Monster Energy's Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire Defeats Dan Ige at UFC 318 in New Orleans

38-Year-Old from Mossoró, Brazil, Earns Unanimous Decision Win in Featherweight Fight

NEW ORLEANS, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pitbull earns his first UFC win! Monster Energy congratulates MMA athlete Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire on defeating Dan Ige at UFC 318 in New Orleans on Saturday night. In the featherweight division bout on the main card, the 38-year-old from Mossoró, Brazil, earned the victory by unanimous decision after three rounds.

UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 was contested in front of a live crowd of 18,138 spectators inside the sold-out Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Featuring five fights on the Main Card, the event was broadcast live on ESPN pay-per-view.

Monster Energy's Pitbull (37-8) came to New Orleans looking to recover from a recent loss in his UFC debut against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314 in April 2025. Before joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Pitbull reigned in the Bellator promotion as the three-time Featherweight Champion and former Lightweight Champion.  

Pitbull's opponent, 33-year-old Ige (19-10) from Honolulu, Hawaii, stepped into the Octagon after most recently scoring a TKO victory against Sean Woodson at UFC 314.

The fight started on a strategic note, as Pitbull targeted Ige's lead leg with kicks while both fighters looked for openings to cause real damage. Pitbull managed to evade power shots from the Hawaiian and landed several takedowns as well as a knee to the body in Round 1 for an early lead on the scorecards.

The second round unfolded with Ige bringing the pressure, trying to land fast punch combinations. Pitbull defended successfully, waiting for the right time to return fire. He found it by landing a surprise right hand that dropped Ige to one knee. Although Pitbull pursued Ige against the side of the cage with a flurry of punches, he could not get the finish, even by securing a takedown before the buzzer.

At the start of Round 3, Ige clearly needed a finish to win the fight after Pitbull's dominance during the first two rounds. The finish seemed within reach when Ige landed a brutal head kick that visibly rattled Pitbull and would have taken out most other fighters. Showing the grit that made him a multiple Bellator champion, Pitbull recovered and shut down Ige's offense with his superior grappling until the final buzzer.

After three rounds, the judges named Pitbull the winner by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

"That's a dream come true. I was a little bit afraid because my opponent is very dangerous. I know he thinks the same about me. He's a warrior, much respect from me, but I got the victory," said Monster Energy's Pitbull after claiming his first career UFC win in New Orleans.

What's next now that Pitbull has made his mark in the UFC? Asked about his next opponent, Pitbull instantly pointed out fellow Bellator veteran and Monster Energy teammate Aaron Pico from Whittier, California. "If he's good, we can fight next week," said Pitbull directly after the fight at UFC 318. Stay tuned!

Monster Energy's elite UFC athletes include Jon Jones, Alex Pereira, Belal Muhammad, Dricus Du Plessis, Merab Dvalishvili, Valentina Shevchenko, Zhang Weili, Marlon Vera, Michael Chandler, Justin Gaethje, Brandon Moreno, Giga Chikadze, Johnny Walker, Sean Strickland, Dan Ige, Diego Lopes, Daniel Zellhuber, Derrick Lewis, Alexa Grasso, Raul Rosas Jr., Tatsuro Taira, Shara Magomedov, Patricio Pitbull, Maycee Barber, Aaron Pico, Patchy Mix, Jasmine Jasudavicius, and Kayla Harrison.

For more on Monster Energy's MMA athletes, visit www.monsterenergy.com. Follow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.

For interview or photo requests, contact Kim Dresser.

About Monster Energy
Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes, and musicians represent. More than a drink, it's the way of life lived by athletes, bands, believers, and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at www.monsterenergy.com.

CONTACT: Kim Dresser C: (949) 300-5546 E: [email protected] 

SOURCE Monster Energy