Patricio Freire Not Happy With Cage Climbing Fine From Bellator 178

In a statement to MMA Fighting Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (via his manager Matheus Aquino) spoke about the $2,500 fine against him for climbing the cage following his Bellator 178 win over featherweight champion Derek Campos. Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation’s regulatory director Mike Mazzulli claimed he told fighters seven times during the weigh-ins not to climb the cage for safety concerns. Here are highlights:

On the cage-climbing fine: “Are you fucking serious? We aren’t allowed to celebrate anymore? “Check Bellator’s Instagram right now and you’ll see a picture of me on top of the cage with thousands of likes. I was living my moment. And look at that, it was great for TV too. The commission should find other ways to make money instead of taking it from the fighters’ pockets and dirtying their names. This is a joke.”

On the steam-cleaning bill from a Mohegan hotel: “Mazzulli was not ethical by talking about the room situation. It wasn’t my room, it was my coaches’ and there was no mess. I do not agree with the fine and I wonder what his intentions are in saying this when all he was asked about was about me climbing the cage. Even if he was right on what he said, it was hotel business and he publicized wrong, harmful information, and I’ll be looking at what actions to take regarding this.”

Meanwhile, Freire’s brother Patricky hinted at a history between Mazzulli and the team. He said that Mazzulli once spoke at Bellator events in Turin and Budapest about removing him from his brother’s corner because he was “too loud” and “disrupting judges. He said Mazzulli came to their team and said he made money when he saw Patricio climb he cage.

He added: “This all looks like harassment and prejudice to me.”

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