The Jesus Pinedo vs. Patricio Freire match will no longer be joining the PFL vs. Bellator Champs event next weekend. The bout was removed from the card after Pinedo withdrew due to undisclosed reasons, with Pitbull not getting a replacement opponent.
The event will be held on February 24 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and will stream on ESPN+ pay-per-view. The card is filled with champion and crossover bouts of fighters from both promotions, with the Pinedo vs. Freire expected to be on the main card of the event. However, PFL announced this Saturday that the fight will no longer be included in the card.
𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Updated #PFLvsBellator Fight Card
•Jesus Pinedo is OUT
•Jesus Pinedo vs. Patricio Pitbull is off the card
•Claressa Shields vs. Kelsey DeSantis will now be fought at a catchweight of 165lbs[ #PFLvsBellator | Saturday, Feb 24th | 3pm EST | 🎟… pic.twitter.com/NtP7VLvMht
— PFL (@PFLMMA) February 17, 2024
The reason behind Pinedo’s withdrawal is unknown, but it can be recalled that the fighter expressed excitement over the fight prior to his decision.
“He’s a tough rival, just like everyone I’ve been fighting,” Pinedo said of Freire via an interpreter last November. “It’s just another fight for me, and I’m ready. I know that I will finish that fight. It won’t reach a decision, just like all the other fights I’ve been doing.”
The Peruvian was supposed to face Pitbull, who is the current featherweight world champ at Bellator. The fight would have allowed him to extend his recent third-round TKO win over Gabriel Braga. However, Pitbull would be no easy fight for “El Mudo.” Despite coming from his recent loss to Sergio Pettis at Bellator 297 in June, Freire is known for achieving impressive winning streaks and performing submissions wins. Of his 35 bout victories in his career, Pitbull boasts 12 submissions and 11 KO/TKO victories.
