Patricky Freire on Usman Nurmagomedov’s Grappling Skills: ‘My Jiu-Jitsu Is Better’

Patricky Freire is aiming to notch the first defense of his Bellator MMA championship in the Bellator 288 co-headliner on Nov. 18. Freire (24-10, 15-8 Bellator) is set to collide with Usman Nurmagomedov in an eye-catching 155-pound affair. “Pitbull” captured the vacant divisional championship after stopping Peter Queally with punches at Bellator 270 in November 2021. Ahead of his upcoming clash, Freire told Sherdog he thinks he has the edge over his opponent both on the feet and on the mat. Freire has just one submission victory in his career and loves to finish his foes with strikes, but believes the time might be right for him to show off his Brazilian jiu-jitsu background.

“He is a young guy. He’ll try to kick me, punch me, he’ll use the kicks in the fight all time more than the punches, I believe he’ll do this. After, he’ll try to take me down, I believe this is his game. That is, I think what he’ll do. I believe my striking is batter than his and my jiu-jitsu is better. In Bellator, nobody [has seen] my jiu-jitsu, so probably this time is perfect to use my BJJ.”

(00:00) Intro
(00:18) Preparing for Usman
(01:08) Fighting in Chicago for the first time
(01:50) How he’s spending summer in Brazil
(02:33) Training with Kenny Monday
(03:34) What he expects from Usman
(04:12) Representing Brazilian jiu-jitsu against sambo
(05:04) Getting some hate from Russian fans
(06:46) Pulling out of his fight with Outlaw in July
(07:53) His liver eating contest with Liver King and Paulo Costa
(09:17) What does raw liver taste like?
(09:50) His comment on the Brazilian election results
(12:50) Outro