Fighter of the Month: May 2011 – Patricio “Pitbull” Freire
By Justin Bolduc
Fighter of the Month: Patricio “Pitbull” Freire
Event: Bellator 45 (May 21, 2011)
Opponent: Daniel Straus
Result: Three round unanimous decision
May featured the finals of Bellator’s lightweight and featherweight tournaments. In the featherweight finals Patricio “Pitbull” Freire improved his record to 17-1 and earned himself a rematch against Bellator title holder Joe Warren, the only man to defeat him.
Facing Daniel Straus, Freire showcased his improved takedown defense. Freire used his own takedowns and a great mix of strikes, including kicks, to control the pace and get the better of exchanges with Straus.
Straus entered the finals with the easier bracket, having bested Nazareno Malegarie and Kenny Foster. “Pitbull” on the other hand opened his tournament with a third round TKO stoppage against Georgi Karakhanyan in March. In April he rematched Wilson Reis, who he previously beat by decision, but was much more authoritative this time around with a third round knockout.
Freire will now get his chance to rematch Joe Warren who beat him in a controversial split decision in their original meeting last June. Warren’s most recent performances have seen him defeat Joe Soto and Marcos Galvao, making the upcoming match-up a high profile affair in the 145-pound division.
