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Patricio Pitbull is ready to make his long-awaited UFC debut, but according to him, not everyone was eager to welcome him into the octagon. After securing his full release from PFL on January 15, the former Bellator double champion spent weeks negotiating with the UFC. Now, he’s set to take on Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314 in Miami on April 12. However, he claims several fighters, including Aljamain Sterling, dodged him before this fight was finalized.
Despite his impressive resume, Pitbull revealed that his transition to the UFC wasn’t smooth. While some UFC officials supported his signing, others weren’t as enthusiastic. It wasn’t until Jorge Guimarães and Ed Soares pushed for his inclusion that things started to take shape.
“They didn’t sound very excited at first,” Pitbull admitted. “One wanted it, another didn’t, and one had to convince the other. ‘Joinha’ told me, ‘Brother, trust me, it will work out.’”
As it turns out, Pitbull was initially offered a bout with former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling.
“They asked if I would fight Sterling in March. I said I was in, but he ran. He said he needed more time and would only be ready in April.”
The UFC then presented Yair Rodriguez as an option, but according to Pitbull, Rodriguez hesitated.
“I messaged him directly—‘What’s up, brother? Will you fight or not? Where’s your Mexican pride?’” he teased. “He said he’d be honored to welcome me to the UFC, but when the UFC called him, he asked for a ranked opponent.”
Rodriguez was eventually booked against Arnold Allen, but Pitbull had a feeling that the fight wouldn’t hold up.
“I told ‘Joinha’ to stay on it because Allen would probably pull out. When guys take a short-notice fight without a full camp, they often get ‘injured.’”
While waiting for an opponent, Pitbull was briefly considered as a replacement for Steve Garcia on February 22 after Edson Barboza suffered an injury. However, visa issues prevented him from taking the fight. Eventually, the UFC finalized his bout with Rodriguez, and he never lost focus.
“I kept training with Yair in mind,” Pitbull said. “They said Dana White would announce the fight, and then he’d have to accept it. And that’s exactly what happened.”
The fight has major stakes, as UFC 314 also features Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes for the featherweight belt. A strong performance could fast-track Pitbull into title contention.
“At 37, I’m stepping into the biggest MMA stage in a top fight in my division,” he said. “A dominant win could put me right in the title picture.”
As Bellator’s most decorated champion, Pitbull knows some fans and critics still question his level of competition. That only fuels his motivation.
“People doubt my opponents, even guys with incredible records,” he said. “That’s fine. I don’t see it as pressure—I see it as motivation. I’m coming to tear Rodriguez apart. That’s what pit bulls do.”
Pitbull remains open to fights across multiple divisions but remains laser-focused on UFC gold.
“I came here to fight for the title. I don’t want to be just another guy who joined and faded away. I’m confident in my abilities, and I’ll do my best to make this a successful run.”
UFC 314 will be his first chance to show he belongs among the elite. Now, all that’s left is for him to prove it inside the octagon.