Sherdog's Top 10: Greatest Fighters Never to have Competed in the UFC

2. Patricio Freire

Bellator's greatest fighter ever is the clear and easy runner-up on this list, with all but one voter slotting him in second. I've written glowingly about “Pitbull” before, noting that he is an excellent striker and an outstanding grappler, but his most amazing quality is his unmatched intelligence and discipline, exploiting even the smallest opponent weakness and implementing the most complex gameplans perfectly for 25 straight minutes. Despite having fought for more than half his life and turning 36 in a week, Freire is an amazing 35-6, which includes three stints as Bellator featherweight champion and an eye-popping eight title defenses. He has defeated a slew of good and even great opposition, though many don't get their due, including defeating Wilson Reis twice, the second by knockout, knocking out Georgi Karakhanyan, defeating Daniel Weichel twice, once by knockout, dominating Pat Curran, demolishing Diego Nunes in slightly over a minute, submitting Henry Corrales, defeating Emmanuel Sanchez twice, beating Juan Archuleta from bell to bell, defeating Daniel Straus three out of four times, the last by submission, shutting out Adam Borics for five straight rounds, and defeating Rizin featherweight king Kleber Koike Erbst in an interpromotional showdown. Freire also became a champ-champ when he knocked out Bellator lightweight champion and legend Michael Chandler, a man who has knocked out multiple UFC lightweight champions and despite being seen as past his prime, come within a whisker of becoming UFC lightweight champion himself against Charles Oliveira. Freire's time at the top seemed to be at an end when the undefeated dynamo A.J. McKee beat him for the title in 2021, but one should never have counted out the brilliant Brazilian, who fought a perfect fight in the rematch to win a close decision over 25 minutes. Alas, an attempt to do what no one has ever done, become a three-division champion in a major promotion failed when Freire lost a decision to a magnificent performance by Bellator bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis. Freire may never get his proper due, but he is truly a legend among legends.

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