. It’s unknown when that bout will be rescheduled.