Is This a Make-or-Break Fight for Patricio Pitbull?

UFC

Patricio Freire was once thought of as one of the best fighters in all of combat sports. He was a two-division champion in Bellator, and fans everywhere always wanted to know how he would do in either division in the UFC. However, at 38 years old, he finally made his long-awaited debut as he took on Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314. He looked slow and out of sorts throughout the entire fight, and the question of levels began to emerge. He gets another crack at the top 15 of the Featherweight Division as he draws Dan Ige at UFC 318. Will Patricio Pitbull get his first win in the UFC, or will Ige continue to show that the UFC competition is on a level ahead of everyone else? 

Patricio Pitbull at his peak was a well-rounded martial artist with big-time power in his hands, good wrestling, and a versatile grappler. He beat almost everyone who stepped in his way throughout his Bellator career. This is a good mark for everyone to see if Pitbull still has what it takes to compete with the top of the Featherweight Division. We will see if he still has a vintage performance or two in him before he decides to finally hang it up for good. Ige is a typical boxer with crazy power in his hands, so more of what Pitbull is used to facing compared to Yair’s unorthodox kicking style. Ige is going to be in his face and make him have to work, so we will see what kind of speed and ability is still left in his tank. If he can circle away from Ige’s power after he lands his combination, then he will be able to get ahead early on. If he can mix in his wrestling, that will slow Ige down and give him an even bigger advantage on the ground. 

Dan Ige is the truth; he is nonstop action, any time, any place. He is an aggressive fighter who will put the pressure on his opponent throughout. He made a name for himself when he stepped in on an hour's notice to face Diego Lopes at UFC 303. He put together a great performance and was even able to win the third round. In his first fight of 2025, he was able to secure an improbable comeback win against Sean Woodson. If he is his normal and aggressive self, I think he will be able to easily overwhelm Pitbull, and after landing a big shot or two, that will deter him from going toward or throwing much at all. This isn’t the same Pitbull of old, and the top guys in the Featherweight Division are for real. Pitbull may have some fun matchups left in him, but his time at the top and his highly competitive days are most likely behind him. Beating a name like Pitbull could propel Ige forward in a division he has struggled to reach the pinnacle of. 

This fight on paper should be a thrilling and hard-hitting matchup. It all depends on which version of Pitbull we get. If he has a deer-in-the-headlights approach like his first fight in the UFC, it will be a decisive decision victory for Ige. The pressure is solely on Pitbull to come out and perform, so you don’t want to miss it and all the other action this Saturday, July 19th, for UFC 318 Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier with a main card start time of 10:00 p.m. EST.

Andrew Carone

Andrew Carone graduated in August 2022 from Farmingdale State College with a degree in sports management. He has always had a true passion for sports and writing.

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