“He did what he had to do,” Freire told MMAJunkie. “He’s selling the fight. He’s got to sell the fight. He’s got to sell himself. Portugal and Brazil have a history but we’re brothers and sisters. They are very passionate people, especially about MMA – just as Brazilians are passionate about MMA.
“I’m sure that (tonight) he goes in there 100 percent and I have to do my job. I’m a professional fighter and my job is to go in there and eliminate him. That’s what I’m prepared to do.”
And the overwhelming expectation is that Freire will do just that. Pitbull is not just the featherweight champion, but also Bellator’s lightweight champion, and as such, he enters the bout this evening as the prohibitive betting favorite, as high as -900 at William Hill. But don’t let the seemingly one-sided nature of this bout fool you, Pitbull says he expects the best possible opponent to be standing opposite him this evening.
“I don’t like that at all,” Freire said. “I know that this guy is young. He’s hungry. He’s coming. He’s really hungry for this title. He’s Conor McGregor’s teammate at SBG. That is a well-prepared team so I am expecting the best possible fighter on the other side but prepare to be killed. Prepare to be eliminated from the tournament.”
It likely doesn’t hurt that Freire has been waiting a long time for this fight. Originally set to take place in March, the bout was cancelled just hours beforehand due to COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, Pitbull hasn’t fought since last September, and with over a year outside of the cage, the champion is ready to get back to business and keep moving towards the $1 million prize.
“I feel great,” Freire said. “I’m well-prepared for this fight. It’s been a long while. I am prepared to win this fight and get that $1 million and move on in the tournament.”
Patricio Pitbull stamped his ticket the quarterfinals with a unanimous decision win over Juan Archuleta. Meanwhile, Carvalho submitted Sam Sicilia with a face crank to get here. The winner of their fight will go on to face the winner of Emmanuel Sanchez vs. Daniel Weichel bout that also takes place tonight.
[h=1]TOP STORIES[/h]Tables turned. Leon Edwards: Dana White ‘praying’ Khamzat Chimaev wins, but ‘I’m going to smash your boy’.
Contender. Cory Sandhagen targets T.J. Dillashaw for No. 1 contender fight, no issues following ex-champ’s USADA suspension.
Rematch. Scott Coker ‘leaning toward’ Phil Davis vs. Vadim Nemkov 2, instead of Corey Anderson.
Safety first. Deiveson Figueiredo reacts to Cody Garbrandt’s withdrawal, sees ‘no danger’ in ‘slow’ Alex Perez.
[h=1]VIDEO STEW[/h]The A-Side Live Chat.
It’s so weird that Steve-O is now in the MMA media bubble.
Remixing Ngannou’s car dealership commercial.
Paul Felder, man of the people.
Free fight.
[h=1]LISTEN UP[/h]Show Money. Discussing the effect of the U.S. election on the business of MMA.
UFC Unfiltered. Interviews with Kay Hansen and Eryk Anders.
[h=1]SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE[/h]Fight.
Hope all is well during this pandemic @edmenshahbazyan.
I’ve been waiting to sign a contract, and all we need is your signature. Thank you @AliAbdelaziz00 @Mickmaynard2 @danawhite @ufc
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) November 11, 2020
Diego having a normal night.I’ve been waiting to sign a contract, and all we need is your signature. Thank you @AliAbdelaziz00 @Mickmaynard2 @danawhite @ufc
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) November 11, 2020
Today a powerful portal of light energy is open. If there ever was a night to connect with the universe tonight is the night. I have been celebrating and connecting all day
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) November 12, 2020
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) November 12, 2020
I was doing energy work on my patio as a ufo flew right up on me I called for my daughter quick quick she watched this thing Hoover only hundreds of feet away Albuquerque is a trip sightings are regular here. But this shit was contact tonight it was obvious it was watching me
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) November 12, 2020
Quite the career.— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) November 12, 2020
Yesterday was my fight anniversary.... 17 years completed! On to the 18th! Still getting better and stronger!!! Woot woot! ^^ 17??????????????????????? @ufc pic.twitter.com/c9TBGjM5ke
— Roxanne Modafferi (@Roxyfighter) November 11, 2020
Pretty cool.— Roxanne Modafferi (@Roxyfighter) November 11, 2020
This is beautiful, this mural of my tribute for @TeamKhabib and his father is in Derbent city, Dagestan @ufc pic.twitter.com/ylxnbRCwoI
— BossLogic (@Bosslogic) November 11, 2020
LOL.— BossLogic (@Bosslogic) November 11, 2020
What a deal.
Me and @ShortyTorresMMA will now be accepting requests pic.twitter.com/QXDogoFBOz
— Din Thomas (@DinThomas) November 11, 2020
— Din Thomas (@DinThomas) November 11, 2020
My services start at $20 https://t.co/erNGoGbKAD
— Jose Shorty Torres (@ShortyTorresMMA) November 11, 2020
— Jose Shorty Torres (@ShortyTorresMMA) November 11, 2020
[h=1]FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS[/h]N/A.
[h=1]FINAL THOUGHTS[/h]Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.
[h=1]EXIT POLL[/h]
If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let him know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Facebook.
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