Pitbull Walks Back UFC Contract Talk Before Choi Fight

Patricio Pitbull says his UFC contract will not expire after his fight with Doo Ho Choi at UFC 331, walking back earlier comments that suggested this weekend's bout in Los Angeles would be his last on his current deal.

Speaking at UFC 331 media day, the former two-division Bellator MMA champion cleared up the confusion himself. After previously stating that his deal was up following the fight this Saturday, he issued a correction on Wednesday, speaking with media outlets including Cageside Press at the UFC 331 media day. "I feel ready, I'm comfortable. My training camp was good," featherweight Pitbull (37-9) stated, in English. Then, via translator, he added that "About my contract, I believe we made a mistake. Everyone's thinking the contract's going to be over after this fight, but they're wrong." Asked directly how many fights remain on the deal, the Brazilian replied "I don't think I can say."

Why Pitbull's UFC Deal Is Under the Microscope

Patricio Pitbull's contract has become a storyline because his UFC run has not matched his Bellator MMA legacy. Pitbull is 1-2 in the UFC, which puts him in a precarious situation. The releases keep piling up around him, too. Fellow Bellator MMA ex-pat Michael "Venom" Page was recently released with a 5-1 record, and MVP's release was widely seen as being the result of his UFC fights going the distance, despite his high-level striking ability. That context matters. If a 5-1 fighter can get cut, a 1-2 record raises real questions about how much rope Pitbull has left, no matter how he tried to downplay it at the podium.

He did not duck the Page comparison when it was put to him directly. Pitbull said simply that "deals have a beginning and an end. That's normal, and if the organization wasn't happy with it, that's part of it. That's normal."

Pitbull Predicts Fireworks Against Doo Ho Choi

Patricio Pitbull is framing Saturday's featherweight bout against Doo Ho Choi as a chance to finally show what he can do inside the Octagon. Freire knows his UFC performances have been a letdown and he hopes to change that against "Korean Superboy" at UFC 331. He is not shy about how he expects it to play out either. "Me against 'Korean Superboy' is going to be fireworks, I believe. We're going to win that," Pitbull said.

Given both men's styles, that prediction lines up with how fans and matchmakers see this fight: a stylistic clash of two heavy-handed strikers with finishing instincts, the kind of matchup that regularly produces Fight of the Night bonuses. For bettors, that means live-underdog and finish-method props carry more weight here than the moneyline alone. Pitbull needs a statement performance, ideally a finish, to make his case that he still belongs on the roster. A grinding decision win, even a victory, may not be enough to quiet the noise around his contract, and that added incentive is worth factoring into how this fight is likely to be fought.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Patricio Pitbull's UFC contract ending after UFC 331?

No. Patricio Pitbull said at UFC 331 media day that reports of his contract expiring after his fight with Doo Ho Choi were a mistake, though he would not say how many fights remain on his deal.

What is Patricio Pitbull's UFC record heading into UFC 331?

Patricio Pitbull is 1-2 in the UFC entering his featherweight bout with Doo Ho Choi at UFC 331 in Los Angeles.

Why did Michael Page's release matter to the Pitbull story?

Michael 'Venom' Page was released by the UFC despite a 5-1 record, which added scrutiny to Patricio Pitbull's own contract situation given his 1-2 UFC mark.