MMA legend Patricio Pitbull remains in a state of adjustment after a more successful second outing as a UFC hunter.
One of the most intriguing UFC 318 story lines under the pension fight of Dustin Poirier in the main event was the second appearance in the promotion for Pitbull, a legend of mixed martial arts that are generally seen as the biggest hunter of the now-grown Bellator brand.
The 38-year-old Brazilian made his way to the Octagon late in his career and made his debut last April after he had already collected 43 fights as a professional. And it was a rocky start for the featherweight legend, while Yair Rodriguez defeated Pitbull on UFC 314 to immediately block the newcomer's title ambitions.
Pitbull bounced back in New Orleans on Saturday and got better from the always game than IgE on the score cards. But a victory does not mean that the veteran is still completely at home in the UFC.
Patricio Pitbull still finds three round fights 'difficult' to adapt
During a backstage interview with Maddynnnn Johnstone-Thomas from UFC.com, Pitbull thought about his first taste of the victory in the leading promotion of MMA.
Between 2017 and 2022, the Brazilian fought exclusively in five -round competitions. And although he appeared 15 minutes in two fights against Rizin Fighters Kleber Koike Erbst and Chihiro Suzuki, he split them 1-1.
With that in mind, the drop to three rounds in its pursuit of UFC Gold, one aspect marked that Pitbull had to adjust in the Octagon. And despite the win over UFC 318, the 38-year-old admitted that he is still not used to the change.
“I was a bit scared, you know? Because my opponent is very dangerous,” said Pitbull.
“It is still difficult,” he added, when he was asked about his second straight three-round fight. “But an opponent like IGE makes my work easy, because we can always fight.”
Patricio Pitbull knows what he then wants after UFC 318
Both in the run-up and in the aftermath of his second-year UFC outings, Pitbull did not make any secret about who he focuses afterwards.
The Brazilian has set his sights on a different name to have crossed from the PFL to the Octagon after making his name under the Bellator Banner, the still to debut Aaron Pico.
Pico would compete for the first time soon, but the withdrawal of Movsar Evloev from UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26 left his first fight in his new promotion in the air.
For example, Pitbull would apparently be prepared to replace the Russian competition as the first UFC enemy of his former Bellator -Rival.
“I have a name in my mind. I want to face Aaron Pico,” Pitbull told UFC.com. “He had canceled a fight against (Evloev) and now he is free. If he is good, we can fight next week.”