TLDR
- Patricio Pitbull defeated Doo Ho Choi by first-round TKO at UFC 331 on Saturday
- The former Bellator champion reunited with boxing coach Edelson Silva after 12 years apart
- Pitbull admitted he had lost motivation and felt apathetic before reconnecting with his former coach
- Silva previously worked with Pitbull from 2000 to 2015 before spending 11 years apart
- The victory came in the final fight of Pitbull’s current UFC contract, with his future uncertain
Sources: sports.yahoo.com | sherdog.com | mmasucka.com
Former Bellator two-division champion Patricio Pitbull stopped Doo Ho Choi by first-round TKO at UFC 331 on Saturday. The Brazilian finished the fight at 3:28 of the opening round with punches and elbows.
Patricio Pitbull revealed that his preparation for the fight went far beyond physical training. He credited his reunion with boxing coach Edelson Silva, who he had not worked with in over a decade, for playing a major role in his performance.
Brazilian Fighter Opens Up About Lost Motivation
Since making his UFC debut in April 2025, when he lost a unanimous decision to Yair Rodriguez, Pitbull had struggled to deliver performances like those he produced during his Bellator days. The fighter admitted his biggest problem was not inside the Octagon.
“I was apathetic,” Pitbull told Ag Fight after the bout. “I didn’t feel any emotion anymore, that was my problem. It was a lack of happiness.”
39 year old Patricio Pitbull is still an absolute dog
went exchange for exchange in the pocket with doo ho choi & his power just prevailed #ufc331 pic.twitter.com/tB5S9RiqSA— Kevin Thang (@Skip2MyJays) September 20, 2026
The Brazilian said nothing excited him anymore, including music, money, or cars. He had reached a point where he no longer felt the competitive fire that had driven him throughout his career.
Pitbull’s return to form came after he reconnected with Edelson Silva. The boxing coach had worked with him from 2000 to 2015 before they drifted apart for 11 years.
During their time apart, Silva worked on 10 of Anderson Silva’s training camps. The two coaches were able to work things out and make peace before UFC 331.
“At that moment, Edelson Silva came to my mind,” Pitbull said. “After being apart for 12 years, I managed to bring this guy back.”
The Brazilian said the work they did together helped him bring back his punching power and volume. He wanted to adapt those skills to his current stage in the UFC.
Coach’s Philosophy Translates to Aggressive Performance
“As he said throughout the entire training camp: ‘We didn’t come here to fight, we came here to kill,'” Pitbull explained. The approach translated into an aggressive performance against Choi that reminded fans of his Bellator days.
Pitbull pressured the Korean fighter from the opening bell before finishing the fight with ground strikes. Speaking to UFC Brazil’s Evelyn Rodrigues as he left the Octagon, the former Bellator champ said the reunion allowed him to fight more freely.
“I wasn’t letting myself go in the previous fights, but thank God I was able to find myself again in this one,” Pitbull said after the victory. “We were able to work things out and make peace.”
With the victory, Pitbull improved his professional record to 38-9. He returned to the win column after suffering a unanimous decision loss to Aaron Pico in April.
The win came in the final bout of his UFC contract. UFC CEO Dana White remained coy about Pitbull’s future in the promotion at the post-fight press conference but commended the Brazilian’s victory.
Neither party has indicated whether Pitbull will be offered a contract renewal. The fighter has also expressed interest in facing Jean Silva, calling him a “barking dog” in recent comments.
