Patricio Pitbull’s wish has been granted.
The most decorated fighter in Bellator history has been released from his PFL contract, ending a lengthy public dispute in which the featherweight champ repeatedly pleaded for his deal with the company to be terminated.
PFL Founder Donn Davis confirmed the move on Tuesday night.
“We are releasing Patricio Pitbull,” Davis said in a social media post. “PFL is all about opportunity. I founded this company to create new great opportunities for top fighters. PFL has and will continue to do that for all top fighters who want to be here.”
Pitbull, who became part of the PFL roster in late 2023 after the promotion purchased Bellator, has argued for months that the promotion hasn’t given him enough opportunities to compete.
Concerns on social media first became clear back in July, four months after he stopped Jeremy Kennedy to defend his featherweight title for the second time. While he initially wrote about wanting more fights from the PFL, a frustrated Pitbull later started to instead ask for permission to leave the promotion.
Pitbull’s release this week didn’t go perfectly, as the multi-time champ noted after the announcement that PFL maintained the right to match other deals. However, later that night, Pitbull said the promotion clarified that the release was unconditional.
Pitbull is hitting the free agent market after a Bellator career that saw him accomplish more in the promotion than anybody else.
Pitbull’s multi-decade Bellator career saw him go on three different runs with the featherweight title, defending it a combined 12 times. He is one of two simultaneous two-division champs in Bellator history (alongside Ryan Bader) and put together 24 wins through 30 fights in the promotion.
While we don’t know what’s next for the Brazilian vet, he made it clear earlier this week that he’s eyeing a UFC run. Pitbull posted a simple “Hi” while tagging former UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski on Tuesday night, possibly hinting at who he’d like to face next.
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