- Featherweight
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Patricio Pitbull Record, stats and next fight
38-9-0 (W-L-D)
13Wins by knockout
12Wins by submission
13First round finishes
Stats and record
47Pro fights
66%Finish rate
4UFC fights
15Title fights
0Performance bonuses
1Win streak
Wins by method
Losses by method
Profile
- Age
- 39 years
- Born
- July 7, 1987
- Birthplace
- Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
- Height
- 5'6" (168 cm)
- Weight
- 146 lbs (66 kg)
- Reach
- 65" (166 cm)
- Division
- Featherweight
- Fighting out of
- Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
- Team
- Pitbull Brothers
- Trainer
- Amilcar Alves
- UFC debut
- April 12, 2025
Fight history
-
Win
vs Choi Doo-ho
UFC 331 · Sep 19, 2026 · Los Angeles, California, United States
- Method
- TKO (punches and elbows)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 3:28
-
Loss
vs Aaron Pico
UFC 327 · Apr 11, 2026 · Miami, Florida, United States
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs Dan Ige
UFC 318 · Jul 19, 2025 · New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 5:00
-
Loss
UFC 314 · Apr 12, 2025 · Miami, Florida, United States
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs Jeremy Kennedy Title
Bellator Champions Series 1 · Mar 22, 2024 · Belfast, Northern Ireland
- Method
- TKO (knees and punches)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 4:07
-
Loss
vs Chihiro Suzuki
Super Rizin 2 · Jul 30, 2023 · Saitama, Japan
- Method
- KO (punch)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 2:32
-
Loss
vs Sergio Pettis Title
Bellator 297 · Jun 16, 2023 · Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 5
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs Kleber Koike Erbst
Bellator MMA vs. Rizin · Dec 31, 2022 · Saitama, Japan
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 5:00
Show 39 earlier fights
-
Win
vs Ádám Borics Title
Bellator 286 · Oct 1, 2022 · Long Beach, California, United States
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 5
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs A. J. McKee Title
Bellator 277 · Apr 15, 2022 · San Jose, California, United States
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 5
- Time
- 5:00
-
Loss
vs A. J. McKee
Bellator 263 · Jul 31, 2021 · Inglewood, California, United States
- Method
- Technical Submission (guillotine choke)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 1:57
-
Win
vs Emmanuel Sanchez Title
Bellator 255 · Apr 2, 2021 · Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
- Method
- Technical Submission (guillotine choke)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 3:35
-
Win
vs Pedro Carvalho Title
Bellator 252 · Nov 12, 2020 · Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
- Method
- KO (punch)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 2:10
-
Win
vs Juan Archuleta Title
Bellator 228 · Sep 28, 2019 · Inglewood, California, United States
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 5
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs Michael Chandler Title
Bellator 221 · May 11, 2019 · Rosemont, Illinois, United States
- Method
- TKO (punches)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 1:01
-
Win
vs Emmanuel Sanchez Title
Bellator 209 · Nov 15, 2018 · Tel Aviv, Israel
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 5
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs Daniel Weichel Title
Bellator 203 · Jul 14, 2018 · Rome, Italy
- Method
- Decision (split)
- Round
- 5
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs Daniel Straus Title
Bellator 178 · Apr 21, 2017 · Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
- Method
- Submission (guillotine choke)
- Round
- 2
- Time
- 0:37
-
Loss
vs Benson Henderson
Bellator 160 · Aug 26, 2016 · Anaheim, California, United States
- Method
- TKO (leg injury)
- Round
- 2
- Time
- 2:26
-
Win
vs Henry Corrales
Bellator 153 · Apr 22, 2016 · Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
- Method
- Submission (guillotine choke)
- Round
- 2
- Time
- 4:09
-
Loss
vs Daniel Straus
Bellator 145 · Nov 6, 2015 · St. Louis, Missouri, United States
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 5
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs Daniel Weichel Title
Bellator 138 · Jun 19, 2015 · St. Louis, Missouri, United States
- Method
- KO (punch)
- Round
- 2
- Time
- 0:32
-
Win
vs Daniel Straus Title
Bellator 132 · Jan 16, 2015 · Temecula, California, United States
- Method
- Submission (rear-naked choke)
- Round
- 4
- Time
- 4:49
-
Win
vs Pat Curran Title
Bellator 123 · Sep 5, 2014 · Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 5
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs Justin Wilcox
Bellator 108 · Nov 15, 2013 · Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
- Method
- TKO (punches)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 2:23
-
Win
vs Fabrício Guerreiro
Bellator 103 · Oct 11, 2013 · Mulvane, Kansas, United States
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs Diego Nunes
Bellator 99 · Sep 13, 2013 · Temecula, California, United States
- Method
- KO (punches)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 1:19
-
Win
vs Jared Downing
Bellator 97 · Jul 31, 2013 · Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States
- Method
- TKO (punches)
- Round
- 2
- Time
- 0:54
-
Loss
vs Pat Curran Title
Bellator 85 · Jan 13, 2013 · Irvine, California, United States
- Method
- Decision (split)
- Round
- 5
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs Daniel Straus
Bellator 45 · May 21, 2011 · Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs Wilson Reis
Bellator 41 · Apr 16, 2011 · Yuma, Arizona, United States
- Method
- KO (punches)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 3:29
-
Win
vs Georgi Karakhanyan
Bellator 37 · Mar 19, 2011 · Concho, Oklahoma, United States
- Method
- TKO (punches)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 0:56
-
Loss
vs Joe Warren
Bellator 23 · Jun 24, 2010 · Louisville, Kentucky, United States
- Method
- Decision (split)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs Wilson Reis
Bellator 18 · May 13, 2010 · Monroe, Louisiana, United States
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs William Romero
Bellator 15 · Apr 22, 2010 · Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
- Method
- Submission (heel hook)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 2:01
-
Win
vs Johnny Iwasaki
Platinum Fight Brazil 2 · Dec 5, 2009 · Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Method
- Submission (guillotine choke)
- Round
- 2
- Time
- 3:27
-
Win
vs Vinicius Borba
Eagle FC 1 · Sep 26, 2009 · São Paulo, Brazil
- Method
- TKO (head kick and punches)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 1:24
-
Win
vs Giovani Diniz
Platinum Fight Brazil 1 · Aug 13, 2009 · Natal, Brazil
- Method
- Submission (kimura)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 2:20
-
Win
vs Gleristone Santos
Brazil Nordeste Combat · Apr 2, 2009 · Natal, Brazil
- Method
- KO (flying knee)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 2:16
-
Win
vs Fernando Vieira
Leal Combat: Premium · Jun 5, 2008 · Natal, Brazil
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs Paulo Mantas
Rino's FC 4 · Sep 27, 2007 · Fortaleza, Brazil
- Method
- Submission (heel hook)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 2:21
-
Win
vs Jadyson Costa
Leal Combat: Natal · Jul 5, 2007 · Natal, Brazil
- Method
- Submission (rear-naked choke)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 4:34
-
Win
vs Rafael Gargula
Tridenium Combat · Apr 6, 2006 · Fortaleza, Brazil
- Method
- Submission (armbar)
- Round
- 2
- Time
- 3:05
-
Win
vs Joao Paulo Rodrigues
Fight Ship Looking Boy 1 · Sep 8, 2005 · Natal, Brazil
- Method
- Submission (guillotine choke)
- Round
- 2
- Time
- N/A
-
Win
vs Tarcisio Jardim
Octagon Fight 1 · Feb 24, 2005 · Natal, Brazil
- Method
- Submission (guillotine choke)
- Round
- 2
- Time
- N/A
-
Win
vs Marlon Silva
Brazilian Challenger 2 · Oct 21, 2004 · Natal, Brazil
- Method
- Decision (unanimous)
- Round
- 3
- Time
- 5:00
-
Win
vs Dida Dida
Desafio: Natal vs. Nordeste · Mar 9, 2004 · Natal, Brazil
- Method
- TKO (corner stoppage)
- Round
- 1
- Time
- 5:00
Analysis
Patricio Pitbull, a three-time Bellator featherweight champion and a lightweight champion, holds most of the organization’s records: fights, wins, title fights and finishes. The Brazilian joined the UFC in 2025 at age 37 with a professional record of 38 wins and 9 losses.
Background
Patrício André de Sousa Freire was born on July 7, 1987, in Mossoró, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, and grew up on the outskirts of Natal. He started Brazilian jiu-jitsu at age ten in response to teasing about his size. As a teenager, he trained at the Chute Boxe academy alongside Wanderlei Silva and Mauricio Rua. He turned professional in March 2004, at 16, and spent the first five years of his career in Brazil, where he built a record of 12 wins without a loss, the large majority inside the distance. His brother Patricky Pitbull is also a professional fighter.
Career in Bellator and Then the UFC
Freire debuted in Bellator in April 2010 and reached the final of the featherweight tournament, which he lost to Joe Warren. He won the Season Four tournament in 2011, then the Season Nine tournament in 2013. In September 2014, he beat Pat Curran to become the featherweight champion. He defended his title against Daniel Straus and then Daniel Weichel before losing it to Straus in November 2015. He regained the belt in April 2017 with a guillotine choke, in a fourth meeting with the same opponent.
In November 2019, he became the second simultaneous two-division champion in Bellator history by also capturing the lightweight title. His third featherweight reign began in April 2022, making him the first fighter in the organization to have four separate reigns. Released by the PFL in January 2025, he signed with the UFC the following month.
His Octagon debut came on April 12, 2025, at UFC 314, against Yair Rodríguez: a loss by unanimous decision. He bounced back on July 19, 2025, at UFC 318 against Dan Ige, by decision. On April 11, 2026, he lost to Aaron Pico at UFC 327, before earning his first stoppage win in the organization on September 19, 2026, at UFC 331, with a first-round KO of Choi Doo-ho.
Fighting Style
Pitbull combines a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu with short, explosive boxing built around a counter left hook. His breakdown of wins is one of the most balanced on the circuit: 13 by KO or TKO, 12 by submission, 13 by decision. He works at a broken rhythm, alternates striking entries with back takes, and his longevity at the highest level owes as much to his management of five rounds as to his power. His 5’5″ (166 cm) reach often forces him to close the distance on his opponents.
Record and Titles
- Professional record: 38 wins, 9 losses
- Wins by method: 13 by KO or TKO, 12 by submission, 13 by decision
- Bellator featherweight champion (three reigns, nine defenses in total)
- Bellator lightweight champion (one reign)
- Winner of the Bellator Season Four and Season Nine featherweight tournaments
- Bellator record for most wins (24) and most fights (30)
- Bellator record for most finishes (15) and most title fights (18)
Fighter Profile
- Full name: Patrício André de Sousa Freire
- Nickname: Pitbull
- Born: July 7, 1987, in Mossoró (Brazil)
- Nationality: Brazilian
- Height: 5’6″ (168 cm)
- Reach: 5’5″ (166 cm)
- Division: featherweight
- Team: Pitbull Brothers (Natal)
- Martial arts base: Brazilian jiu-jitsu (black belt), boxing
Sources
Data updated on September 28, 2026. Record and measurements cross-checked against official results and Wikipedia. Text written by the MMA Official editorial team.