Former UFC lightweight Kurt ‘Batman’ Pellegrino (16-7) made his debut with the Bellator Fighting Championships on Saturday night in Atlantic City, coming off of a semi-imposed retirement after being cut from the UFC last spring.
Pellegrino debuted on the main card of Bellator 59 in New Jersey against Patricky ‘Pitbull’ Freire.
Freire would land a solid punch that would drop Pellegrino to the mat. ‘Batman’ looked like he had recovered quickly, going for a single leg but fell victim to some ground-and-pound from the ‘Pitbull’. The referee jumped in to end the fight at 0:50 of the first.
Despite what appeared to be an early stoppage, Pellegrino accepted the loss gracefully announcing that he the loss was his last and he would indeed retire from fighting.
“I started my career in Atlantic City, I wanted to end it in Atlantic City as well. When they told me I’d face Patricky, I was thrilled. I knew he was super tough and I would have to train hard for him. I really did train hard. I lost fair and square. This will be the last time you ever see me fight, again.”
Pellegrino suffered a split decision loss to Gelison Tibau last March at UFC 128, dropping his second straight in the Octagon. The other loss being a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Georges Sotiropoulos at UFC 116.
After the loss to Tibau, Pellegrino opted to not renew his UFC contract and opted to leave mixed martial arts for the time being. He of course would sign with Bellator and debut last night.
Promotion CEO Bjorn Rebney did talk afterwards of speaking to Pellegrino and his family about bringing him back for one more fight.
I guess we’ll have to wait and see how this one turns out.
Photo via @BellatorMMA