Patricio Pitbull recently opened up about his disappointing octagon debut against Yair Rodriguez and the costly mistakes he made. Now, he’s focused on correcting those errors as he prepares to return at UFC 318.
Pitbull entered the UFC with a decorated resume and massive expectations for himself. He was the reigning Bellator featherweight champion when he left for the MMA leader, after being released from the PFL.
Due to his accomplishments outside the UFC, he was immediately matched up with a top contender in Rodriguez. At UFC 314, Pitbull lost a unanimous decision to the former interim featherweight champion. He will now face Dan Ige at UFC 318, hoping to showcase the version of himself that dominated Bellator.
Appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show, Pitbull took accountability for his performance, admitting he wasn’t aggressive enough against Rodriguez.
“I was defeated [in my debut] and now, I know I need the victory, so I am very focused…I was very calm [in my debut] and that was my mistake.,” Pitbull told Ariel Helwani. “For me, that fight was like a chess match. I’d love to be more violent from the beginning because the first two rounds, I didn’t really turn it on until the third round…I won’t let that happen again. We’ll get the violence started right off the bat.”
He emphasized that the loss was a valuable learning experience and vows to start much stronger against Ige.
Patricio Pitbull Already Eyeing Next Potential UFC Opponent
While his focus remains on UFC 318, Pitbull has already started mapping out his path up the featherweight ladder. His is aware that an impressive performance against Ige could set him up for a high-stakes fight next.
Pitbull recently expressed interest in fighting fellow former Bellator star Aaron Pico next. The two never fought in Bellator despite being linked to a title fight, so a UFC bout would be fitting.
Now, with Pico’s UFC debut in question after Movsar Evloev pulled out of UFC Abu Dhabi, the timing could finally be right. He is in need of a new opponent and Pitbull has already said he intends to pursue that next.
“I want [Pico] next,” Pitbull said on The Ariel Helwani Show. “Now we have the chance to do that [fight]. So, I’m very excited if my next opponent will be him…I’m ready. If you put me to fight him next week, I’m ready.”
Patricio Pitbull Vows to Showcase Skills Against Dan Ige at UFC 318
Before any negotiations can begin for future opponents, Pitbull must first get past Ige. The former two-division Bellator champion vowed to showcase his skill, leading to a different outcome in his second UFC appearance.
Pitbull analyzed Ige’s fighting style and tendencies he has noticed when observing his fights. He believes that he matches up well stylistically and is confident he can secure a win.
“Yeah, I think [Ige is the perfect opponent]. He’s always coming forward,” Pitbull told reporters during his UFC 318 pre-fight media availability. “He’s gonna press that button, he’s gonna start being violent, and he’s gonna regret it.”
Pitbull has many highlight-reel finishes on his resume, including a knockout win over Michael Chandler, so he is capable of finishing Ige.
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