Bellator’s featherweight champion, Patricio Freire, believes he deserves to be tested against former UFC champ Jose Aldo.
Bellator featherweight champion, Patricio Freire, wants a serious step up in competition.
Just one day away from taking on Emmanuel Sanchez at Bellator 209’s main event, ‘Pitbull’ expressed a desire to take on former UFC champion Jose Aldo, in a fight to define the best Brazilian in the division.
In a interview for Ag Fight, Freire explained he already considers himself Bellator’s greatest fighter of all-time, but doesn’t feel he gets the recognition he deserves.
“I already think I am (the best fighter in Bellator history),” Pitbull said. “I’ve been in the company for practically a decade, I have few losses, most of them are debatable, I hold the record for most finishes, wins in my division, most participation in GP’s. If I’m not mistaken, I’m tied for the most number of wins in the company. I think those are great deeds, I should’ve gotten some recognition by now. I prepared to be the best fighter in the world, I programmed my whole life for this.”
When compared to Jose Aldo, however, Freire claims he has a slight advantage over the former UFC champ’s legacy, mainly because Aldo was finished in every defeat.
“If you compare myself and Aldo, our records are identical,” Freire said, “except for the losses, because he was knocked out or submitted in all his losses while I only lost by decision or due to injury. I broke my fibula when I fought Benson Henderson. So in that department, I believe I have a slight edge (over Aldo). He defended his UFC belt for a long time, that’s his advantage, but our results were pretty much the same. I believe the tie breaker would be a fight between us both, it would the right way to settle this.”
Pitbull also told MMA Fighting that he’d even be willing to “trade” his own brother, lightweight contender Patricky Freire, to the UFC in order to get the Aldo fight.
“How about heating up their lightweight division and putting my brother there?” Freire said. “He’s a knockout artist, never lost to a UFC fighter, and knocked everyone except Ben Henderson. How about that?”
Patricio Freire (27-4) will defend his title against Emmanuel Sanchez at Bellator 209, on November 15, in Tel Aviv, Israel. Paramount Network and DAZN will not air the card until Friday, November 16.