Patricio “Pitbull” Freire believes reconnecting with a longtime boxing
coach, Edelson Silva, played a major role in getting his career
back on track.
Freire recently returned to winning ways in the final bout of his
Ultimate Fighting Championship contract, finishing Doo Ho Choi
by first-round technical knockout at UFC
331.
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Patricio Freire credits reunion with Edelson Silva for Doo Ho
Choi finish
After his victory over Choi, Freire spoke about his reunion with
Silva, which he credited as the primary factor in reviving his
career. Talking to UFC Brazil’s Evelyn Rodrigues as he left the
Octagon, the former Bellator
champ said the reunion allowed him to fight more freely.
“I wasn’t letting myself go in the previous fights, but thank God I
was able to find myself again in this one,” Freire said after the
victory. “Edelson worked with me from 2000 to 2015. Unfortunately,
we drifted apart for 11 years, when he worked on 10 of Anderson
Silva’s camps. But we were able to work things out and make
peace.”
UFC CEO Dana
White remained coy about Freire’s future in the promotion at
the post-fight presser, but commended the Brazilian’s victory.
Neither party has indicated whether he’ll be offered a contract
renewal.