CHICAGO – Patricio Freire is days out from a potential feat no other fighter has ever accomplished, and the thoughts of topping it have already crept into his mind.
At Bellator 297 on Friday, Freire (35-5 MMA, 23-5 BMMA) will challenge bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis (22-5 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) in a co-main event super-fight at Wintrust Arena. He currently holds the featherweight title and previously held the lightweight strap.
What Freire lacked in height at featherweight he often made up for in bulk. A compact fighter, Freire looked lean at Tuesday’s pre-fight news conference as he repeated how easy the cut has been.
“I can’t believe how easy this process is going down a weight class has been,” Freire told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “… I’ve been dieting. I am only eight pounds over. It’s never been easier. It’s easier for me making this weight than it was for featherweight. I’m great. I’m ready. It was easier, easier than ever, easier than making featherweight. I’m ready to shock the world.”
The cut has been so easy, in fact, that Freire hinted a fourth division’s belt could be pursued. Bellator recently announced a flyweight division and Freire has started to consider it a possibility.
“First, I have to get the victory. But I don’t know. We have Patchy Mix as an interim champion. Maybe, (I’ll) go for the fourth belt. I don’t know. Let’s see what is going to happen. I’m feeling great. I’m fresh. I’m feeling good.”
“… Before accepting that fight against Sergio, it was not in my mind. I am like seven kilos (above) the featherweight division and I know it’s hard to make weight. But now, I’m like six months on diet or more and I realized that it’s possible. So after this fight, if I win the fight and the belt is available to a challenger, I’m on it.
For Freire, 35, the chase of records and feats is catalyzed by a desire to not get comfortable. While many other champions are content to just knock off challengers in a single weight class, Freire has actively ventured into unchartered territories.
His laundry list of accolades has made Freire a frequent pick among fans, reporters, and fighters as the best Bellator fighter of all time. Freire himself isn’t interested in partaking in the discussion, just crafting it through actions.
“I’ve never liked to talk about or think about who’s the best,” Freire said. “I think that’s for other people to do. I think my focus is just accomplishing the mission and let everybody else decide. Let them look at the numbers. Let them look at the facts and they can decide for themselves. But numbers don’t lie.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.
