Pitbull, Choi Join UFC 331 on Sept. 19 as Los Angeles Card Awaits Main Event

Q: Does Pitbull's rocky UFC start prove that dominating Bellator cannot guarantee success inside the world's toughest fighting promotion?

No. Pitbull’s 1-2 UFC start is strong evidence that Bellator dominance does not automatically translate to UFC success, but it does not prove Bellator greatness is meaningless or that success cannot carry over. The facts show the adjustment has been difficult. Pitbull arrived with one of the best résumés outside the UFC: a 37-9 overall record, a 24-6 Bellator run and titles in two divisions. Yet in the UFC he has gone 1-2, with his only win over Dan Ige and a recent decision loss to Aaron Pico. That gap matters because the UFC’s featherweight division is deeper, more active and less forgiving than most rival promotions. But context is important. Pitbull joined the UFC late in his career, after years of high-level mileage. Age, wear and matchmaking are part of the story, not just the Bellator-to-UFC comparison. Losing competitive fights in the UFC is different from being exposed as incapable of competing there. What Pitbull’s start really shows is that success in another promotion guarantees only credentials, not results. The UFC often presents a tougher weekly standard: deeper rankings, stronger stylistic variety and fewer soft landings. A champion from Bellator can absolutely win in the UFC, but past titles do not erase the need to adapt. His Sept. 19 bout with Doo Ho Choi is therefore more than a rebound opportunity. It is a test of whether Pitbull can still convert proven pedigree into meaningful UFC momentum.

3 articles · Updated · MMA Fighting · Jul 25

Patricio Pitbull and Doo Ho Choi have been added to UFC 331 in a featherweight bout set for Sept. 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Pitbull enters at 37-9 looking to rebound from an April decision loss to Aaron Pico that left him 1-2 in the UFC after a title-filled Bellator run.
Choi, 17-4-1, brings a three-fight winning streak, capped by a May knockout of Daniel Santos that earned him a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus.
UFC still has not announced a headliner for the numbered event, leaving this matchup as one of the clearest confirmed additions to the card.