Bellator 99's Diego Nunes plans to end long decision streak vs. Patricio Freire

There’s no getting around it. The cold, hard math around Diego Nunes is that he started his career 11-0 with 11 stoppages, but once he came to the United States, it’s been all decisions.

Since Nunes (18-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) debuted in the WEC, then moved on to the UFC, he’s had 11 straight decisions, going 7-4 in the process. On Friday, he meets Patricio Freire (18-2 MMA, 6-2 BMMA) in the opening round of Bellator’s Season 9 featherweight tournament.

But Nunes said it’s not as simple as everyone thinks, his finishing ways the first half of his career, but nothing but decisions the past five years, and he’s determined to prove it at Bellator 99 against “Pitbull.”

Bellator 99 takes place at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, Calif. The main card airs on Spike TV following prelims on Spike.com.

Nunes will make his Bellator debut after being released by the UFC following a January loss to Nik Lentz. Under the Zuffa banner, Nunes went 4-1 in the WEC and 3-3 in the UFC with losses to Lentz, Dennis Siver and Kenny Florian, but wins over former WEC champ Mike Brown, former WEC title challenger Manny Gamburyan and Bart Palaszewski.

“Fighting is full of surprises,” Nunes told MMAjunkie.com. “And even though I could have chosen to face a less experienced fighter, I’m facing one of the best right off the bat. I’ve already faced some of the best fighters in the world. I think what was missing were adversaries who would openly strike with me instead of tying me up. But since Patricio isn’t the kind of guy to just hold me, all elements are in place for a great knockout. I expect to catch him by surprise.”

Nunes makes no secret that he’s starting his Bellator career against the fighter he believes is No. 2 in the division and that the two of them are the best in the eight-man tournament field.

“For sure, Patricio is the second best featherweight, after the champion,” Nunes said. “He’s one of Bellator’s best fighters. I think the winner of this fight will be the winner of the tournament. I think we are the best two fighters in the tournament. It couldn’t be better – I’m starting out with the most difficult opponent. I was expecting to face Patricio in the final. But I think Bellator made a great booking, Diego Nunes vs. Patricio ‘Pitbull’ to kick off this tournament.”

Freire only has lost twice. In June 2010, he dropped a split call in Bellator’s Season 2 featherweight tournament final to Joe Warren, who went on to beat Joe Soto to win the 145-pound title. “Pitbull” rebounded to win the Season 4 tournament, but then lost a close split decision to current champ Pat Curran.

It was Freire’s loss to Curran that Nunes thinks he can take something out of for Friday’s main event – or at least an example of what he doesn’t plan on doing.

“Pat showed how to use length and point fighting to win,” Nunes said. “But I changed my own style. I don’t back up anymore. I respond in kind when I’m attacked. And I hit hard. Patricio is a shorter fighter. I’ll be using my muay Thai to neutralize his attacks. I’ll be using a strong muay Thai with hard punches and harder kicks to neutralize him.”

If Nunes’ theory is correct, that he’s been going 15 minutes every time out thanks to his opponents, and that Freire is not one of those kinds of opponents, perhaps he’ll get that finish that’s been eluding him. He’s a 2-to-1 underdog against “Pitbull.”

But Nunes believes the right motivation will be on his side, motivation beyond just getting a finish.

“I’ve been training hard for four months for this fight. “… The focus of my training has been in takedowns and knockouts. I’ve been working a lot on physical strength and explosion, so when I hit my adversary, he’ll drop. That’s what I’ve been focusing on. My greatest opponent is not Patricio ‘Pitbull,’ it’s my own wish to win this tournament. By being champion, I’ll be able to start my family – to get married, to have children. That’s what motivates me, and no one is going to stop me until I accomplish it.”

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