Patricio Pitbull, a former dominant force in Bellator with a significant portion of his wins coming by finishes, experienced a setback in his first UFC appearance. Boasting a 24-6 record with 14 stoppages during his Bellator tenure, including three featherweight championships, Pitbull aimed to replicate that success in the UFC.
However, in his UFC 314 debut this past Saturday in Miami, the 37-year-old Brazilian fighter suffered a decision loss to Yair Rodriguez. Pitbull expressed disappointment, feeling he could have performed better. He described the initial rounds as uneventful and lacking engagement from both fighters, ultimately acknowledging Rodriguez`s victory.
“Having spent many years competing in five-round fights, perhaps my urgency to engage took longer to activate,” Pitbull explained. “It was my mistake not to initiate aggressively from the start, but it was also a cautious approach to avoid errors. I prioritize precision over recklessness. Overall, I could have been more proactive, more aggressive in pursuing him, but hindsight is 20/20. We could have executed a better strategy.”
Pitbull clarified that his performance wasn`t due to first-time jitters in the UFC octagon. Instead, he suggested he might have been overly relaxed, which could have been detrimental. Accustomed to a winning trajectory in Bellator, Pitbull is determined to reshape his UFC journey.
“Now that I am no longer a champion, I must become the challenger,” Pitbull stated. “And that is precisely my intention for my upcoming fights. It’s a necessity, and I am committed to making it happen.”
To gauge fan interest, Pitbull initiated a social media poll asking for suggestions for his next opponent. Dan Ige emerged as the preferred choice, surpassing Josh Emmett, Aljamain Sterling, and Diego Lopes. Ige also fought at the Miami event, securing a controversial knockout victory against Sean Woodson, despite leading on the judges` scorecards after two rounds.
“They are all worthy contenders, and I believe that’s the direction we’re heading. However, I’ve instructed the UFC to surprise me,” Pitbull commented. “My aim was to make a successful debut. Had I defeated Yair Rodriguez, I would likely be considered a top 5 contender, with discussions about a potential title shot. Now, my focus shifts to the top 15 rankings. It`s somewhat disheartening, but I recognize this is the necessary path forward.”
