Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire fights Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314, opposite Aaron Pico walking to the PFL Smartcage. Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Cooper Neill/Getty Images

UFC 318 star offers to fill for injured Movsar Evloev against Aaron Pico on upcoming UFC Abu Dhabi card

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Curtis Calhoun | Last updated Jul 15, 2025 6:55 PM ET

Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire wants to earn a second UFC win in a week just days before his UFC 318 return.

The upcoming UFC Abu Dhabi card next week took a big hit as it was reported that top featherweight contender Movsar Evloev was forced to withdraw from his scheduled fight with Aaron Pico due to injury. As of this writing, the nature of Evloev’s injury isn’t certain, and the UFC matchmakers are reportedly scrambling to find a replacement.

If Pico stays on the UFC Abu Dhabi card, he might face a familiar foe on short-notice.

Patricio ‘Pitbull’ wants to make UFC history with two fights in one week after UFC 318

Exactly one week before UFC Abu Dhabi, Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire will return to the UFC Octagon against Dan Ige at UFC 318. Pitbull’s UFC debut didn’t go according to plan as he lost to former interim titleholder Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314 earlier this year.

As Pitbull prepares for potential redemption this Saturday, he wants a shot to etch his name in the UFC history books with one of the quickest turnarounds in promotional history.

In a recent interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Pitbull threw his name into the hat for a second UFC booking just days after his upcoming UFC 318 fight.

“I want him next,” Pitbull said. “Of course I’m focused on my next fight, my next opponent, maybe if I win this match I want Aaron Pico because, I was in Bellator for a long time and he was too, and it wasn’t possible. He didn’t fight for the belt.

“And now we have a chance to do that. So I’m very excited that my next opponent will be him.

“I’m ready. If you put me to fight him next week, I’m ready. Let’s do it!”

Pitbull and Pico were close to fighting under the Bellator banner at numerous points in their careers. Pitbull, a multiple time Bellator featherweight champion, had Pico in his sights before parting ways with PFL earlier this year.

Pico was one of the UFC’s biggest signings of 2025 and could get a quick path to a title shot with a win in his promotional debut. A win over Evloev would’ve skyrocketed Pico into the featherweight title conversation.

Movsar Evloev’s title shot hits big delay after UFC Abu Dhabi withdrawal

As for what’s next for Evloev, the undefeated contender’s long, strenuous path to a title shot hit another speed bump after his UFC Abu Dhabi withdrawal. UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski eyed a matchup with Evloev after he reclaimed the title earlier this year in a win over Diego Lopes.

Evloev hasn’t fought since defeating former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling at UFC 310 in December. He’s defeated the likes of Arnold Allen, Ige, and Lopes during his undefeated run in the UFC Octagon.

As of this writing, Volkanovski remains without a booking for the first title defense of his second featherweight reign. Things just got more complicated following Evloev’s stunning withdrawal from UFC Abu Dhabi.