Patrício Pitbull
Vitals
Height, reach, and career background.
Record
Tap any fight for the breakdown.
LossDEC
UFC 327
11 Apr 2026
11 Apr 2026
Pitbull started competitively but could not hold the pace once Aaron Pico established his preferred range and wrestling threats at UFC 327. A few early counters and leg kicks gave Pitbull moments, yet Pico steadily took over and left the former Bellator champion defending more than dictating.
Key moments
- Landed enough early counters and leg kicks to slow Pico's first burst.
- Spent the middle and late portions of the fight dealing with Pico's sharper boxing and takedown pressure.
- Dropped a unanimous decision on scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.
WinDEC
Opponent: Dan IgeunanimousR3 5:00
UFC 318
19 Jul 2025
19 Jul 2025
Pitbull picked up his first UFC win by edging Dan Ige in a close, physical three-round fight in New Orleans. Ige attacked the lead leg and had his own bursts, but Pitbull answered with body-lock takedowns, clinch control and enough cleaner moments to take all three 29-28 cards.
Key moments
- Worked through Ige's early leg kicks and answered with a body-lock takedown in round one.
- Used clinch exchanges and wrestling entries to stop the fight from becoming a pure pocket battle.
- Earned his first UFC victory with unanimous 29-28 scores across the board.
LossDEC
Opponent: Yair RodríguezunanimousR3 5:00
UFC 314
12 Apr 2025
12 Apr 2025
Pitbull's UFC debut was a difficult range fight against Yair Rodríguez, who controlled the action with kicks, length and cleaner combinations over three rounds. Pitbull had isolated moments, including a takedown and a late armbar attempt, but Yair's pace and distance management decided the fight clearly.
Key moments
- Struggled to consistently close distance against Rodriguez's longer kicking game and volume.
- Absorbed a late knockdown and follow-up barrage in the third round before surviving to the bell.
- Lost a unanimous 30-27 decision in his first Octagon appearance.
WinTKO
Opponent: Jeremy Kennedyknees and punchesR3 4:07
Bellator Champions Series 1
22 Mar 2024
22 Mar 2024
Pitbull retained his Bellator featherweight title by fighting through a difficult, messy matchup with Jeremy Kennedy in Belfast. Kennedy's pressure and elbows opened a cut and created trouble for stretches, but Pitbull rallied in the third round and turned the fight with heavier knees and punches.
Key moments
- Had to battle through a cut opened by Kennedy's elbow work in the clinch.
- Survived a momentum swing when Kennedy pressed him to the cage and made the fight ugly.
- Finished the defense at 4:07 of round three with knees and punches.
LossKO
Opponent: Chihiro SuzukipunchR1 2:32
Super Rizin 2
30 Jul 2023
30 Jul 2023
Pitbull's short-notice appearance at Super Rizin 2 ended in a sharp first-round knockout loss to Chihiro Suzuki. The upset mattered because it snapped the feel of his championship momentum and became the second straight setback of that 2023 stretch.
Key moments
- Accepted the cross-promotional bout in Saitama under Rizin rules and at catchweight.
- Was stopped 2:32 into the first round by Suzuki's right hand.
- The loss immediately stalled the title-reclaim momentum he had rebuilt in Bellator.
LossDEC
Opponent: Sergio PettisunanimousR5 5:00
Bellator 297
16 Jun 2023
16 Jun 2023
Pitbull's bid to become a three-division Bellator champion stalled when Sergio Pettis beat him to the speed exchanges over five rounds in Chicago. Pitbull kept looking for the bigger counters, but Pettis' fast hands, cleaner entries and constant movement kept the Brazilian off balance for most of the fight.
Key moments
- Pettis established the fight's rhythm early with quick feet and fast hands, forcing Pitbull to react instead of setting his own pressure.
- Pitbull had to chase isolated counters because Pettis was consistently first in and out with the sharper combinations.
- As the rounds wore on, Pettis' accuracy and pace kept him in command while Pitbull struggled to create sustained offense at bantamweight.
- The judges scored it 49-46, 50-45 and 50-45 for Pettis after five rounds, ending Pitbull's attempt to add Bellator gold in a third weight class.
WinDEC
Opponent: Kleber Koike ErbstunanimousR3 5:00
Bellator MMA vs. Rizin
31 Dec 2022
31 Dec 2022
Pitbull handled the Bellator vs. Rizin champion-versus-champion pairing by keeping Kleber Koike Erbst at the end of his harder punches and refusing to give the grappler the positions he wanted. Koike had moments with kicks and a late throw, but Pitbull dictated the exchanges and gave away very little in the ring.
Key moments
- Pitbull was the more accurate and powerful puncher from the start, answering Koike's kicking game with cleaner boxing.
- Koike kept searching for entries that could turn the fight into a grappling contest, but Pitbull consistently denied him clean control.
- Late in the fight Koike landed a throw, yet he flew wide on the finish and could not secure top position from it.
- Pitbull stayed disciplined to the final bell and took the unanimous decision after controlling the shape of the matchup throughout.
WinDEC
Opponent: Ádám BoricsunanimousR5 5:00
Bellator 286
1 Oct 2022
1 Oct 2022
Pitbull's first featherweight title defense after regaining the belt was a composed, largely one-sided decision over Ádám Borics. Borics had some success with kicks at range, but Pitbull repeatedly answered with the cleaner jab-right hand work and mixed in timely takedowns to keep the challenger from building momentum.
Key moments
- Borics opened with front kicks and low kicks from long range, but Pitbull stayed patient and answered with his jab and right hand.
- In the second round Pitbull cracked Borics with a hard right and later changed levels for a takedown when the action slowed.
- Borics continued throwing kicks and one-twos, yet Pitbull kept controlling the higher-value exchanges and never let the challenger run away with distance.
- After five rounds the scores came back 48-47, 49-46 and 50-45 for Pitbull, reflecting a steady championship performance.
WinDEC
Opponent: A. J. McKeeunanimousR5 5:00
Bellator 277
15 Apr 2022
15 Apr 2022
Pitbull reclaimed the Bellator featherweight title in a tactical rematch with A. J. McKee, slowing the younger champion with leg kicks and winning enough of the pocket exchanges to persuade the judges. The decision was debated afterward, but Pitbull's measured pressure and damage did enough officially to reverse the first meeting.
Key moments
- Pitbull made McKee work much harder than in their first fight, forcing a slower pace and investing in kicks that blunted the champion's movement.
- The rematch stayed competitive round to round, with neither man finding the sudden finishing sequence that defined their first meeting.
- Pitbull's cleaner counters and steadier pressure gave him the type of optics that many observers used to score the early-middle rounds in his favor.
- All three judges awarded Pitbull the decision, 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47, putting the Bellator featherweight belt back around his waist.
LossSUB
Opponent: A. J. McKeeguillotine chokeR1 1:57
Bellator 263
31 Jul 2021
31 Jul 2021
Pitbull's long featherweight grand prix run ended abruptly when A. J. McKee detonated a head kick and jumped on the scramble before the champion could recover. The loss was shocking not just because it ended in under two minutes, but because McKee instantly turned a title fight into a one-sided finishing sequence.
Key moments
- The fight opened with both men dangerous, but McKee found the first truly decisive strike with a huge head kick.
- Pitbull was dropped by the kick, and McKee initially thought the fight might already be over before realizing he had to keep attacking.
- McKee rushed back with a knee and immediately wrapped the guillotine as Pitbull tried to survive the follow-up.
- The squeeze forced the technical submission at 1:57 of round one, costing Pitbull both the title and the featherweight grand prix final.
WinSUB
Opponent: Emmanuel Sanchezguillotine chokeR1 3:35
Bellator 255
2 Apr 2021
2 Apr 2021
Pitbull reached the grand prix final by turning a dangerous semifinal with Emmanuel Sanchez into another first-round finish. Once he found Sanchez's neck in transition, he tightened the guillotine quickly enough that the ending was obvious before the referee officially stepped in.
Key moments
- The semifinal carried real pressure because the winner would move on to face A. J. McKee for the title and the tournament prize.
- Pitbull stayed composed early and capitalized the moment Sanchez gave him the chance to lock onto the neck.
- The guillotine tightened fast enough that the finish developed into one of the cleaner sudden submissions of Pitbull's championship run.
- Sanchez went out from the choke in round one, sending Pitbull into the grand prix final with a 3:35 technical submission.
WinKO
Opponent: Pedro CarvalhopunchR1 2:10
Bellator 252
12 Nov 2020
12 Nov 2020
Pitbull's quarterfinal win over Pedro Carvalho was one of the sharper one-round title defenses of his Bellator run. Carvalho came out willing to trade, but Pitbull's power checks kept resetting the danger until one final combination ended the night without any need for follow-up shots.
Key moments
- Both men were active early, but Pitbull landed a right hand that stunned Carvalho and immediately threatened a guillotine in the scramble.
- Carvalho survived the first scare and tried to re-enter the fight, yet Pitbull's power remained the clearest difference in every hard exchange.
- A left hand followed by another right sent Carvalho crashing backward to the mat late in the first round.
- Pitbull knew the job was done without extra punches, earning the knockout at 2:10 of round one and advancing in the featherweight grand prix.
WinDEC
Opponent: Juan ArchuletaunanimousR5 5:00
Bellator 228
28 Sep 2019
28 Sep 2019
Pitbull had little trouble retaining the featherweight belt against Juan Archuleta, winning the strategic battle at distance and almost finding a finish in the middle rounds. Archuleta stayed tough for all twenty-five minutes, but Pitbull controlled too many phases of the fight for the result to be in doubt.
Key moments
- Pitbull steadily won the matchup's major categories, preventing Archuleta from turning the title fight into the kind of upset pace he wanted.
- The champion's sharper counters and timing gradually separated him on the scorecards as the rounds accumulated.
- In the third round Pitbull nearly finished the fight when he dropped Archuleta with a right hand and mauled him on the mat.
- Archuleta survived to the bell, but Pitbull closed out a clear unanimous decision with scores of 49-46, 50-45 and 49-46.
WinTKO
Bellator 221
11 May 2019
11 May 2019
Pitbull's move up to challenge Michael Chandler for the lightweight title ended almost as soon as it began. Chandler pressured first, but Pitbull timed the counter perfectly, dropped him with a right hand, and finished the scramble before the champion could recover.
Key moments
- Chandler opened in a wide stance and stalked forward, trying to back Pitbull to the cage early.
- Pitbull clipped Chandler with a counter right as Chandler ducked in, then caught him again to send him tumbling to the canvas.
- Once Chandler hit the floor, Pitbull swarmed with follow-up punches and forced the referee to intervene.
- The stoppage came at 1:01 of round one and made Pitbull a two-division Bellator champion.
WinDEC
Opponent: Emmanuel SanchezunanimousR5 5:00
Bellator 209
15 Nov 2018
15 Nov 2018
Sanchez was one of the sharper pressure-boxing challengers of Pitbull's second featherweight title reign, and the five-round win mattered because it required control rather than a sudden finish. Pitbull's cleaner counters, better reads, and late-round composure kept the fight from turning into the kind of volume-heavy upset Sanchez wanted.
Key moments
- The bout went the full five rounds with Pitbull retaining his Bellator featherweight title by unanimous decision.
- Sanchez's style forced a more measured performance than many of Pitbull's highlight-reel defenses.
- That dynamic matters because it showed Pitbull could still bank rounds cleanly against a durable, technically sound contender.
- The result fed directly into the run that soon included his move up to knock out Michael Chandler for the lightweight belt.
WinDEC
Opponent: Daniel WeichelsplitR5 5:00
Bellator 203
14 Jul 2018
14 Jul 2018
The rematch with Daniel Weichel was much tighter than their first meeting, and Pitbull had to win it with cleaner single shots rather than a sudden finish. After a cautious start he repeatedly found Weichel with the right hand, survived a rough grappling spell in the middle rounds, and did enough late on the feet to keep the title.
Key moments
- The first round was largely a feeling-out process with both men starting slowly.
- Pitbull changed the tone in round two when a sharp right hand rocked Weichel and nearly created the opening for a finish.
- Weichel rallied in round three with a takedown and an anaconda choke threat that forced Pitbull to defend carefully.
- Pitbull kept the fight standing in rounds four and five, landed the more meaningful right hands, and took the split decision on scores of 49-46, 47-48 and 48-47.
WinSUB
Opponent: Daniel Strausguillotine chokeR2 0:37
Bellator 178
21 Apr 2017
21 Apr 2017
Pitbull regained the Bellator featherweight title by making the fourth fight with Daniel Straus look far less complicated than the rivalry usually was. The opening round stayed measured, but as soon as Straus changed levels in round two, Pitbull turned the shot into a guillotine and took the belt back immediately.
Key moments
- The first round was uneventful overall, though Pitbull landed enough strikes to edge the action.
- Straus opened the second round by shooting for a takedown in an attempt to change the rhythm.
- Pitbull defended the shot and instantly locked up a guillotine as Straus stayed in on the entry.
- Straus tapped just 37 seconds into round two, giving Pitbull the submission win and the featherweight championship.
LossTKO
Opponent: Benson Hendersonleg injuryR2 2:26
Bellator 160
26 Aug 2016
26 Aug 2016
Pitbull's move up against Benson Henderson turned into a strange, frustrating fight that ended with an injury rather than a clean finishing sequence. Henderson spent long stretches pressuring without throwing much, Pitbull had success while circling and countering, and then the bout abruptly stopped when Pitbull's leg gave out after earlier kick checks.
Key moments
- Henderson spent much of round one walking Pitbull down, but his output was so low that Pitbull still did the cleaner work while backing toward the fence.
- The second round followed a similar pattern until Pitbull caught a kick, turned Henderson to the fence and landed a few strikes before disengaging.
- As he backed away, Pitbull signaled that something was wrong and walked toward the cage, prompting referee John McCarthy to wave the fight off.
- The stoppage was recorded at 2:26 of round two, with the broadcast indicating Pitbull may have suffered the injury on one of Henderson's checked leg kicks.
WinSUB
Opponent: Henry Corralesguillotine chokeR2 4:09
Bellator 153
22 Apr 2016
22 Apr 2016
Corrales stepped in on short notice, but Pitbull still had to solve a dangerous, aggressive replacement opponent coming off his title-loss setback to Daniel Straus. He did it by keeping the fight competitive on the feet and then turning the opening into a guillotine late in round two, a useful reminder that his championship game was never only about punching power.
Key moments
- Corrales entered the bout as a late replacement for the originally scheduled challenger.
- Pitbull finished the fight with a guillotine choke at 4:09 of round two.
- The submission helped steady his position immediately after losing the featherweight title to Daniel Straus in late 2015.
- It also reinforced the breadth of his finishing toolkit during his prime Bellator years.
LossDEC
Opponent: Daniel StrausunanimousR5 5:00
Bellator 145
6 Nov 2015
6 Nov 2015
The third fight with Straus was one of the more important defeats of Pitbull's championship run because it cost him the Bellator featherweight title and prolonged a rivalry that refused to settle cleanly. Instead of the sudden finish that defined so many of Pitbull's best nights, this one became a five-round fight Straus managed to edge with steadier work.
Key moments
- Straus won a unanimous decision after the full five-round championship distance.
- The loss ended Pitbull's featherweight title reign.
- Because this was already the third meeting between them, the result carried more weight than an isolated title-fight setback.
- It also set up the next phase of the rivalry, which Pitbull eventually answered by regaining the belt in their fourth bout.
WinKO
Opponent: Daniel WeichelpunchR2 0:32
Bellator 138
19 Jun 2015
19 Jun 2015
Pitbull's first title defense against Weichel is one of the signature comeback wins of his Bellator career because it looked dangerous right before it ended. After being knocked down late in the opening round, he reset, read the return exchange perfectly, and detonated the counter left hook that flipped the entire fight in seconds.
Key moments
- Weichel scored a knockdown near the end of the first round and briefly put the title defense in real jeopardy.
- Pitbull answered almost immediately in round two, knocking Weichel out with a left hook at 0:32.
- The finish became one of the defining highlights of his first featherweight title reign.
- It also helped cement the idea that Pitbull could change elite fights instantly even after losing momentum.
WinSUB
Opponent: Daniel Strausrear-naked chokeR4 4:49
Bellator 132
16 Jan 2015
16 Jan 2015
Pitbull's first Bellator featherweight title defense immediately turned into another close, meaningful fight with Daniel Straus rather than a routine champion's night. The rivalry context made the rear-naked choke especially important because it let Pitbull keep the belt by finishing a proven problem opponent instead of relying on a tight scorecard.
Key moments
- The bout was a rematch with Straus and the first defense of Pitbull's Bellator featherweight title.
- Pitbull secured the rear-naked choke at 4:49 of round four.
- That result mattered because the fight was competitive enough that a late finish removed any ambiguity.
- It also extended the rivalry and established the title reign against one of the strongest recurring opponents on his Bellator ledger.
WinDEC
Opponent: Pat CurranunanimousR5 5:00
Bellator 123
5 Sep 2014
5 Sep 2014
The rematch with Pat Curran was the title win Pitbull had spent years chasing, and the result mattered because he earned it over five full rounds rather than through a quick swing. By taking a unanimous decision from the defending champion, Pitbull finally converted tournament success and contender status into the Bellator featherweight belt itself.
Key moments
- This bout was the long-awaited rematch with Curran for the Bellator featherweight championship.
- Pitbull won a unanimous decision after the full five-round title distance.
- The victory made him Bellator featherweight champion for the first time.
- From a career-arc standpoint, it is one of the key threshold fights because it turned him from perennial tournament threat into actual champion.
WinTKO
Opponent: Justin WilcoxpunchesR1 2:23
Bellator 108
15 Nov 2013
15 Nov 2013
Wilcox was the final hurdle in Bellator's Season Nine featherweight tournament, and Pitbull removed him with the kind of violence that made the win feel larger than a bracket result. Closing the tournament with a first-round stoppage kept his momentum hot and gave him another concrete claim to a title opportunity.
Key moments
- The fight served as the final of Bellator's Season Nine featherweight tournament.
- Pitbull stopped Wilcox with punches at 2:23 of round one.
- Winning the tournament mattered because it strengthened his case in the title picture after earlier frustrations about title-shot timing.
- The manner of the finish also reinforced that he was not just grinding through brackets; he was ending them emphatically.
WinDEC
Opponent: Fabrício GuerreirounanimousR3 5:00
Bellator 103
11 Oct 2013
11 Oct 2013
Guerreiro forced Pitbull to take the long route in the Bellator Season Nine semifinals, which makes the fight useful even without a finish. The unanimous decision showed Pitbull could handle a skilled Brazilian jiu-jitsu threat over three rounds when the knockout or submission never cleanly presented itself.
Key moments
- The bout was a semifinal in Bellator's Season Nine featherweight tournament.
- Pitbull won a unanimous decision with three 30-27 scorecards.
- That clean scoreline matters because it suggests control over a fight against a dangerous submission-oriented opponent.
- The win moved him into the tournament final against Justin Wilcox.
WinKO
Opponent: Diego NunespunchesR1 1:19
Bellator 99
13 Sep 2013
13 Sep 2013
Nunes had already built a reputation across WEC and the UFC, which made this Bellator tournament quarterfinal much more than a stay-busy fight. Pitbull flattened him in barely over a minute, a statement win that announced his season-nine run as something more serious than a routine bracket appearance.
Key moments
- The bout was a quarterfinal in Bellator's Season Nine featherweight tournament.
- Pitbull knocked Nunes out at 1:19 of round one.
- The result mattered because Nunes had not previously been finished, which raised the weight of the stoppage.
- That performance helped turn the tournament into the immediate springboard for Pitbull's eventual title win over Pat Curran.
WinTKO
Opponent: Jared DowningpunchesR2 0:54
Bellator 97
31 Jul 2013
31 Jul 2013
Downing was a late replacement for Rob Emerson, but Pitbull still used the bout the way contenders are supposed to use replacement opponents: by ending it clearly and moving on. The finish was not as historically weighty as the Nunes win that followed, yet it restored momentum and kept his Bellator season-nine campaign intact.
Key moments
- Downing stepped in after Rob Emerson withdrew from the original matchup.
- Pitbull stopped him with punches at 0:54 of round two.
- The bout kept Pitbull active after the long layoff that followed the Curran title loss earlier in 2013.
- It also fed directly into the stronger tournament run that soon featured Diego Nunes, Fabrício Guerreiro, and Justin Wilcox.
LossDEC
Opponent: Pat CurransplitR5 5:00
Bellator 85
13 Jan 2013
13 Jan 2013
Pitbull's first shot at the Bellator featherweight title ended in a narrow split-decision loss to Pat Curran, and the closeness of that result mattered almost as much as the defeat itself. Rather than getting turned away decisively, Pitbull showed he was already championship-level, which is why the later rematch carried so much unfinished business.
Key moments
- The fight was Pitbull's first challenge for the Bellator featherweight championship.
- Curran retained by split decision after five rounds, with the judges split 47-48, 48-47, and 48-47.
- Because the scores were that close, the loss strengthened the case for Pitbull staying near the top of the division instead of dropping out of contention.
- The rematch victory in 2014 matters more when this first meeting is remembered as a razor-close miss rather than a clear failure.
WinDEC
Opponent: Daniel StrausunanimousR3 5:00
Bellator 45
21 May 2011
21 May 2011
Pitbull's first meeting with Daniel Straus started one of the defining rivalries of his Bellator career. The unanimous decision does not have the drama of their later submissions and title swings, but it established early that Straus was the kind of opponent Pitbull would keep seeing at the top of the division.
Key moments
- This was the first fight in what became a long-running Bellator rivalry with Straus.
- Pitbull won a unanimous decision after three rounds.
- The result mattered because Straus was already good enough to remain relevant to Pitbull's career years later in multiple title fights.
- As an origin point for the rivalry, it helps explain why later Straus bouts carried so much accumulated weight.
WinKO
Opponent: Wilson ReispunchesR3 3:29
Bellator 41
16 Apr 2011
16 Apr 2011
The rematch with Wilson Reis mattered because Pitbull had already edged him by decision the previous year, while this time he closed the argument much more emphatically. By knocking out a seasoned grappler in the third round, Pitbull showed the growth from prospect to tournament force was happening in real time.
Key moments
- This was a rematch of Pitbull's 2010 Bellator semifinal win over Reis.
- Pitbull knocked Reis out with punches at 3:29 of round three.
- The bout served as a semifinal in Bellator's Season Four featherweight tournament.
- Compared with the earlier decision, the finish made the progression in Pitbull's confidence and stopping power much easier to see.
WinTKO
Opponent: Georgi KarakhanyanpunchesR3 0:56
Bellator 37
19 Mar 2011
19 Mar 2011
Karakhanyan was a respected tournament opponent, and Pitbull had to work deeper than a single-round blitz to get him out of there. The third-round stoppage was useful because it showed Pitbull could stay dangerous late in bracket fights rather than relying only on immediate finishes.
Key moments
- The fight was a quarterfinal in Bellator's Season Four featherweight tournament.
- Pitbull stopped Karakhanyan with punches at 0:56 of round three.
- Because the bout reached the final round, it highlighted Pitbull's ability to keep building offense across a longer fight.
- The win also set up the rematch semifinal with Wilson Reis.
LossDEC
Opponent: Joe WarrensplitR3 5:00
Bellator 23
24 Jun 2010
24 Jun 2010
The split-decision loss to Joe Warren in the Bellator Season Two tournament final was one of the earliest turning points of Pitbull's major-promotion career. The fight stung because he was close enough to the tournament title to make the defeat feel unfinished, which is a big part of why his later Bellator run carried so much hunger and urgency.
Key moments
- This bout was the final of Bellator's Season Two featherweight tournament.
- Warren won a split decision after three rounds.
- Contemporary summaries note that Pitbull came close to a finish late in the first round despite losing the overall decision.
- As an early near-miss, the fight matters because it framed Pitbull as elite Bellator material before he had any belt or tournament trophy to show for it.
WinDEC
Opponent: Wilson ReisunanimousR3 5:00
Bellator 18
13 May 2010
13 May 2010
Pitbull's first Bellator meeting with Wilson Reis was the kind of semifinal that tested whether his undefeated Brazilian run could translate against a veteran with real jiu-jitsu credentials. He answered by winning a unanimous decision, which mattered because it proved he could handle a disciplined grappling threat over three rounds when a finish did not materialize.
Key moments
- The bout served as a semifinal in Bellator's Season Two featherweight tournament.
- Pitbull won a unanimous decision with scorecards of 29-28, 29-28, and 29-28.
- Reis brought the profile of a former EliteXC champion and a strong submission threat, giving the win more weight than a routine bracket advance.
- That victory sent Pitbull into the tournament final against Joe Warren.
WinSUB
Opponent: William Romeroheel hookR1 2:01
Bellator 15
22 Apr 2010
22 Apr 2010
Pitbull's Bellator debut immediately showed that his rise in the promotion would not depend on easing into the level. The heel-hook finish over William Romero gave him a first-round tournament win and introduced Bellator audiences to the same multi-lane finishing game he had already been building in Brazil.
Key moments
- The bout was Pitbull's Bellator debut and a quarterfinal in Bellator's Season Two featherweight tournament.
- He submitted Romero with a heel hook at 2:01 of round one.
- That quick finish mattered because it translated his Brazilian regional momentum directly onto a larger North American stage.
- It also set up the semifinal with Wilson Reis.
WinSUB
Opponent: Johnny Iwasakiguillotine chokeR2 3:27
Platinum Fight Brazil 2
5 Dec 2009
5 Dec 2009
By late 2009, Pitbull was still on the domestic Brazilian circuit, but the record was already showing the breadth that later defined him in Bellator. The guillotine over Johnny Iwasaki is another example of that early balance between striking danger and opportunistic submissions.
Key moments
- Pitbull finished Iwasaki with a guillotine choke at 3:27 of round two.
- The bout came only months before his move into Bellator's Season Two tournament.
- That timing matters because it shows his finishing variety was already established before the U.S. breakout.
- The fight also continued his undefeated run heading into the promotion shift.
WinTKO
Opponent: Vinicius Borbahead kick and punchesR1 1:24
Eagle FC 1
26 Sep 2009
26 Sep 2009
The Borba fight is a compact early snapshot of why Pitbull was considered such a strong prospect before signing with Bellator. A head-kick-and-punches stoppage in just over a minute showed that the finishing instincts were already polished well before the title runs made them famous.
Key moments
- Pitbull stopped Borba with a head kick and punches at 1:24 of the first round.
- The method stands out because it highlights his kicking game in addition to the boxing and submissions seen elsewhere on the record.
- This was still part of his pre-Bellator Brazilian run, when he was building an undefeated reputation locally.
- The speed of the finish fits the broader pattern of him ending early-career fights decisively rather than grinding through scorecards.
WinSUB
Opponent: Giovani DinizkimuraR1 2:20
Platinum Fight Brazil 1
13 Aug 2009
13 Aug 2009
The kimura over Giovani Diniz is another reminder that Pitbull's early record was not built on one-note violence. Even before the Bellator years, he was already showing a willingness to finish wherever the opening appeared, which is one reason his game later translated so well across long championship stretches.
Key moments
- Pitbull submitted Diniz with a kimura at 2:20 of round one.
- The finish came during the unbeaten Brazilian stretch that preceded his Bellator debut.
- A first-round kimura this early on helps explain why his later championship profile could blend knockouts, submissions, and decisions without feeling inconsistent.
- It was another clean, efficient win on a record that was still being built almost entirely through finishes.
WinKO
Opponent: Gleristone Santosflying kneeR1 2:16
Brazil Nordeste Combat
2 Apr 2009
2 Apr 2009
By 2009, Pitbull was already building the kind of finish-heavy regional record that made him attractive to Bellator. The flying-knee knockout over Gleristone Santos fits that pattern exactly and shows the same opportunistic violence that later became familiar on much larger stages.
Key moments
- Pitbull knocked Santos out with a flying knee at 2:16 of round one.
- This came during the unbeaten Brazilian stretch that eventually reached 12-0 before his Bellator signing.
- The method stands out because it mirrors the diversity of offense that later defined his championship years.
- Even without richer surviving detail, the durable claim is that he was already ending fights explosively rather than narrowly.
WinDEC
Opponent: Fernando VieiraunanimousR3 5:00
Leal Combat: Premium
5 Jun 2008
5 Jun 2008
Vieira is one of the rare early Pitbull fights that went the full distance, which makes it useful despite the thinner source trail. Long before the Bellator title fights, he was already capable of winning rounds cleanly when the finish did not show itself quickly.
Key moments
- Pitbull won a unanimous decision after three rounds.
- This is one of the relatively few non-finish wins on his pre-Bellator record.
- That matters because it helps prevent the early profile from reading as pure first-round chaos.
- The result shows he could still control a fight even when the stopping sequence never materialized.
WinSUB
Opponent: Paulo Mantasheel hookR1 2:21
Rino's FC 4
27 Sep 2007
27 Sep 2007
The heel hook over Paulo Mantas is another early sign that Pitbull's finishing instincts were not confined to one phase of fighting. Submission wins like this helped build the balanced identity that later made him dangerous in long title reigns, not just in one-shot exchanges.
Key moments
- Pitbull submitted Mantas with a heel hook at 2:21 of round one.
- This was still deep in the formative Brazilian phase of his career.
- The finish type matters because it adds another lower-body attack to an already varied early submission ledger.
- It also continued the broader theme of Pitbull ending fights before the scorecards became relevant.
WinSUB
Opponent: Jadyson Costarear-naked chokeR1 4:34
Leal Combat: Natal
5 Jul 2007
5 Jul 2007
Costa pushed the fight deeper into the first round than some of Pitbull's quickest regional finishes, but the ending still came by submission. That combination of patience and finishing threat is important because it was already visible before Pitbull ever reached a televised promotion.
Key moments
- Pitbull finished Costa with a rear-naked choke at 4:34 of round one.
- The bout came during the long unbeaten run he built entirely in Brazil before Bellator.
- Even when the fight lasted most of the round, Pitbull still found a clean close rather than coasting to a decision.
- That pattern helps explain why his later championship game could remain dangerous deep into fights.
WinSUB
Opponent: Rafael GargulaarmbarR2 3:05
Tridenium Combat
6 Apr 2006
6 Apr 2006
The armbar over Rafael Gargula is one of the earliest documented examples of Pitbull winning outside the first round while still finding a submission. It reinforces the idea that even the teenage version of Pitbull was already learning how to extend pressure and finish later if the first burst did not do the job.
Key moments
- Pitbull submitted Gargula with an armbar at 3:05 of round two.
- This is one of the oldest second-round finishes on his record.
- That timing makes it useful as evidence that his early game was not limited to instant stoppages.
- It also adds another distinct submission type to the developmental phase of the profile.
WinSUB
Opponent: Joao Paulo Rodriguesguillotine chokeR2 N/A
Fight Ship Looking Boy 1
8 Sep 2005
8 Sep 2005
The Rodrigues bout is thin on detail, but it still contributes to the most durable point about Pitbull's early career: the variety and consistency of his finishing results. A second-round guillotine that early in the record shows how quickly submissions became a dependable part of his identity.
Key moments
- The official result is a second-round guillotine choke, though the exact time is not preserved here.
- This was still part of Pitbull's very early teenage run in Brazilian regional MMA.
- The fight matters less for opponent-specific context than for what it adds to the pattern of repeated finishes.
- It helped keep the pre-Bellator record moving toward the undefeated prospect status he later carried into North America.
WinSUB
Opponent: Tarcisio Jardimguillotine chokeR2 N/A
Octagon Fight 1
24 Feb 2005
24 Feb 2005
Jardim is another sparse early entry, but it still helps show that Pitbull's submission threat was present from the beginning, not added later once the level rose. Even at this stage, he was collecting real finishes rather than just compiling a padded record through low-risk decisions.
Key moments
- The bout is recorded as a second-round guillotine choke win, with no exact time preserved here.
- This sits near the start of Pitbull's professional timeline.
- The repeated guillotine and other early submission wins help explain why his later Bellator profile never felt one-dimensional.
- As with several early regional fights, the key verified takeaway is the finish itself and its place in the unbeaten run.
WinDEC
Opponent: Marlon SilvaunanimousR3 5:00
Brazilian Challenger 2
21 Oct 2004
21 Oct 2004
The unanimous decision over Marlon Silva is one of the earliest signs that Pitbull could still control fights when the finish was unavailable. Because so much of the surrounding record is made of stoppages, results like this are useful for showing that the foundation also included the ability to win rounds and stay composed over distance.
Key moments
- Pitbull won a unanimous decision after three rounds.
- This is one of the oldest documented full-length bouts on the record.
- That makes it useful less for opponent-specific significance and more for illustrating that he already had a functional round-winning game.
- It also contributed to the unbeaten base he carried through the rest of his Brazilian run.
WinTKO
Opponent: Dida Didacorner stoppageR1 5:00
Desafio: Natal vs. Nordeste
9 Mar 2004
9 Mar 2004
The Dida bout is the oldest documented win on Pitbull's record here, and it already ended with the other corner stopping the fight. That detail matters because it sets the tone for everything that followed: even as a very young professional, he was not just winning but forcing decisive endings.
Key moments
- The official result is a corner stoppage at the end of round one.
- This is the earliest documented fight on the profile's current verified ledger.
- A corner stoppage that early in his career underscores how quickly his fights were already becoming physically difficult for opponents.
- As an origin point, it supports the broader career claim that Pitbull entered major promotions with a finish-first foundation already built.
The Read
Style, strengths, and where this fighter stands.
Pitbull brings one of the deepest featherweight résumés ever carried into the UFC. The former long-time Bellator champion owns wins by knockout, submission and decision in almost equal measure, and even with reduced output he still mixes enough counterpunching, clinch strength and opportunistic grappling to make rounds hard to read.
The recent stretch also explains where he stands now. He debuted in the UFC with a loss to Yair Rodríguez, rebounded by edging Dan Ige for his first Octagon win, and then lost a competitive fight to Aaron Pico, which leaves him dangerous but clearly in a results-driven veteran phase rather than the peak title-run version of himself.