Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire wants to earn a second UFC victory in a week, just a few days before his UFC 318 -back.
The upcoming UFC ABU DHABI card next week received a big hit, because it was reported that TopVederweight competitioner Movsar Evloev was forced to withdraw from his planned fight with Aaron Pico due to injury. At the moment the nature of Evloev's injury is not certain, and the UFC matchmakers are reportedly looking for a replacement.
If Pico stays on the UFC Abu DHABI card, he can be confronted with a well-known enemy on Short-Notice.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Patricio 'Pitbull' wants to make UFC history with two fights in a week after UFC 318
Exactly one week before UFC Abu Dhabi, Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire will return to the UFC Octagon against Dan IGE on UFC 318. Pitbull's UFC debut did not go according to plan because he lost to the former interim title holder Yair Rodriguez on UFC 314 earlier this year.
While Pitbull is preparing for potential redemption this Saturday, he wants an opportunity to etch his name in the UFC history books with one of the fastest change in promotional history.
In a recent interview about the Ariel Helwani show, Pitbull threw his name in the hat for a second UFC booking only a few days after his upcoming UFC 318 fight.
“I want him now,” said Pitbull. “Of course I am focused on my next fight, my next opponent, maybe if I win this match, I want Aaron Pico because I was in Bellator for a long time and he was, and it was not possible. He did not fought for the belt.
“And now we have the chance to do that. So I am very excited that my next opponent will be him.
“I am ready. If you are fighting him against him next week, I will be ready. Let's do it!”
Pitbull and Pico were close to the Bellator Banner at various points in their career. Pitbull, a multiple Bellator Vederweight champion, had Pico in his sights before he said goodbye to PFL earlier this year.
Pico was one of the biggest signing sessions in the 2025 UFC and was able to get a quick road to a title shot with a victory in his promotion debut. Pico would have shot a victory over Evloev in the title interview of the featherweight.
Movsar Evloev's title shot is considerably delayed after UFC Abu Dhabi -Retake
As far as the next step is for EVLOEV, the long, strenuous path of the undefeated candidate to a title shot after his UFC Abu Dhabi recovery hit. UFC Vederweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski looked at a matchup with EVLOEV after he had recovered the title earlier this year in a victory over Diego Lopes.
Evloev has not fought since the beating of former UFC Bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling on UFC 310 in December. He defeated the will of Arnold Allen, IgE and Lopes during his unbeaten run in the UFC Octagon.
From this letter, Volkanovski remains without a booking for the first title defense of his second featherweight regime. Things just became more complicated after the stunning withdrawal of Evloev from UFC Abu Dhabi.