The MMA world never sleeps, and the last 24 hours have been no exception. There’s a lot to discuss, from huge signings to fierce rivalries and contract issues. First up, Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire is now a UFC fighter, however, his announcement did not go as planned. The former Bellator champion had to clarify a misunderstanding after prematurely hinting at his signing before the UFC made its offer.

Next, we’ll look at Belal Muhammad’s most recent social media jibe, in which he took a hilarious aim at Leon Edwards following the title match reshuffle. Finally, we’ll close up with Aaron Pico, who blasted the PFL for failing to book him fights and said that he’s done with the promotion. So, what exactly did he say? Let’s find out that and more without further ado!

Patricio Freire clarifies miscommunication after UFC signing

One of the greatest fighters to never compete in the UFC Octagon is finally making his debut. Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire has officially signed with the biggest MMA promotion in the world and will go one-on-one against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314 on April 12 in Miami. The former Bellator double champion has an incredible 36-7 record, dominating the featherweight and lightweight divisions during his career. While his move to the Dana White-led promotion was typically expected, Freire’s recent comments suggested that there was some confusion about when the deal was signed.

Freire had been vocal about his desire to join the UFC after leaving the PFL, and his interview with MMA Planet hinted that he had already made his decision before the formal announcement. However, the fighter has finally addressed the problem, admitting that his previous statements were based on an uncertain timeline. Just hours before his agreement became public, Freire took to X to set the record straight. He said, “Hello! My interview with @mmaplanet_twit, who’s a very serious journalist, happened 11 days ago and there really was a miscommunication. The official UFC offer, as an odd coincidence, only came a couple hours ago. There were a lot of moving pieces and I’ll talk about it all soon.”

With the confusion cleared up, Freire can concentrate on his much-anticipated debut. His first opponent, Rodriguez hasn’t fought since a submission loss to Brian Ortega in February 2024 and will be trying to make his own statement. Meanwhile, ‘Pitbull’ is entering the “shark tank” that he has always desired to test himself in, and a victory over a past interim champion like Rodriguez might fast-track him to title contention.

Belal Muhammad trolls Leon Edwards after UFC 315 change

Belal Muhammad isn’t just making news for his sudden opponent change—he’s having fun with it, too. After Shavkat Rakhmonov’s absence caused a shuffle in the UFC welterweight title picture, ‘Remember the Name’ found himself facing Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315. But it wasn’t lost on him that Della Maddalena was originally set to fight Leon Edwards in London. Taking to X, the reigning champion couldn’t help but poke light at the situation, writing, “Dang, I stole Leon’s belt and his opponent.”

The playful jab is a callback to Muhammad’s hard-fought rise to the title, which saw him long campaigning for a shot at Leon Edwards after their no-contest in 2021. Now, with ‘Rocky’ slated to face Sean Brady instead, Muhammad has once again found himself at the center of an unforeseen twist. But one thing is certain: he’s enjoying the moment and making sure everyone knows it.

Dana White’s potential signing Aaron Pico’s update

Aaron Pico is done with the PFL, and he’s making it clear that no offer will change his mind. The featherweight hasn’t fought in nearly a year, and now, he’s calling out the promotion’s handling of his career. In a major update, MMA journalist Luke Thomas shared on X that he spoke with Pico, who revealed a troubling pattern that surely would surprise many. According to the 28-year-old, the PFL offered him fights three times last year, only to cancel them without explanation. Despite being a top contender, he believes that he has been left on the sidelines.

He wrote on X, “I spoke with Aaron Pico. He tells me 3 times PFL offered a bout last year & all 3 times it was canceled w/o explanation. He says PFL has matching rights to any UFC offer, but if PFL match, he’ll sit out up to a year. He says he doesn’t trust PFL and won’t fight for them.” With the promotion holding matching rights to any UFC contract, his future remains uncertain for now. Called “the greatest prospect in the history of MMA” by MMA manager Bob Cook, Dana White is eying a move to get his signature. However, it would be interesting to see how much Dana White was ready to compensate Pico. What do you think? Would the head honcho be able to bring Aaron Pico to the biggest MMA promotion in the world? Let us know in the comments.