Patricio 'Pitbull' calls out Youssef Zalal for next UFC fight

Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire (37-9 MMA, 1-2 UFC) publicly called out Youssef Zalal for his next UFC fight, posting the challenge on X on his 39th birthday on July 8, 2026. Freire, widely considered the greatest fighter in Bellator history, is coming off a loss to Aaron Pico at UFC 327 in April and is looking to rebound against Zalal (18-6-1 MMA, 8-4-1 UFC). Despite his 1-2 UFC record, Freire stated he is still pursuing a championship belt and believes a fight with Zalal would be an exciting matchup.