Bellator 113's Patricky Freire may move to U.S., where 'justice actually works'

As Patricky Freire prepares to enter his third Bellator MMA tournament, the Brazilian is considering a potential full-time move to the U.S. “Pitbull” said things back home are a big reason why.

Since joining Bellator in 2011, the 28-year-old slugger has made many numerous trips up north. The latest is for Friday’s Bellator 113 event, where Freire (11-5 MMA, 4-4 BMMA) takes on David Rickels (15-3 MMA, 9-2 BMMA) in the first round of the Season 10 lightweight tournament.

The bout, which also serves as the Spike TV co-headliner, takes place at Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, Kan. It’s another high-profile spot for Freire, who’s been one of Bellator’s bigger stars, along with brother Patricio Freire.

So how does the older Freire feel about a potential relocation to the U.S.?

“I’ve been thinking about moving to America since my first visit in 2011,” he told MMAjunkie. “I was impressed with the infrastructure in the U.S., by what’s available and by the fact that everything actually works. I would like to live in America mostly because things are reliable and because justice actually works there.”

Freire’s training partner, Guilherme “Kioto” Matos Rodrigues, was recently murdered in Brazil. Another friend, Luiz de Franca, also was recently killed. Throw in Brazil’s infrastructure problems, which have been in the spotlight ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and Freire said he’s reached his breaking point.

“In Brazil, there is much injustice,” Freire said. “As my father is a policeman, I respect the law, and I don’t enjoy seeing injustice. Education for one’s children and a sense of security are very appealing to me. All that’s missing is the opportunity and courage to go to America with the clothes on my back. If I had a good chance to live there, I wouldn’t think twice about it.”

Freire, in fact, recently moved his fight camp from Rio de Janeiro to his hometown of Natal to be closer to his parents. While he used to leave home for training camps and his fights, the time away wore on him, he said.

“It’s good to be close to my family,” he said. “I think that at this point in my career, I have a need to be near my family, with my wife and daughter, near my parents whom I hadn’t seen for some time.”

When he first joined Bellator, Freire remained in Natal, and he thinks he had success because of it. He posted a runner-up finish (to eventual champ Michael Chandler) in his first Bellator tournament. But since then, he’s lost three of five. Most recently, he halted a three-fight skid with a decision victory over Edson Berto at Bellator 107.

“My training sessions have been great because I have a lot of positive energy now,” he said. “I am very happy to be in my homeland. That’s how it was when I fought in the 2011 tournament. There’s nothing better than to be near the place of my birth. I am looking to recapture some some of the instinct and technique that I used to knock out my opponents in 2011.”

In fact, Freire hasn’t posted a knockout win since November 2011. And he knows the task gets no easier against the ridiculously tough Rickels, who’s won five of his past six while pushing his overall Bellator record to 9-2.

“Rickels is very durable,” Freire said. “Most of his victories are by unanimous decision. He manages to dominate his opponents because he can take a hit. His striking is average. He doesn’t have a very elaborate wresting game, offensive or defensive. His grappling is mostly to stay off the ground. His durability is his biggest asset. That’s why he feels more and more comfortable as the rounds go by.”

Freire, though, believes he’s game. And he thinks his latest fight camp will carry him to a win.

“I know that people in America believe in David Rickels,” he said. “I imagine 70 to 80 percent of them believe he’ll win. It will be a great victory for me. I’ll be a shutting up a lot of people who don’t believe in me.”

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