Over the years, while fight fans turned their gaze towards the
electrifying world of MMA, with the
Ultimate Fighting Championship dominating the spotlight from
its Las Vegas home base, out west in San Jose, Calif.,
Bellator
MMA started its quiet but resolute march. For much of its
existence, Bellator has been renowned as the second-largest entity
within the American MMA landscape, while concurrently fostering a
fervent global fanbase. In the thick of that ascent, the
organization witnessed the rise of a star,
Patricio
Freire, who along with several other popular figures on the
roster, helped Bellator MMA affirm its prominence as a powerhouse
in the global arena.
“Patricio Pitbull” is a three-time Bellator featherweight champion,
the former Bellator lightweight champion, and the younger brother
of lightweight fighter
Patricky
Freire. Widely regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound
fighters never to have fought in the UFC, he is scheduled to defend
his title against
Jeremy
Kennedy on March 22, at Bellator 302 on short notice. Ahead of
that clash, let’s take a look at five things that you might not
know about the Brazilian.
“Brazilian Brave and the Rise of Pitbull”
In the heart of Natal, Brazil, where street skirmishes were
commonplace, Freire, who was born into a military family,
discovered his passion in a divergent discipline - martial arts. He
came of age in a milieu where bravery and fortitude held sway. His
father, Lucilio Jose Freire, recognized martial arts as a conduit
to inculcate discipline in his kids and shield his family within a
nation frequently besieged by turmoil.
A Family’s Resilience in Adversity
His formative years were painted with perilous incidents punctuated
by acts of heroism by his parents. At the age of five, his family
home was invaded by six gunmen. Acting swiftly, Freire’s father
directed his mother to arm herself to protect the children from the
intruders. His mother managed to shoot one of the intruders in the
eye, and the Freire family escaped the situation unscathed.
Reflecting on his mother’s act of courage, the 36-year-old labels
her a tough lady.
This defining moment left a lasting impact on the future Bellator
star. Following the chilling encounter, the family received a
letter from the gang threatening to invade again with 40 criminals.
Luckily for them, they never came back and the family moved on with
their lives.
In the School of Hard Knocks
Early in his career, as a teenager, Freire got the opportunity to
train with MMA icons like
Wanderlei
Silva and
Mauricio Rua
in the Chute Boxe camp in Brazil. With that, the maxims of
toughness and aggression of the legendary gym were carved deep into
his character.
A Heartfelt Promise to God
Ahead of his third fight against
Daniel
Straus, the Brazilian made a heartfelt promise to God. He vowed
that he would be content losing his featherweight championship if
it guaranteed his unborn son, Davi, arrived safely. He had endured
the pain of a previous miscarriage with his wife Teresa. His coach
Eric Albarracin forged a deep relationship with his pupil and in
subsequent fights, advised him against thinking about making that
promise again.
Unlocking Potential through Meticulous Monitoring
As Freire advances into his 30s, he has shed the mentality of a raw
fighter and has undergone a significant transformation in training,
focusing on meticulous attention to his body’s physiology. In that,
every aspect of his regimen, from sleep patterns to nutrition to
MMA training is properly tracked and analyzed. His heart rate is
measured, an app determines his readiness for the day’s training
based on predetermined metrics, making room for adjustments as and
when required. Even his meals are carefully curated, and tailored
to his demands, ensuring his body is primed for optimal
performance.