"Pitbull" Freire

By FCF Staff

Patricio “Pitbull” Freire has demonstrated on many occasions that he’s capable of finishing a fight at any moment, and recently the Bellator champ declared he’s the hardest hitting featherweight on Earth.

Freire was scheduled to fight Daniel Weichel this week at Bellator 188, but a knee injury forced the Brazilian star to withdraw. Recently “Pitbull” spoke with MMA Mania, and while doing so, the 30 year-old said this:

“The strongest puncher anyone can fight at Featherweight will be me,” said Freire, who is just one of five men to finish Weichel with strikes in nearly 50 bouts. “I’m the toughest and hardest hitting featherweight on the planet.”

While discussing potential, future challengers, Freire relayed the following:

“I don’t know if they are running from me or if Bellator (is) protecting them but I see guys like A.J. McKee and James Gallagher being put in favorable fights all the time. They’re always put in there to win. They have yet to take a tough test. I believe the next is Emmanuel Sanchez, he’s earned his shot, but after that we have to look at A.J. McKee and James Gallagher unless Bellator’s going to protect them.”

Freire reclaimed Bellator’s 145 crown in April by submitting Daniel Straus.