Monster Energy’s Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire Scores First UFC Victory at UFC 318

The wait is over! Monster Energy congratulates Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire on earning his first UFC victory in a thrilling featherweight showdown at UFC 318. The 38-year-old MMA veteran from Mossoró, Brazil, defeated Dan Ige by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) in front of a sold-out crowd at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.

The event, UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3, delivered fireworks from start to finish, with Pitbull’s performance standing out as a highlight on the main card. Broadcast live on ESPN pay-per-view, the event drew 18,138 fans to the arena and millions more watching around the world.

Coming into the fight, Pitbull (37-8) was looking to rebound from a tough UFC debut loss to Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314. Known for his dominance in Bellator, where he held titles in both the featherweight and lightweight divisions, Pitbull entered the Octagon with something to prove—and he delivered.

His opponent, 33-year-old Dan Ige (19-10) from Honolulu, Hawaii, was riding high after a TKO win over Sean Woodson and brought his trademark aggression into the cage. But Pitbull came prepared. From the opening bell, he executed a calculated game plan, targeting Ige’s lead leg with precision kicks and using his grappling to control the pace.

In Round 1, Pitbull landed a clean knee to the body and scored multiple takedowns, setting the tone early. Round 2 saw Ige ramp up the pressure, but Pitbull responded with a perfectly timed right hand that dropped Ige to one knee. Although he couldn’t secure the finish, Pitbull’s control and composure kept him ahead on the scorecards.

The third round brought drama as Ige landed a powerful head kick that visibly stunned Pitbull. But the Brazilian veteran showed the heart of a champion, recovering quickly and neutralizing Ige’s offense with superior grappling and cage control until the final buzzer.

“That’s a dream come true,” said Pitbull after the fight. “I was a little bit afraid because my opponent is very dangerous. I know he thinks the same about me. He’s a warrior, much respect from me, but I got the victory.”

Looking ahead, Pitbull wasted no time calling out fellow Bellator alum and Monster Energy teammate Aaron Pico. “If he’s good, we can fight next week,” he said with a smile.

With his first UFC win in the books, Pitbull has officially arrived—and the featherweight division has been put on notice.