Next Chapter for Leandro Higo

Factors beyond Leandro Higo’s control have kept the former Legacy Fighting Alliance champion off camera for more than a year, and the Professional Fighters League-Bellator MMA merger ultimately cost him a shot at Bellator titleholder Patchy Mix.

“It’s a very complex situation,” he told Sherdog.com. “We knew the PFL had bought Bellator, but we didn’t know what would happen to Bellator; and in less than a year, Bellator went extinct, just as I had the opportunity to fight for the belt. I wish I had fought him, so I could exit the organization as a champion.”

Higo will leave all the past tumult behind in the Professional Fighters League grand prix, and he kicks off his run when his bantamweight quarterfinal opposite Josh Rettinghouse serves as the PFL 2025 World Tournament First Round 2 main event on Friday at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. The Brazilian enters the competition as one of the clear tournament favorites.

Fighters only get one shot! Watch the PFL World Tournament LIVE Friday, April 11 at 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2..

“We’re in the PFL in the tournament [and] representing Brazil, our team and myself,” Higo said. “I’m very happy with that, because it’s an opportunity to climb another rung in search of the belt.”

Higo continues to train out of the Pitbull Brothers camp in Natal, Brazil, where he fine tunes his skills alongside former Bellator champions Patricio Freire and Patricky Freire. Even though all three men have gone their separate ways—Patricky signed with the Global Fight League and Patricio agreed to terms with the Ultimate Fighting Championship—in terms of their professional alliances, they remain as close as ever.

“Not much has changed in my work,” Higo said. “I brought in some guys to help me deal with Russian styles. I’m very motivated. I’m training well. I’m in the prime of my career now. Not much has changed. For years, the ‘Pitbull’ brothers were the face of Bellator. They had the longest tenures in the organization, but this is how our sport is. Now, I will fight practically on the same week as Patricio. It’s a new phase for us.”

Entry in the PFL tournament offers Higo the opportunity at a life-altering $500,000 payday, along with the prestige of a major championship. He enters his showdown with Rettinghouse with wins in five of his past six bouts. Higo last saw action on March 22, 2024, when he took a three-round unanimous decision from James Gallagher at Bellator Champions Series 1.

“After nearly seven years in the previous organization, I’m now taking my first steps into new areas,” he said. “It’s a little different, but a fighter’s life must go on, with his head held high.”