Pitbull Survived Ige’s Late Surge to Secure His First UFC
Patricio “Pitbull” Freire earned his first UFC victory by defeating Dan Ige at UFC 318 on July 19, 2025. All three judges scored the featherweight contest 29–28 for the Brazilian at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
Timely wrestling helped establish an early lead
Ige opened with movement and attacks to the lead leg, while Pitbull looked for chances to close distance. A body-lock takedown allowed the former Bellator champion to bring his grappling into the first round.
The fighters returned to their feet after a front-headlock sequence. In the second, Pitbull mixed in his jab and right hand before another takedown added to his work near the end of the round.
Ige’s best moment arrived in the third
Ige caught Pitbull coming forward with a high attack early in the final round, hurting him and damaging his nose. Pitbull responded by reaching for a leg and trying to slow the exchange.
He recovered enough to resume pursuing takedowns and clinch positions. Ige escaped several sequences and pushed for a stronger finish, but Pitbull continued interrupting the momentum with his grappling.
The scorecards rewarded Pitbull’s earlier work
Every judge favored Pitbull after fifteen minutes, giving him a successful second appearance in the promotion. His UFC debut had ended in a decision defeat to Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314.
The result brought Pitbull’s UFC record to 1–1. Against an experienced featherweight who threatened a late reversal, his ability to combine early scoring with timely defensive wrestling proved sufficient to secure the decision.
Sources
- Cageside Press: early takedowns, third-round trouble and UFC debut context
- UFC: first promotional win and Ige’s late attack
- UFC: official unanimous decision and event details
