"PFL won't let me go" - Patricio Pitbull alleges "absurd and disappointing" hostage situation as Peter Murray rejects release request amid controversy

Patricio Pitbull recently claimed that he is being held captive after Peter Murray denied his request to be released from the PFL. Over the past few months, numerous prominent Bellator fighters, like Pitbull and Patchy Mix, have expressed their displeasure about the lack of opportunities following the promotion's transition to PFL's control, with several demanding their release.

On Monday, Pitbull took to X to air a fresh set of grievances against the higher echelons of PFL leadership. He revealed that, despite his contract with the promotion remaining valid through May 2025, his request for release has once again been denied and asserted that he is being confined against his wishes:

"My management team had a call with Murra tonight, and despite making clear my desire to leave and some of my reasons, even noticing my contract is up in May, PFL MMA won’t let me go and intends to hold me there against my will."

The reigning Bellator featherweight champion further expressed his frustration at being compelled to voice his concerns publicly on social media. Pitbull once again urged PFL CEO Murray and PFL chairman Donn Davis to do the right thing by releasing him from his contract:

"It’s really absurd and disappointing that I have to come on X to voice all this. Do the right thing and release me, Murray, and Davis. I was a Bellator MMA fighter, and it no longer exists. The promotion is gone, and so should I."

Check out Patricio Pitbull's posts below:

Pitbull has not fought since he successfully retained his featherweight title with a stunning third-round knockout of Jeremy Kennedy at the Bellator Champions Series in Belfast, Northern Ireland, this past March.

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Patricio Pitbull disregards Donn Davis' reaction to mounting fighter discontent

Amid rising discontent among Bellator fighters, Donn Davis took to X last week to clarify the situation, insisting that he and his team had made every possible effort in 2024 to arrange at least two bouts for the Bellator roster.

However, the PFL chairman's attempt at clarification did not resonate with Patricio Pitbull, who firmly dismissed Davis' claims. The 37-year-old Brazilian pointed out that instead of fulfilling their promises, the PFL had significantly reduced the roster and imposed salary reductions:

"Bellator is PFL’s property; many fighters didn’t fight a single time, and many like me only fought once. You said you’d honor everyone’s contracts and give them two fights this year. You didn’t. You cut over 70% of the roster and had many renegotiate their pay."

Check out Patricio Pitbull's post below: