LOS ANGELES – Patricio Friere takes pride in his impressive accomplishments before joining the UFC but acknowledges that his time with the promotion hasn’t lived up to his expectations.
At UFC 331 on Saturday, Friere (37-9 MMA, 1-2 UFC) has a chance to demonstrate to fans unfamiliar with his Bellator success who he truly is, as he faces the dynamic Dooho Choi at Crypto.com Arena. The two featherweights are set to compete in the middle of the main card on Paramount+.
Choi (17-4-1 MMA, 6-3-1 UFC) called out “Pitbull” after his May victory, and the UFC matchmakers quickly made the fight happen. Friere welcomed the challenge, finding it refreshing since during his Bellator days, such direct calls were common, but have been rare during his UFC stint.
“I liked it,” Friere told MMA Junkie and other media at a Wednesday pre-fight press conference. “It’s always good when fighters remember your name and have you in mind. I think he’d say the same about me. That kind of energy was missing in this division. I appreciate challengers.”
Although 39 years old and having competed in 46 professional bouts, Friere still feels ready to fight as often as monthly. He’s eager for that opportunity now more than ever. Friere lost his UFC debut to Yair Rodriguez before beating Dan Ige, but then fell to Aaron Pico in his most recent outing. “Pitbull” admits he’s been dissatisfied with his performances so far.
“I didn’t like any of them,” Friere said. “I don’t think I have shown my true potential in any of those fights. But I want to bring that out in this one.”
There were rumors before the fight that Friere might be competing in the final bout of his UFC contract, but he denied those on Wednesday. Still, the stakes are high. Friere wants to secure a win on Saturday to prove to UFC officials that he deserves Dana White’s coveted “pure chaos” $50,000 bonus.
“That surprise bonus sounds great,” Friere laughed. “I think the fight between me and ‘Korean Superboy’ will be fire. We’re going to win.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Patricio Freire hopes at UFC 331 he can bring out potential for first time.
Fan Take: This fight is a pivotal moment for Friere to reclaim his status as one of the featherweight division’s top contenders, offering fans a chance to witness a potential comeback story. A strong showing could inject new excitement into the division and reaffirm the UFC’s ability to showcase veterans who continue to evolve.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
