Tag: Patchy Mix

Gilbert Burns Names Three Bellator Fighters Who Can Give UFC Champs A Run For Their Money

UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns is looking forward to the UFC signing three Bellator fighters to its roster. The Brazilian believes these fighters not only boast considerable star power, but also have the potential to defeat many top contenders and even the champions of their respective divisions. Burns is currently on a three-fight losing skid […]

UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns is looking forward to the UFC signing three Bellator fighters to its roster. The Brazilian believes these fighters not only boast considerable star power, but also have the potential to defeat many top contenders and even the champions of their respective divisions.

Burns is currently on a three-fight losing skid and he’ll return at UFC 314 in Miami, Florida, to face undefeated prospect Michael Morales on April 12, 2025. The former UFC title challenger is on the longest losing streak of his career, making this matchup really important for his title aspirations and future in the promotion.

As of now, “Durinho” is ranked 8th in the division and he definitely can’t afford losing to the no. 12 ranked prospect in Morales.

In a recent episode of Show Me The Money, Burns appeared alongside popular UFC lightweight Renato Moicano to discuss UFC 312 and all things MMA. While talking about potential signings for the UFC, Burns named three fighters who are yet to fight for the promotion but have all the tools to make it big there.

“That’s one guy that I really want to see in the UFC is freaking Patchy Mix. That guy is so good, so good, and I hope they release him because they don’t give him a fight. It’s two guys that I think—so many guys from Bellator, but I’ll say my three favorite guys to be in the UFC now from Bellator is Johnny Eblen. That’s the number one. That guy, he could go head-to-head with Dricus Du Plessis.”

He further added:

“That’s one thing, I think he’s a top five for sure. I don’t know if he is gonna beat DDP. I think he can, I think he can, but we got to see, you know? That’s one thing. So, Johnny Eblen should be in the UFC. Patchy Mix, 100%, should be in the UFC. And I think Patricio Pitbull, you know, he can—I don’t know if he’s going to make that run now, but yeah, I wanna see Pitbull in the UFC. Those are my three guys outside of the UFC with the whole Bellator-PFL history. Those three guys I want to see so much in the UFC right now, especially Patchy Mix and Johnny Eblen. Those guys are in their prime and I think it’ll be a couple of great fights.”

While Patricio “Pitbull” Freire is 37 and arguably in the latter half of his career, both Patchy Mix (31) and Johnny Eblen (33) are very well in their physical primes. Mix boasts an impressive 20-1 record as a bantamweight and Eblen is an undefeated middleweight. This explains why Burns, alongside many in the MMA community, is excited to see how these fighters perform in the UFC.

Considering that the PFL brand is struggling amidst its acquisition of Bellator, many of its fighters want to be relieved of their contracts. It is undoubtedly a good time for the UFC to sign these stars and give its champions a run for their money. As for fans, they simply want to see the best fight the best, regardless of promotions.

‘PLEASE RELEASE Me!’ – Bellator Champion Patchy Mix Again Pleads For PFL Exit

It’s no secret what Bellator Bantamweight Champion Patchy Mix wants from the Professional Fighters League in 2025. He wants out. While the PFL ended last year with some strong championship events, things outside the cage didn’t exactly go smoothly for the organization. Numerous fighters who came over as part of the PFL’s acquisition of Bellator […]

It’s no secret what Bellator Bantamweight Champion Patchy Mix wants from the Professional Fighters League in 2025. He wants out.

While the PFL ended last year with some strong championship events, things outside the cage didn’t exactly go smoothly for the organization.

Numerous fighters who came over as part of the PFL’s acquisition of Bellator MMA expressed their discontent, with legendary champ Patricio “Pitbull” Freire leading the way with his public criticism of his new employer.

The Brazilian finally got his wish for a release granted in January, but that hasn’t left the PFL without more fires to put out.

Another Bellator titleholder who has demanded to be let go in recent months is Mix, who won the bantamweight belt in April 2023 with a knockout of Raufeon Stots.

Frustrated with canceled fights that left him with just one title defense in 2024, “No Love” joined Freire in targeting free agency. But while the Bellator legend is now free from his contract and pushing for a UFC signing, Mix remains part of the PFL.

And he recently surfaced again on Instagram to make a fresh plea for a release, citing the new uncertainty surrounding his status as a champ after the PFL eliminated the Bellator brand from its plans moving forward.

“Right now im 31 years of age. In the prime of my career. I spent my last 6 years of my life fully dedicated to @bellatormma. I worked extremely hard and sacrificed everything to win the grand prix and become a (3) multi time world champion. Now with the promotion gone I’m exactly champion of what?

“I’ve always showed up to put it on the line have never turned down a single fight. Right now in perspective as a healthy world champion I fought just once going on 15 months now. All my momentum in my career has been lost, As this is the longest layoff of my 31 fights I’ve had between amateur and pro.

“I’m 20-1 now close to 5 years undefeated. I’ve finished my last 13/15 opponents and am legitimately one round removed from a perfect 21-0. Not boring entertainer either since I have an 80 percent finish rate. I KNOW I’m the best in the world at bantamweight and I want to prove this.

“I ask this with the upmost respect and urgency from @dscct@pflmma PLEASE RELEASE me from my contract so I can perform to make money and do what I have to do to support my family. I’m in the prime of my career and I’m the BEST. I should be able to compete against the other best fighters In the world and not be on the shelf. If the sky was the limit I’m on the moon right now skill wise and there should be only one octagon I display my skill set in. Plus the ambassador for @pflmma is @francisngannou I mean I’m a world champion out of the same gym and you personally see how hard I work and try to be a leader for this team. This is no way to treat a champion. RELEASE patchy mix ?”

Given Mix’s status as one of the top bantamweights in the world, in addition to his relatively young age of 31, it remains to be seen whether the PFL higher-ups will oblige like they did Freire’s request for a release last month.

PFL Chief Denies Bellator Fighter Entrapment: ‘This Isn’t an MMA Prison Camp’

PFL Chief Denies Bellator Fighter Entrapment: ‘This Isn’t an MMA Prison Camp’PFL co-founder Donn Davis isn’t forcing anyone to stick around. Earlier this month, Davis announced that he had granted…

PFL Chief Denies Bellator Fighter Entrapment: ‘This Isn’t an MMA Prison Camp’

PFL co-founder Donn Davis isn’t forcing anyone to stick around.

Earlier this month, Davis announced that he had granted Patricio Pitbull his release after the former Bellator titleholder expressed frustration over news that Bellator and all its fighters would be absorbed into the PFL brand as one promotion going forward.

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During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Davis spoke about the big changes coming to the PFL brand over the next year and the fact that some Bellator fighters may choose to test free agency rather than stick around.

“I believe yes [Patchy Mix will stay with PFL this year],” Davis said. “I think Patchy is going to be happy, I think Corey Anderson is going to be happy, I think fighters are going to be very, very happy. But once again, if they’re not, we’re going to help them get the solution they want that’s not here.

“This isn’t MMA prison camp, this is opportunity camp. So if fighters don’t want to be here and they believe they can do better elsewhere, it doesn’t help us to have them here. It doesn’t help us. We have a pipeline of incredible fighters.”

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Davis determined to keep patchy mix in PFL

Mix, the last man to hold the Bellator bantamweight belt, asked for his outright release from the PFL due to inactivity. Now that the PFL is merging its roster with Bellator, there’s no word yet on whether or not Mix will stick around to compete inside the Smart Cage, but it certainly sounds like retaining Mix’s services is a top priority for the PFL brass.

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“Patchy is a star. We love him. I want him here. Any other fighter, we want him here. Am I super confident that this noise is a blip and this noise will go away? I am. But might there be another fighter that is unhappy and wants to go? There might be and we’ll accommodate that.”

Mix is 20-1 in his mixed martial arts career and is currently sitting on a seven-fight win streak. His last appearance inside the cage came at Bellator Champions Series: Paris in May 2024 where he defeated Magomed Magomedov via unanimous decision.

Ex-UFC Fighter Slams PFL’s Lackluster Matchmaking: ‘They Don’t Know What They’re Doing’

Ex-UFC Fighter Slams PFL's Lackluster Matchmaking: 'They Don't Know What They're Doing'While they’re technically the second-biggest fight promotion in the United States, the PFL has a long way to go…

Ex-UFC Fighter Slams PFL's Lackluster Matchmaking: 'They Don't Know What They're Doing'

While they’re technically the second-biggest fight promotion in the United States, the PFL has a long way to go before earning respect from both fans and fighters.

In November 2023, the Professional Fighters League made a big splash in the world of MMA by buying Bellator, a fledgling organization that had introduced the world to Eddie Alvarez, Michael Chandler, the Pitbull brothers, Michael ‘Venom’ Page, and many more. Anyone signed to Bellator at the time of the merger was immediately folded into the PFL roster.

That includes current Bellator light heavyweight champion Corey ‘Overtime’ Anderson.

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A former Ultimate Fighter winner, Anderson captured his first world title in March after scoring a unanimous decision victory over Karl Moore at Bellator Champions Series 1 in Belfast to claim the 205-pound belt. Since then, ‘Overtime’ has been left in limbo waiting for the powers that be in the PFL to decide when or if he’ll fight for them again.

During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Anderson didn’t hold back while talking about the PFL’s lackluster leadership and their lack of knowledge about the fight game.

“With Donn [Davis] and Pete [Murray], I don’t know what their plans are,” Anderson said. “At the same time, from the outside looking in it looks like guys that haven’t really spent much time in fighting, so they don’t really know what they’re doing at the moment. They’re trying to make business moves. They’re good at Wall Street-type stuff and stocks and making money. But that’s a different game to the fight game, so I don’t know their plans.”

Donn Davis is the co-founder of chairman of the Professional Fighters League while Pete Murray serves as the promotion’s CEO.

Corey Anderson isn’t the only fighter frustrated by the PFL’s decision-making

Corey Anderson isn’t the only PFL fighter frustrated over the lack of direction. In November, Patchy Mix didn’t hold back after the promotion canceled its Bellator Champions Series event in Paris scheduled for November 16. Mix was expected to square off with Leandro Higo at the event.

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“I’ve been training my ass off for the last half of year for nothing,” Mix wrote on X. “This is frustrating in the prime of my career and I’ve had my fight in November cancelled? Then now again I’m being told I’m off January Dubai card? I am the best in the world and I want to fight to prove it.”

Patricio Pitbull was also left sitting on the sidelines after hoping to compete multiple times in 2024.

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“I haven’t fought since February,” Pitbull posted. “I wanted to fight 3x this year, but I was told I’d have to wait until December 31st and found out online my opponent would fight someone else. Then they had a replacement, I bring people over, spend more money with the camp and there’s no fight.”

For a company that claims to put fighters first, the PFL certainly seems to be doing the exact opposite.

Bellator Champs Patrício Pitbull, Patchy Mix Request PFL Release: ‘They Don’t Know How To Act’

Two of the biggest names that the PFL acquired in the Bellator deal have recently voiced their frustrations with not being offered fights. Both Patrício Pitbull and Patchy Mix are reigning Bellator champions who have recently had upcoming bouts cancelled and they don’t seem happy with the communication that has taken place. Pitbull hasn’t fought […]

Two of the biggest names that the PFL acquired in the Bellator deal have recently voiced their frustrations with not being offered fights. Both Patrício Pitbull and Patchy Mix are reigning Bellator champions who have recently had upcoming bouts cancelled and they don’t seem happy with the communication that has taken place.

Pitbull hasn’t fought since March where after finishing Jeremy Kennedy, he says he was told that he would be able to return to RIZIN for a rematch with Chihiro Suzuki to try and get his revenge. He also claims that he was then told he would be fighting Aaron Pico instead but this has also not materialized for him.

As for the bantamweight champion Mix, he defended his title in May and was recently preparing for another title defence against Leandro Higo in November but since that event was postponed, he says that he hasn’t received word on when he will receive his next outing. Posting on X, Mix vented his frustrations and said that similarly to what has happened with other big names like Gegard Mousasi, he would like to be released if they don’t have any plans for him in the near future.

“My manager told me to hold off but haven’t heard anything from PFLMMA DonnDavisPFL If you are not gonna have me fight then just please release me from contract. This is not what I want but if I’m not important to the company being a multi time champ. Then let me go respectfully”

Pitbull made similar statements in a recent interview with MMA Fighting where he criticized the way that the promotion has handled the Bellator fighters since the acquisition last year.

“PFL guys seem a bit lost there. Looks like Bellator is a bit too big for them, and they don’t know how to act properly.”

Pitbull, like Mix, just wants to be active and he believes that leaving the PFL is the best way for him to do that at this stage in his career.

“We were left with only promises. We lost rhythm, we lost part of our careers waiting for something that never came. It’s bad for me as a champion. I need to stay active. We know I’m not getting any younger, too. So I spoke with my managers and since my contract is not that long, it’s close to the end, we’ll ask to leave. I need to work.

“Basically, Douglas Lima and my brother [Patricky Pitbull], the high-caliber guys of the organization, they either re-signed with their purse cut in half or they would be cut. That was basically forced, you know? Donn Davis said early in the merge that that would not happen, but it happened. We know the organization has valued semi-retired fighters and internet celebrities more than actual fighters that put on a show.”

Bellator Champions Slam PFL Amid Forced Inactivity: ‘This Merger Has Been A Disaster For MMA!’

Some of the top Bellator names who found themselves under the PFL banner last year are far from happy with their new employer. The PFL attempted to strengthen its standing in mixed martial arts and its pursuit of achieving “co-leader” status alongside the UFC by purchasing the Bellator MMA organization late last year. The promotion has […]

Some of the top Bellator names who found themselves under the PFL banner last year are far from happy with their new employer.

The PFL attempted to strengthen its standing in mixed martial arts and its pursuit of achieving “co-leader” status alongside the UFC by purchasing the Bellator MMA organization late last year.

The promotion has since staged its first PFL vs. Bellator card, commenced global and regional seasons, and opened up a “reimagined” version of the brand it acquired in the form of the Bellator Champions Series.

While that has brought with it some entertaining cards and fights, things have been far from entirely positive for the PFL in 2024.  In attempting to separate itself from the UFC, PFL higher-ups have frequently claimed to be “fighter first” and an improved home for athletes compared to its rival. This year, though, has seen numerous fighters share their issues. 

Sabah Homasi repeatedly bemoaned the lack of payment to cover his medical expenses from a Bellator fight last September. Prior to her debut in October, Cris Cyborg frequently slammed the PFL online for not booking her. Gegard Mousasi and Douglas Lima claimed the organization was refusing to honor their contracts because they earn too much money, with the former even commencing legal proceedings against the company following his subsequent release.

Those instances suggest the PFL’s purchase has left some Bellator fighters worse off, and the ongoing forced inactivity experienced by many is doing little to dismiss that suggestion.

One champion who feels hard done by is bantamweight standout Patchy Mix. Since defending his title against Magomed Magomedov in Paris this past May, “No Love” hasn’t made it back to the cage.

While he was scheduled for a return to the French capital this month, that event was among those suddenly canceled with little explanation. And in a post on X, Mix claimed a planned rescheduling of his return for January has also now been called off.

“I’ve been training my ass off for the last half of year for nothing,” Mix wrote. “This is frustrating in the prime of my career and I’ve had my fight in November cancelled? Then now again I’m being told I’m off January Dubai card? I am the best in the world and I want to fight to prove it.”

It didn’t take long for another champ to share that sentiment — this time the consensus Bellator GOAT, Patrício “Pitbull” Freire, who is without a fight since March.

“I haven’t fought since February. I wanted to fight 3x this year, but I was told I’d have to wait until December 31st and found out online my opponent would fight someone else. Then they had a replacement, I bring people over, spend more money with the camp and there’s no fight.”

In follow-up posts, the Brazilian went as far as to brand the PFL’s acquisition of Bellator as a “disaster” for the sport of MMA.

And it wasn’t just champions showing discontent this past weekend.

The man scheduled to challenge Mix this month prior to the unexplained cancellation, Leandro Higo, also took to social media to express his fury with the PFL after seeing his opponent speak out.

“This is very frustrating. We have no clue about when we might be fighting after two fight cancellations in a row. Time is of the essence in this game, we can’t waste our primes on the sidelines. I’m working hard to take that title, spending money, sweat and blood. What’s going on?”

When announcing its plans for this year, the PFL laid out eight Bellator Champions Series events and promised two championship contests on each. But it’s ultimately only put on five, the most recent being in London this past September, and filled the outlined quota of champions on just one of those cards.

It remains to be seen what the PFL has planned for the likes of Mix and Freire in 2025 — and for the rest of those who were hoping to compete on the now-scrapped Bellator Champions Series events in the back end of this year.

For now, the promotion will be focusing on a successful return to Saudi Arabia this week for its PFL World Championship and PFL MENA Championship shows in Riyadh.

But as another year comes to a close for the organization, it’s safe to say things haven’t gone as hoped since the purchase of Bellator, especially for the high-profile fighters who came with it.