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On the heels of major announcements coming with the PFL (Professional Fighters League), the organization has made another significant change. Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire has officially been released from his contract by the organization after months of him publicly stating his displeasure with the company.
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We are releasing @PatricioPitbull @PFLMMA is all about opportunity
I founded this company to create new great opportunities for top fighters
PFL has and will continue to do that for all top fighters who want to be here #PFLMMA
— Donn Davis (@DonnDavisPFL) January 14, 2025
PFL President Donn Davis revealed the news on X, stating:
“We are releasing PatricioPitbull. @PFLMMAis all about opportunity I founded this company to create new great opportunities for top fighters PFL has and will continue to do that for all top fighters who want to be here #PFLMMA“
The release comes after months of Freire stating that he wants a release, and comes directly after he chose to go after PFL in a long-post tirade on X.
Look at the @ufc, @DonnDavisPFL, they honor their OGs. She asked for a release and they gave it to her, made no fuss about it, they are honorable. That’s how big organizations do things when a fighter doesn’t want to continue with them. You should learn from it. https://t.co/R2nWNibepE
— Patricio Pitbull (@PatricioPitbull) January 14, 2025
Read more: Former Champion Holly Holm Departs UFC, Exploring Options in MMA and Boxing
Freire initially highlighted the fact that the UFC just released veteran Holly Holm. He spoke about the UFC “honoring its OGs.”
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images
Freire then followed that up by announcing the “death” of the Bellator brand, along with espousing PFL with contract claims.
RIP @BellatorMMA. It’s sad it’s come to an end and the org had such a painful death. Sabotaged by Viacom execs in its last years then sold to uncaring people that did their best to ruin it. pic.twitter.com/Zr2XfBSmaA
— Patricio Pitbull (@PatricioPitbull) January 14, 2025
when fighters were treated with respect, contracts were fair and the production had a big step up in quality, to Viacom burying it in channels nobody watched and forcing decisions the administration wasn’t in favor of, and dying in PFL’s hands once again lowballing fighters and
— Patricio Pitbull (@PatricioPitbull) January 14, 2025
Imagine starting your contract at PFL at 10+10, becoming a champion after 3 fights, fighting for 119+119, losing the belt and going back to 19+19.
Or making 50k, having to agree to be an alternate and being forced to accept a 10k pay or you’ll be passed for a title shot next. https://t.co/MfuBTlde6X— Patricio Pitbull (@PatricioPitbull) January 14, 2025
PFL is setting the organization and the contracts in a way that even 5 years from now, no fighter will be able to get paid even 50% of what I currently get. They want fighters tied down to low pay, far less than what top UFC fighters make, but never have the chance to go there.
— Patricio Pitbull (@PatricioPitbull) January 14, 2025
Instead of PFL dealing with the clear complaints of Freire, they have chosen instead to grant his release.
Freire took to speaking about the company on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” He pleaded for the company to release him then.
“The last straw was them canceling my fight,” Pitbull said on Monday’s “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “They had me waiting to Dec. 31 and let me know with a few weeks’ notice that my flight was canceled. I actually found out the change of opponents on the internet and then they said there would be no event.
“I wish we would just shake hands and go our separate ways,” Pitbull said. “I’m not waiting for anything legal. I just go there, talk, and arrive ready to go. Even if they give me a part of the promotion, whatever money they provide me, I’m not interested. I just want to move on and fight these other guys. I already told them that even if they let my contract be up and they come up with much more money, whatever, I’m not interested.”
After months of speculation regarding the release of Freire, his requests have finally been granted.
Read more: PFL Founder Donn Davis Reveals Previously Banned Elbows Will Now be Legal
The PFL promised big changes in 2025, and Davis spoke to Newsweek Sports about those changes in December. One such change has already happened, which is the inclusion of legal elbows in every fight.
The next biggest is that Freire will be under a different promotion in 2025. Many believed that he would likely draw interest from the UFC, and that interest might increase greatly in the next few hours.
Freire has been the featherweight champion for Bellator since 2022 and has kept that title. Should he join the UFC, the question would be whether he gets an immediate title fight against current champion Ilia Topuria.
One thing is for sure, Freire joining the UFC would lead to the featherweight division being even more dangerous.
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For more MMA, head to Newsweek Sports.
