Pitbull has something to prove.
Former two-division Bellator champion Patrick Pitbull returns to action against the longtime Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight fighter Doo Ho Choi of the year “Featured in the fight”. UFC 331 this weekend (Saturday, September 19, 2026) at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
Pit bull fought his way out of his Bellator/PFL contract and finally joined the UFC at age 37, several years removed from his athletic prime. Still, expectations remained high for the Brazilian legend, who went on to become the winningest fighter and three-time featherweight champion in the history of the Bellator promotion.
Unfortunately, Pitbull has yet to display the speed, power and aggression that made him such a special fighter to watch for nearly two decades. It looks like Father Time has finally caught up with the Brazilian legend through three dominant performances in the Octagon.
Pitbull agrees that UFC fans haven’t seen the best version of him.
“I haven’t enjoyed any of (my UFC fights),” Pitbull told reporters when asked to assess his UFC career so far. “I don’t think I’ve shown my potential in any of the fights, but I want to bring it out in this performance.”
Pitbull is currently 1-2 inside the octagon, incur losses Yair Rodriguez and Aaron Pico while scoring his only win Dan Ige. All three opponents were ranked, so the UFC certainly hasn’t given him an easy introduction.
He now takes a small step back in the rankings against Choi, but not necessarily in danger.
The “Korean Superboy” appears to have turned his career around and enters UFC 331 riding a three-fight winning streak. three wins come by stoppage. Choi’s aggressive style should also give Pitbull more opportunities to open up than he found in his previous UFC appearances.
On paper, this looks like the perfect matchup for Pitbull to remind everyone why he was considered one of the best featherweights outside of the UFC for so many years.
It may also provide further proof that the years have finally caught up with him.
Can Pitbull turn back the clock in Los Angeles?
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