Patricio Pitbull finished almost half of his fight under Bellator Banner, building a record 24-6, and earning him the featherweight champion in a now-deprecated promotion, ranging from three rulers at 14 stops. However, he was unable to replicate his success in his long-awaited UFC debut.
The 37-year-old Brazilian lost his decision to Yair Rodriguez on the main card for UFC 314 last Saturday, feeling that Miami can do better. Pitbull admits that the early parts of the fight were “boring” and lack of action on both sides, but Rodriguez ultimately deserves a nod.
“I don’t know if it’s going to take too long for my sense of urgency to be revitalized, perhaps, to spend years in five rounds of battle,” Pitbull told MMA Fighting. “It was my mistake not to start with gas’s feet, but I understand because it can lead to mistakes. I don’t want to make mistakes. I like to attack targets. In general, I could do more, went to war, hunted him, hunted him, but we could do better.”
Pitbull said he didn’t feel any sense of the Octagon’s anxiety in his first appearance within the UFC Octagon. In fact, he “relaxed too much” that night, so he believes that might have been the problem. Pitbull, accustomed to having a victory record with Bellator, vows to change courses for his UFC career.
“Now I’m no longer a champion, so I have to hunt the enemies,” Pitbull said. “That’s exactly what I’m trying to do in the next fight. I have to do that, and I have to do that.”
Pitbull launched a poll on social media, asking if Danige should vote for Josh Emmett, Al Hamann Sterling and Diego Lopez to become his next opponent in the Octagon. Ige competed in Miami on the same night, scoring a controversial knockout for Sean Woodson in the third round in a match where Ige led by scorecards two rounds later.
“They’re all good names and I think that’s the next move. But I told the UFC to surprise me,” Pitbull said. “I wanted to debut with my right foot. If I beat Yaa Rodriguez, I’m definitely in the top five so people will probably ask me about what’s next for the belt. Now I have to look at the top 15.