Professional Fighters League is releasing Bellator featherweight champion Patricio "Pitbull" Freire, PFL chairman Donn Davis announced Tuesday.
"I founded this company to create new, great opportunities for top fighters," Davis wrote on X. "PFL has and will continue to do that for all top fighters who want to be here."
The decision to part ways with "Pitbull" comes hours after he strongly criticized the PFL for the end of Bellator MMA. Uncrowned's Ariel Helwani reported Monday that the Bellator brand no longer exists after PFL - which acquired Bellator in 2023 - made several major changes to its structure.
Freire - who said Dec. 4 he wanted to leave Bellator and join the UFC - shared a series of tweets Tuesday criticizing the PFL, Davis, and their decision-making.
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
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
I’ve seen Donn’s tweets and had to hold myself not to react to them, but after Pete Murray started ghosting us since last week and the official death of Bellator, while hearing about how some fighters are being sent absurd, never ending low pay deals, I just couldn’t stay silent
— Patricio Pitbull (@PatricioPitbull) January 14, 2025
Just a little more context to those questioning about my contract. It was signed years before the sale when there was no indication @BellatorMMA would ever be sold. Ratings and ticket sales for my fights were bigger than every other champion. We had the numbers, we knew my worth.
— Patricio Pitbull (@PatricioPitbull) January 14, 2025
A longtime Bellator star, "Pitbull" leaves PFL with a 24-6 record that includes three featherweight title reigns and a lightweight championship. The 37-year-old fought just once in 2024, defeating Jeremy Kennedy by TKO in March.
