Cameras hone in on the Pitbull Brothers gym in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil, where Patricio “Pitbull” Freire is standing in the cage and peering directly into the lens.
“If you want to be king, you’re gonna have to kill me,” he huffs with full gusto.
That was him shooting a promo for his Bellator 241 main event, where the Double Champ will put his featherweight title on the line against Pedro Carvalho on Friday night, live on DAZN. But you can’t tell Pitbull that the line was simply to generate buildup and hype for the fight.
He’s in full gladiator, Spartan mode entering the Featherweight World Grand Prix quarterfinal from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Saying things like “you’re gonna have to kill me” to take my title can be relegated to fighter hyperbole, but Freire speaks like this often enough that perhaps he should get the benefit of the doubt that just maybe ... he means it.
The 32-year-old became a Champ Champ last May after sparking Michael Chandler in 61 seconds. Achieving that goal would mark a career climax for any mixed martial arts fighter, but Pitbull has a hunger for more.
His lightweight and featherweight belts clung to his shoulders at the Viacom building in Times Square in New York City, the Brazilian fighter isn’t satisfied with simply owning the hardware. He wants to gut the competition in both divisions.
“Everything I did in my life was for that moment,” Freire tells DAZN News about becoming the double champion. “It means my dream.”
Now, clearing out the competition in each division until all that’s left behind is rubble is his next lofty ambition.
“It’s almost impossible in this moment of this sport,” he adds about alternating wiping away contenders in each divisions.
That goal should keep Pitbull gnawing at the gym enough, but even then, he’s pushing his imagination to another level.
“When I made (Double Champ), it was unbelievable, but I want more,” he said. “I want my third belt. I want the bantamweight belt. Let’s see what’s going to happen.”
Freire is fully aware that what he just said is over the top, as there’s never been a Triple Champ in MMA history. But he’s already fluctuating between two different weight classes. The way he sees it, what’s one more?
“I want to break records,” he says. “That’s it, that’s it. ‘It’s not possible’ …let’s do that.”
The first step in working toward that goal comes Friday with a challenge from a game Carvalho, who’s supremely confident that he puts Pitbull to sleep.
Sitting at the dais of Bellator’s media day on Monday, Carvalho made it clear that he respects Freire, but not too much.
“When I’m inside of the cage, I see no names, I see no faces,” Carvalho said. “I’m always the hunter. It doesn’t matter who it is — he will be the prey.
“This week in the cage, I’ll end up with my hand on top, champion and make history,” he continued vowing. “And one by one, I’ll take this whole tournament.”
Then came Carvalho’s assertion that Pitbull’s better days are behind him.
“I’m a better striker than he is. He’s only a counterpuncher,” he said. “He started his career as a Pitbull, but right now, he’s just a chess player, trying to pass time and win rounds.”
Freire ironically agrees with that last statement.
“In some point, he’s right,” the Double Champ says. “I have fought like crazy some point ago, but now I’m smarter. It’s dangerous for him. OK, Pedro, be careful. But I have no doubts, I’m still Patricio ‘Pitbull.’ You will see that Friday.”
Freire did have his choice of seven possible opponents to kick off his jaunt in the Featherweight World Grand Prix, but didn’t hesitate choosing Carvalho during the selection show back in September. His reasoning at the time was that Carvalho also speaks way too much trash in their native Portugese and he’s from the SBG fighters’ stable that’s warring with his own Pitbull Brothers.
That’s all the motivation Pitbull needs to try to execute an MMA master class Friday night.
“I’m going to do everything I want in that fight, so I’m going to defend my belt,” he says confidently. “You will see that.”