Patricio Freire Prioritizing Title Chase At 135 But Believes AJ McKee Trilogy Looms

Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Freire is considered one of the biggest fighters in the promotion’s history. If he adds a title in his third division to his cabinet, there will be no one questioning that reputation.

“Pitbull” has been thinking long and hard about his fight for the third division title and believes that he is in with a chance.

“I want to defend the (145-pound) belt one more time after this fight, and try to take another belt again and become a champ-champ again,” Freire told MMA Junkie.

“I want to take the (bantamweight) belt, but I have a big opponent to face – the scale. I’m not too big, but I’m strong so I have to see how it’s going to happen.”

Freire puts his title on the line on Saturday, October 1, as the Brazilian fighter will take on Adam Borics in the Bellator 286 main event.

The 35-year-old will be putting his title on the line for the first time since regaining it from AJ McKee earlier this year via unanimous decision. McKee got the better of Freire in July 2021 via first-round submission.

The Mossoro-native is looking forward to the fight but is also vary of his opponent’s confidence going into the match.

“I look at him as a complete fighter. He has only one defeat by submission, and he’s evolved a lot from his last loss. He’s a great kickboxer, but has great wrestling and trains a lot of jiu-jitsu. I know he’s complete and he’s dangerous.

“He has good kicks, good knees, his hands are fast and I have to pay attention to that,” Freire said.