At the Menora Mivtachim in Tel Aviv, Israel on Thursday, but was aired Friday night on tape delay, Freire managed to stave off Emmanuel Sanchez’s run for the featherweight title, earning a unanimous decision win to retain his belt at Bellator 209.
The first round saw both men set the tone of the fight with Sanchez pressuring from the opening bell while “Pitbull,” ironically, played the matador on the outside and landing the clearner, harder punches. Pitbull had success early, opening a cut underneath Sanchez’s eye in the second round. By the fourth round, Sanchez’s face was a lumpy mess but “El Matador” was undeterred and his pressure and leg kicks seemed to be slowing Freire down as they entered the final frame.