New fighter flop incoming?
Former Bellator two-division champion and now Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) newcomer Patricio Pitbull makes his highly anticipated debut against former interim champ Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314 next weekend (Sat., April 12, 2025), and he’s aiming to make an immediate splash in the Featherweight division.
However, Professional Fighters League (PFL) broadcaster Sean O’Connell predicts a harsh reality check for Pitbull, suggesting the UFC’s Octagon will be a tougher proving ground than the PFL’s Smart Cage.
“I was ultimately proud of how the Pitbull situation was handled. He wanted out. He didn’t want to continue to fight under the PFL banner, and he’s a guy that made a big stink on social media,” O’Connell told Ariel Helwani. “If you think you can achieve something better somewhere else and make more money somewhere else, go ahead and try.”
“I wish him well. I’m a big fan of his fighting style, but I don’t think he’s going to do more or better in the UFC than he did under the Bellator banner or with the PFL. So, we’ll just let time tell,” O’Connell concluded.
Is the PFL bitter about Pitbull’s departure? Quite possibly.
There’s no shortage of questions surrounding how Pitbull will fare in UFC, especially given his age and the extensive wear and tear from years in MMA.
Fortunately, UFC 314 is just 10 days away, and the Pitbull vs. Rodriguez clash will provide plenty of answers by night’s end.
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