If Patricky Freire can't get another Bellator title shot, he'll just keep winning

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Patricky Freire no doubt would love another lightweight title shot if he beats Derek Campos tonight at Bellator 194.

But absent that – a decision that isn’t likely to be made till well after current champion Brent Primus puts the title on the line against former champ Michael Chandler in an April rematch – “Pitbull” said he’s prepared to just keep racking up wins till he gets his next crack.

“(If I get a title shot), it’s OK,” Freire told MMAjunkie this week. “But I don’t know (what) Bellator (wants). I’m ready for anyone.”

Freire (18-8 MMA, 11-7 BMMA) and Campos (19-6 MMA, 8-4 BMMA) meet in the Bellator 194 co-main event tonight at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Paramount following prelims on MMAjunkie.

Freire had a shot at the lightweight title against Chandler in June 2016. The then-vacant belt was up for grabs in St. Louis – Chandler’s home turf. And the home favorite impressed with a first-round knockout.

Since then, “Pitbull” has rebounded with a pair of wins in 2017. He knocked out Josh Thomson in the second round at Bellator 172 a year ago this weekend. And in September, he took a split decision from former UFC and WEC lightweight champion Benson Henderson in what arguably was the biggest win of his career.

Tonight against Campos, he’ll be facing an opponent he already has a win over. In April 2014, he stopped Campos with a second-round TKO in Bellator’s Season 10 lightweight tournament semifinals.

This time around, he doesn’t think much will be different. He likens Campos to a fighter who loves the standup game, but not much else.

“Derek Campos hasn’t changed his game,” Freire said. “I’ve changed my game plan for takedowns, my jiu-jitsu is great – but I haven’t shown it to everyone. Maybe this fight is a good time to show my jiu-jitsu. I’ve changed my game for different styles – karate, I’ve trained taekwondo, I’ve trained more jiu-jitsu.

“Derek, if you look at his fights, all his fights he just does standup and strikes. I don’t want this. I want to win easy and go home with a clean face for my kids to play with me. That’s it.”

For more on Bellator 194, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.