Patricio Pitbull has just one name on his mind following UFC 318.
It’s not UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski, who Pitbull has been dreaming of fighting ever since he was a champion over in Bellator MMA.
The former two-division Bellator champion’s UFC debut didn’t go according to plan earlier this year when he lost to former interim champion Yair Rodriguez by decision at UFC 314.
This set the 38-year-old Pitbull way back in the title picture, having to climb the rankings against #11-ranked contender Dan Ige at UFC 318.
The greatest Bellator fighter of all time put on a much better showing than in his debut and defeated Ige by unanimous decision.
After the fact, Pitbull made it known who he wants to fight next.
Patricio Pitbull calls out Aaron Pico following first win at UFC 318
Before he signed to the UFC earlier this year, Pitbull had a tough time getting his release from the PFL.
Prior to his release, a featherweight title fight between then champion Pitbull and blue-chip prospect Aaron Pico was rumored to take place but never did.
Pico left the PFL a few months after Pitbull did, joining his former rival in the Octagon. The standout wrestler and former golden gloves boxing champion was supposed to fight undefeated top contender Movsar Evloev at UFC Abu Dhabi next week.
Unfortunately, Evloev withdrew due to injury, with Pitbull wanting to take his place.
“I just want Aaron Pico,” Pitbull told Bloody Elbow and other reporters at the UFC 318 post-fight press conference.
“If he’s ready, I’m ready.
“Just a little problem with my nose, I cut my nose, but in two days, I am good.
“It’s not necessary,” Pitbull said of Pico potentially fighting someone else before him.
“He can make his debut in the UFC against me,” Pitbull added.
Patricio Pitbull and AJ McKee fought and won on the same day
Pico isn’t Pitbull’s only rival from Bellator.
Pitbull shared the cage twice with former Bellator featherweight champion AJ McKee, leaving their series all tied up at 1-1 in 2022. McKee won their first meeting by submission and Pitbull got his revenge and his title back by decisioning McKee in the rematch.
Years later and promotions apart, Pitbull and McKee are both winning from different parts of the world.
McKee gave Khabib Nurmagomedov’s protege, Akhmed Magomedov, his first PFL loss in Cape Town, South Africa, on Saturday. A few hours later, Pitbull had his hand raised for the first time in the UFC in New Orleans, Louisiana.
This was McKee’s first win at featherweight since taking the title off of Pitbull in 2022.
Reacting to his former foe’s win, Pitbull told Bloody Elbow that McKee was ‘kicked out’ of the lightweight division after losing to Paul Hughes last year.