Add Bellator featherweight champ Patricio Pitbull to the listing of pissed off fighters on the PFL roster.
Pitbull has solely competed as soon as below the promotional banner for the reason that PFL absorbed Bellator a 12 months in the past — a profitable title protection in opposition to Jeremy Kennedy at Bellator Belfast in March. After fellow Bellator champs Corey Anderson and Patchy Combine spoke out about their lack of exercise for the reason that merger, Pitbull opened up about his scenario on Twitter after the promotion postponed a number of Bellator playing cards in the direction of the again finish of the 12 months.
“I haven’t fought since [March],” Pitbull mentioned. “I needed to combat [three times] this 12 months, however I used to be instructed I’d have to attend till Dec. 31 and discovered on-line my opponent would combat another person. Then that they had a alternative, I convey folks over, spend extra money with the camp and there’s no combat.
“They mentioned issues didn’t work out with Japan and that it wasn’t their fault. OK. So why don’t you stage a present some place else? What sort of promotion can’t give fighters a minimum of two fights a 12 months? Some haven’t even fought this 12 months! Bellator was once BIG. Issues labored and we all the time had solutions. They by no means simply cancelled a present and mentioned that they had no thought once we could be booked. Even regional promotions have dates set for April of subsequent 12 months already!
This merger has been a catastrophe to the game of MMA. In the meantime, we have now to see the highest brass speaking about providing tens of tens of millions of {dollars} to social media personalities and semi-retired fighters,whereas chopping 90 p.c of the roster and telling guys making [$30,000 to show, $30,000 to win] they’re too costly. How will you change into No. 1 on this planet for those who don’t stage occasions and don’t wish to pay fighters?”
Throughout a City Corridor Q&A with MMA Preventing, PFL’s Donn Davis mentioned the postponed occasions could be rescheduled below a newly revamped Championship Sequence. It was introduced that Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes would headline a Jan. 25 occasion, launching their up to date sequence in Dubai. Davis additionally mentioned many of the fan-favorite fighters could be rebooked for upcoming playing cards.
Pitbull is broadly thought of to be the best fighter in Bellator historical past, profitable titles in a number of weight courses over his 30-fight run. The 37-year-old holds wins over Michael Chandler, A.J. McKee, Juan Archuleta, and plenty of extra all through his sensational profession.
At his age, Pitbull has extra left within the tank, but in addition understands his aggressive window is closing.
“I’m very fearful about the way forward for Bellator and MMA generally,” Pitbull defined. “I really feel very sorry for all of the fighters who didn’t even get to combat this 12 months or had been lower as a result of they only don’t make reveals or suppose they’re costly, and all of the fighters who had been pressured to take pay cuts.
“That is mistaken. We’d like solutions, we’d like the fighters and followers to be revered. This isn’t a sport or simply some enterprise, these are folks’s lives we’re speaking about. A critical promotion would give fighters the possibility to combat a minimum of 3 times a 12 months in the event that they’re wholesome.”
