Patricio Pitbull Feels “Ready” for Doo-ho Choi Amid UFC Contract Confusion

Patricio Pitbull appeared to be entering the final fight of his current UFC deal, but he's now saying that he'll stay put in the promotion.  

"We Made a Mistake" – Patricio Pitbull Opens Up About UFC Contract Confusion

The cat was already out of the bag, more than a month before his final contracted fight with the UFC. At that point, the Brazilian seemed confident to secure an extension. Despite the lot of names before him, including MVP, who went 5-1 in the UFC and a spree of lackluster performances in the promotion, casting a shadow over his future, Pitbull remains optimistic, although this time, he dropped a major revelation. 

During the UFC 331 pre-fight media briefing, the 39-year-old was asked about his matchup and the uncertainty surrounding his UFC future. Pitbull (37-9) didn't sound fazed by it. Instead, the former Bellator double champion made it clear that he's ready to step into the Octagon and deliver "fireworks." 

The featherweight said, “I feel ready, I’m comfortable. My training camp was good." Then came the twist via translation, "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." 

While Pitbull didn't elaborate on why he remains confident about continuing with the promotion, he also wasn't willing to reveal how many fights remain on his UFC deal. When asked about it, the veteran simply replied, “I don’t think I can say.”

As of now, Pitbull finds himself in a slump at 1-2 in the UFC. After bidding farewell to the now-defunct Bellator with a win over Jeremy Kennedy, the former two-division champion made the jump to the UFC. Yair Rodriguez welcomed him to the promotion, handing the Brazilian a unanimous decision loss in his debut.

Pitbull bounced back against Dan Ige at UFC 318, but the momentum didn't last. A canceled bout with Losene Keita left him on the sidelines before he returned the following year against Aaron Pico, only to suffer another loss.

In short, Pitbull has yet to replicate the success and the reputation he built through spectacular KO and submission wins at Bellator inside the UFC. All three of his fights in the promotion have gone the distance, while the UFC has repeatedly shown a preference for finishes over decisions when it comes to its rewarding fighters.

Pitbull Isn’t Thinking About PFL-MVP Merger

And with the UFC recently parting ways with MVP despite his 5-1 record, with all six fights going the distance, Pitbull's chances of extending his run in the promotion suddenly look far less certain. Which begs the question, where will he be headed next if UFC decides to say no? 

The recently merged PFL-MVP could have been a natural landing spot for Pitbull, given his history with Bellator. But when asked about the possibility of joining the promotion under its new management, the veteran quickly dismissed the idea. “I don’t even want to think about that. I think they made a mistake from the beginning when they let go of Bellator.”

"But I wish them luck. I think that the sport needs it. Fighters, not everyone can sign up with the UFC, so we need to have a second organization. But I wish them luck." 

Doo Ho Choi vs. Patricio Pitbull Odds

His opponent, Choi, enters UFC 331 as the betting favorite, -250 to -275, while his Brazilian counterpart ranges from roughly +208 to +226. In addition, the recent numbers explain why the Korean slugger is the heavy favorite. The South Korean owns a 17-4-1 professional record and has gone three straight Ws, all by stoppage. 

His latest victory came against Daniel Santos in May, when “The Korean Superboy” stopped him with punches in the second round. Before that, he finished Nate Landwehr and Bill Algeo, giving him three consecutive finishes since returning to the win column in 2024.

That said, the 35-year-old has built his reputation around his hands, and simply put, there is more to his game than simply waiting for a firefight. He lands 3.97 significant strikes per minute while connecting at a 56% accuracy rate, according to available UFC statistics. He also owns a 57% significant-strike defense, although he absorbs 4.43 significant strikes per minute.

That could make things particularly interesting for Pitbull. On one side, Choi is comfortable operating at a high pace, but he is not exactly untouchable. And for a fighter like Pitbull, who has spent much of his career going to war, this could lead to an opening.

The physical advantages, however, belong to Choi. At 5-foot-9, he has a four-inch height advantage over Pitbull, along with a 4.5-inch edge in reach. That gives him the opportunity to keep the former Bellator champion at the end of his punches rather than allowing Pitbull to comfortably close the distance.