Patrício Freire

Patrício Freire

Patrício Freire is a Brazilian mixed martial artist currently competing in Bellator MMA. He is the current Bellator Lightweight World Champion and two-time and current Featherweight World champion. Freire began training Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of ten to help fend off the stigma of his size.

About Patrício Freire in brief

Summary Patrício FreirePatrício Freire is a Brazilian mixed martial artist currently competing in Bellator MMA. He is the current Bellator Lightweight World Champion and two-time and current Featherweight World champion. Freire began training Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of ten to help fend off the stigma of his size. As a teenager, he trained at the famed Chute Boxe academy alongside notable MMA stars such as Wanderlei Silva and Mauricio Rua. Prior to signing with Bellator, Freire was ranked as one of the top prospects outside of the North American fight scene. He made his American debut on April 22, 2010 for Bellator in its Featherweight Tournament. He won his first round bout defeating Will Romero via first round submission. After a near year and a half lay-off, he returned to action at Bellator 85 to face Pat Curran who had defeated Joe Warren to win the Bellator Featherweight Championship.

He lost the fight by controversial split decision. In Bellator Season Four, Friere earned back-to-back third-round KOs against Georgi Karakhanyan and Wilson Reis to advance to the finals of the featherweight tournament. He was expected to finally challenge for the Featherweight world Championship in the long-awaited rematch with Pat curran on June 6, 2014 atBellator 121. However, Curran had pulled out of the bout due to a calf injury. The rematch eventually took place atbellator 123 on September 5, 2014 and Freire defeated Curran by unanimous decision to become the new Bellator featherweight Champion. In January 2015, he made his first title defense against Daniel Mason-Straus in a rematch of their bout in May 2011, which saw Freire walk away with a decision victory.