Patricio “Pitbull” Freire has appealed to heavyweight fighter Francis Ngannou to intervene in his contract dispute with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
Pitbull (37 years old) has not fought any fight since March and asked the Professional League to release him from his contract last December.
The Brazilian harshly criticized the PBA on social media after confirming that the Bellator promotion in its current form would be disbanded.
“Hey Francis Ngannou, are you aware of all the silly things the PLA is doing to fighters and making new contracts?” Pitbull spoke in a series of posts on X about the Professional Fighters League.
“Will you speak for us? I think it's time to start a PFL fighters union. What do you think?”
No such federation exists in the biggest mixed martial arts promotions, including the UFC and PFL.
There was no immediate response to Pitbull's messages from Ngannou, whose prominent position in the ranks of the Professional Fighters Association is arguably unparalleled, as he previously starred in the UFC and competed in the boxing ring, where he faced Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in two fights held in… Riyadh.
Pitbull is a Bellator veteran, has won world titles in two divisions, and is the last fighter to hold the featherweight championship.
The PFL acquired Bellator in late 2023 in a merger and then launched Bellator Champion Series events in 2024 to house some of its biggest stars.
Pitbull fought at the Belfast event, stopping Jeremy Kennedy to improve his record to 36-7.
PFL President Don Davis issued a statement shortly after Pitbull vented his frustration with X, explaining why the Bellator brand was largely discontinued.
“PFL acquired Bellator MMA one year ago primarily because of its impressive fighter roster,” the PFL statement read.
“From now on, all events and content will be PFL branded.
“The Bellator brand carries a rich history that will continue to be respected and valued through select feature title bouts.”
