Season 2 Finalist ‘Pitbull’ Returns to Bellator 145-Pound Draw

Once-beaten Brazilian Patricio “Pitbull” Freire will take part in the Bellator Fighting Championships Season 4 featherweight tournament, the promotion announced on Monday.

Freire joins countryman Wilson Reis, Kenny Foster, Zac George, Eric Larkin, Georgi Karakhanyan and Daniel Straus on the list of confirmed participants for the eight-man field. Undefeated Bellator newcomer Nazareno Malegarie is expected to fill the tournament’s final slot.

A member of Team Nogueira, Freire reached the final of the second-season 145-pound tournament and nearly knocked out current Bellator champion Joe Warren in the opening round. Warren stormed back, however, and the gritty wrestler handed Freire the first loss of his career via split decision. Winning the upcoming tournament would earn Freire not only a check for $100,000 but also a rematch with the “Baddest Man on the Planet” -- something which the Pitbull is solely focused on improving for.

“I have no interest besides fighting as a professional,” Freire said in a release. “It’s the only thing I really want to do. Every day in my life, I am looking to overcome myself and evolve into a better fighter. I never believe that I am good enough. It’s all about improvement, every single day.”

Freire reached the Season 2 final by heel-hooking the previously unbeaten William Romero and taking a decision over Reis. The 23-year-old earned 14 consecutive wins before running into Warren, 11 of which came via some form of stoppage. His older brother, Patricky “Pitbull” Freire, is expected to compete in Bellator’s Season 4 lightweight tournament.

While no start date has been announced for Bellator’s MTV2-broadcast fourth season, it is expected to kick off on March 5 at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif.