Patricio ‘Pitbull’ sets sights on former champ after Aaron Pico fight at UFC 327

Relatively new Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Patricio Freire is looking to pay someone back for their harsh words about his previous organization. Freire (37-8) spoke to Sherdog this week, who explained his current plan as a member of the UFC roster. The former Bellator MMA great has seen mixed results since coming over in 2025, losing in his debut to Yair Rodriguez but outpointing Dan Ige in July 2025 to earn his first UFC triumph.

The ranked featherweight will be returning to the Octagon at UFC 327 in April, where he will face fellow former Bellator 145er Aaron Pico (13-5). The American, on a three-fight win streak, fell short in his own organizational debut in August 2025 when Lerone Murphy smashed him with a spinning back elbow. Despite the crushing knockout loss for Pico, Freire is taking him seriously and gives him credit for his initial performance.

“Pico is a very tough guy,” the Brazilian remarked. “From what I’ve heard, if he had beaten Murphy, he would have had another fight and gone for the belt. He was clearly winning against Murphy when he was knocked out.

” Freire does believe that the first-round knockout will force Pico to go back to his roots of wrestling in order to pick up his first UFC win. Knowing that high-profile crossover athletes may not be given the same grace period as any other signee— Patrick Mix lost twice in the UFC and was released—Freire expects Pico will place himself in the best possible position to get his hand raised. “He is very explosive, has a very hard hand, but his chin is not proportional to the strength of his fists and usually when he is knocked out, he comes back more of a grappler than a striker.