“I really needed to be in the UFC and win those belts so I could finally be done,” Patricio Pitbull said through his translator as reflected on his legendary career. The former two-division Bellator champion could’ve walked away with his legacy intact—as one of the greatest fighters of his era and arguably the best in Coker land’s history, but that wasn’t enough. He craved more! Now, he’s in the UFC and is set to debut against a former featherweight title contender Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314.

With a career record of 36 victories and only 7 defeats, Pitbull is one of the most accomplished fighters in the history of the sport. And as he is set for his debut Octagon outing, the fans have a question for him. What’s the actual ethnicity of the veteran MMA legend? Well, worry not as we are going to unravel that mystery in today’s montage!

All about Patricio Pitbull’s ethnicity and nationality

Patricio Pitbull was born on July 7th, 1987, and brought up in the outskirts of Natal, Brazil. Being from the great nation, it was almost customary for the young Patricio to embrace either fighting or soccer. The future Bellator champion started his BJJ training when he was just 10—no wonder he is considered one of the best BJJ practitioners in the sport. For those who are unaware, Pitbull’s original name is Patricio Andre de Sousa Freire.

Now that we know about his nationality, you might be wondering about his ethnicity. Well, if we take a closer look at the actual meaning of Freire, then we can see that it originates from the Portuguese and Galician word for “friar,” which is derived from the Latin word “frater,” meaning “brother.” Historically, this surname was often associated with individuals connected to religious orders or monastic communities. Moreover, this surname is common in countries with Portuguese or Galician heritage. Hailing from Brazil which is predominantly composed of Portuguese-speaking people, the former Bellator featherweight champion finds his roots back in northwestern Spain or Portugal.

Speaking of brothers, did you know that Patricio and his older brother Patricky hold a unique record in the MMA world—one that no other brother duo in the sport’s history has ever achieved? Curious. what is it? There was a time when both the brothers held the Bellator title at the same time. Patricio was the Bellator featherweight champion, and Patricky was the Bellator lightweight champion. Now that we know about his ethnicity and nationality, let us have a closer look at his religious beliefs.

What religion does Patricio Pitbull follow?

The Surname carries a rich historical significance, which is often linked to such individuals who were a part of a religious order with catholic faith. This lineage hints at a past shaped by spiritual service, sacred duty, and perhaps even knighthood under holy banners. His surname suggests that he is Christian; however, the fighter has not officially disclosed his faith. Moreover, he has never engaged in any notable conversation about religion.

Because Brazil is predominantly Christian, we can take it that the fighter follows that religion. Considered “The pride of Brazil,” by his fans, Pitbull is looking to cement his status as the next big thing within the Dana White-led promotion as well. Following Royce Gracie’s footsteps, Pitubull has come forward to emphasize how grateful he was to fight under the UFC banner, “I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole career, so I’m very happy with that.”

With a career record of 36 victories and only 7 defeats, the former Bellator champion is a force that has yet to embrace the heat of the UFC. What are your thoughts on his battle against Yair Rodriguez? State your opinion in the comments below.