They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Apparently, that aphorism doesn't apply to pitbulls.

Patricio Freire has always been known for his explosive fighting style, an approach rife with full-bodied power punches, and defined by a willingness to stand and trade with absolutely anyone. That was exactly the approach that Pitbull took to Pat Curran, back in November of 2013. It didn't quite work out, and despite the competitive nature of the bout, Curran walked away the inaugural Bellator featherweight champion.

Over a year later, Pitbull had worked his way back to a title shot, and this time he was determined to take Curran's belt--not only by force, but by strategy. He knocked Curran down three times, fought as hard and smarter than ever before, and became the new champ.

In this edition of Frame-by-Frame Fights, I break down the strategy that Freire used to dethrone the champ and become the top dog in Bellator's stacked featherweight division. He's got a very tough opponent ahead of him for his first defense in Daniel Straus, but if Freire can continue to fight disciplined, diverse fights against the top fighters in his division, there's no reason that he couldn't be champ for a long time.

Pitbull is absolutely one of the finest fighters outside the UFC, and certainly the best featherweight. No one knows if he'll ever make it to the big show, but a Patricio Freire fight is never one to miss.

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