If you ask a mixed martial arts fan who the best featherweight of all time is, they’ll probably answer with either Jose Aldo or Max Holloway. However, Patricio Pitbull wants to change that.
Pitbull defends his featherweight title against Juan Archuleta in the first round of the Bellator Featherweight Grand Prix at Bellator 228 on Saturday. It will be his first outing since capturing the lightweight title against Michael Chandler.
The Brazilian has made no secret of his belief that he’s the best in the world. He’s already claimed he would be able to defeat Holloway or even Khabib Nurmagomedov if they met in a cross-promotional bout.
But one fight in particular that intrigues him is with former UFC featherweight king Aldo.
“I’m a featherweight in Bellator and been dominating for years, and he’s been dominating the UFC for years,” Pitbull told The Body Lock’s Drake Riggs. “So there’s always gonna be a question, ‘Who’s the best featherweight to ever come out of Brazil?’ So I think because of that question, this tournament, the Bellator Grand Prix is going to leave no doubt who’s the best featherweight in the world.
“But that fight between me and Jose definitely has to happen in my point of view because of the questions that people have, because of even though he’s not in his prime anymore, he is a great fighter and that fight definitely should happen.”
For now, Pitbull must get past Archuleta.
“The Spaniard” is undefeated in his last 18 fights while he is also 5-0 under the Bellator banner. His last win was notably a knockout victory over Eduardo Dantas earlier this summer.
Pitbull understands the threat Archuleta poses, but still expects to get the win.
“He’s one of the only guys I see that kind of strikes going backwards,” Pitbull explained. “He takes a step forward and then he’s going backwards. So that poses a threat to me. Something that a lot of the other fighters haven’t done but I’m prepared for it. He’s on a 18-fight win streak but he’s not ready for me.”
Bellator 228 takes place Saturday at The Forum in Inglewood, California.
You can watch the full interview below:
