Patricio Pitbull has held the Bellator featherweight title for many years and also claimed the lightweight belt with a victory over Michael Chandler. His achievements extend internationally, including defeating RIZIN champion Kleber Koike in Japan.
As Pitbull now prepares to make his debut inside the UFC octagon, his Pitbull Brothers teammate, Leandro Higo, is highly confident that he will shine on the sport`s biggest stage.
Both Higo and Pitbull are scheduled to compete in Florida this week. Higo is set for his PFL debut in the main event of PFL 2 in Orlando on April 11, facing a late replacement opponent, Marcirley Alves. Pitbull will step into the UFC octagon for the first time the following night, taking on Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314.
Higo commented, “I believe he is going to become a champion in the UFC. Almost every fighter who has transitioned from Bellator to the UFC has performed well. The sole former Bellator champion who didn’t succeed in the UFC was Will Brooks. If you look at all the others who came over, Michael Chandler did well, Eddie Alvarez became champion, among many others. Patricio possesses everything required to become a champion, and he’s starting with a significant challenge.”
The UFC featherweight championship will be contested in the main event of UFC 314 in Miami, with former champion Alexander Volkanovski facing rising star Diego Lopes.
Higo believes that a strong performance from Pitbull could position him as the next contender in the 145-pound division.
Higo stated, “Depending on his performance, he could very well become the next challenger; he has everything it takes to be champion. He trains alongside champions, and truly, he’s the best in the world.”
Due to their fight schedules, Higo and Pitbull had to divide their team for the final training days, being 230 miles apart in Florida. However, Higo plans to drive to Miami immediately after his own fight to witness Pitbull`s much-anticipated first walk to the octagon.
Higo remarked, “I’ll hit the road to Miami as soon as my fight is finished. I absolutely want to watch Pitbull’s debut. I predict he’ll win by knockout.”
Facing his second consecutive short-notice opponent on Friday, Higo aims to secure his first win in the PFL bantamweight tournament, with his sights set on the $500,000 grand prize. Josh Rettinghouse was initially the replacement for Magomed Magomedov, but Alves stepped in after Rettinghouse was not medically cleared on the morning of the weigh-ins.
“My opponents seem to keep changing, but if you aspire to be a champion, you must navigate adversities,” Higo said. “Regrettably, I now have to fight a fellow Brazilian after both of our scheduled opponents failed weight, and he was available as an alternate.”
He added, “I am familiar with him; we have competed on the same fight card previously. However, we are both professional adults with a job to accomplish. This represents my initial step in the tournament, and God willing, it will be my first win. Following that, the second victory, the third, and ultimately securing that half a million dollars.”
Neville Woodall 
Duncan Priestley