Former lightweight champion Patricky Pitbull has expressed mixed feelings about a potential sale of Bellator to rival company PFL, noting sadness about potential changes to the organization he’s called home since 2011, but also seeing potential new challenges in new match-ups.
Mixed emotions are being experienced by Patricky Pitbull, a former lightweight champion, ahead of the potential sale of Bellator to rival company, PFL. He has been part of Bellator since 2011, making 24 appearances and representing the brand in cross-promotion matches in RIZIN frequently. However, Pitbull expressed his discontentment towards the idea of Bellator being sold during a recent episode of the podcast Trocação Franca, he stated, “I get sad that the name of the organization would end because of the people there, the friendships I’ve made in the organization for more than 10 years”.
Pitbull went on to share his concerns about potentially joining PFL, making a point about the unique treatment he and his brother received from Bellator. “It’s also sad because we don’t know how the treatment would be [at PFL]. The treatment my brother and I have in Bellator is unique. We can talk to the matchmaker, the hand man of the organization as if they were close friends too. We talk like that to everyone in the organization.”
Despite his reservations, Pitbull pointed out potential merits to a Bellator-PFL merger, particularly the exciting new matchups it could present, especially in stacked divisions like 155 pounds. “[The sale] is sad because you wonder how it’s going to be, but as for the challenges, I think that’s good,” Pitbull said. “I can do different fights, good fights against opponents from [PFL]. I’m already thinking about them. Let’s see how that goes.”
However, he expressed a critique concerning PFL’s unique season format as based on the experience of training partners Natan Schulte and Raush Manfio. “I didn’t like it. I’ve trained with Raush, he has helped me to fight at Bellator, and having to fight someone that has helped you a lot — I know that’s work and this is fighting, but that sucks. To fight a brother that has the same dream of yours, that’s something I don’t want to happen.” He noted he still has a long road ahead of him. Pitbull is set for a fight against Roberto Satoshi and the winner will move on to the grand prix semifinal against Alexandr Shabliy. If Pitbull manages to reach the tournament final, he expects a rematch with Usman Nurmagomedov who is deemed as a sophisticated fighter by Pitbull. “Usman is a very talented kid, a talented Russian who knows how to use his length and has great wrestling. I think it’s going to be a good fight with Primus, and he wins because he’s more complete.”