Patricio Pitbull, a former two-division champion, is set to make his UFC debut against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314 in Miami, aiming to establish himself in the featherweight division and potentially secure a title shot.
LAS VEGAS—Patricio Pitbull is all set to make waves in his UFC debut.
The ex-two-division champ enters the octagon for the first time at UFC 314 on April 12 in Miami. He’ll face off against former interim featherweight champ Yair Rodriguez. This marks Pitbull’s first fight since he was released from PFL this January, a move he publicly demanded to become a free agent.
At 37, Pitbull finds himself poised to carve out a new legacy, starting with an electrifying performance against Rodriguez.
“He’s very dynamic, but I have a power and I’m going to smash him,” Pitbull confidently stated to MMA Fighting’s José Youngs during a media scrum.
Before the PFL acquired Bellator in 2023, Pitbull was its poster boy. He held multiple titles at 145 pounds and snagged the lightweight title in 2019. With a pro record of 36-7, he’s got the credentials to be fast-tracked to a UFC championship bout.
UFC 314’s main event features former champ Alexander Volkanovski battling Diego Lopes for a vacant featherweight belt. Ilia Topuria vacated it to move up to lightweight. Coincidence? Pitbull thinks not.
“The UFC didn’t say anything, but I feel the card they put me on, the position they put me in, they’re really aligning me to potentially be a contender in the featherweight division,” Pitbull said through a Portuguese translator.
Rodriguez is No. 5 in the UFC’s official featherweight rankings. A win on April 12 could earn Pitbull that spot. And if it leads straight to a title shot? He’s ready to sign on the dotted line.
“I’m always ready,” Pitbull declared. “We win that fight, [whoever wins the main event], I’m going to face, no problem. But I know it depends on my next fight. I know my place, but I’m going to take that belt, you’ll see.”