A Bellator legend paid a heavy price.
Former two-division Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull suffered a unanimous decision loss to fellow ex-Bellator star Aaron Pico at UFC 327 this past weekend (Sat., April 11, 2026) inside Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
The defeat cost Pitbull his spot in the Featherweight Top 15, dropping down two spots, while Pico took over his No. 13 ranking.
But the rankings weren’t the worst part.
Days after the fight, Pitbull revealed he suffered a broken orbital early in the bout
— an injury that severely impacted his vision and performance.
“Congrats to my opponent — he was well-trained and really fast,” Pitbull wrote on social media. “Some people said I was doing well in the first round, but my performance dropped sharply after that.”
Then came the explanation.
“I took a clean shot to the eye with my eye wide open — a jab and a straight right — and it fractured my orbital bone,” Pitbull added. “That compromised my vision at the start of the second round, so all I could do was try to protect myself from the blows that were coming. Of course, I tried to attack, too, but with very little success. I was hit with a barrage of strikes throughout the entire second round. And anyone who saw could tell this old man still has a bit of chin here, that I can take a few hits. Unfortunately, that was all I could manage given the condition I was in.”
The loss — and injury — has also forced a shift in mindset.
Since arriving in the UFC, Pitbull has been vocal about chasing a long-awaited title run. For now, though, those ambitions are on hold.
“Even though my heart is broken, I’m fine,” Pitbull added. “I’m aware of what I can still do in this weight class, but I’m also aware that, after taking a few steps back, I need to take a longer path. And I won’t talk about the title for now. I need to fight a few more times and get myself back in that position. I’m ready. My heart is broken because no one likes to lose. It was a fight I felt very confident about — I was sure I was going to win.”
Pitbull now sits at 1-2 inside the Octagon, with losses to Pico and Yair Rodriguez, and a lone win over Dan Ige.
For now, recovery comes first, and the comeback will have to wait.
For complete UFC 327 fight card results, coverage and highlights click HERE.
