Dooho Choi wanted a fight with Patricio Freire, he asked for it, and now he’s getting it this Saturday at UFC 331! This main card showdown at Crypto.com Arena pits Choi (17-4-1 MMA, 6-3-1 UFC) against ‘Pitbull’ (37-9 MMA, 1-2 UFC). Callouts rarely materialize, but this one did, and Choi is absolutely elated, seeing it as the organization believing in him and recognizing his talent.
The Callout Materializes
It wasn’t long ago Choi was on a UFC mic, openly asking for this exact matchup. Now, just days before he squares off against Freire, he’s stoked it came true. “I take it as the UFC as believing in me and recognizing me,” Choi told reporters through a Korean-language interpreter. He’s “very excited to fight a legend like ‘Pitbull,’” a guy many consider the greatest fighter in Bellator history, despite Freire’s inconsistent UFC tenure. Choi, who is 35, targeted Freire because “there were a lot of advantages to beating a big name like ‘Pitbull’ and I thought that would be advantageous for my career.” He even brought up the callout when Daniel Cormier directly asked him who he wanted to fight, and said Freire’s fights “gave me inspiration” back when he was active in the UFC.
Bonus Machine Ready for Chaos
If you’ve watched Dooho Choi, you know he delivers fireworks. The guy’s a certified performance bonus machine, stacking up six bonuses across his 10-fight UFC run. Just back in May, he snagged his first $100,000 Fight of the Night bonus after taking out Daniel Santos. Now, with UFC 331 getting an additional $50,000 “proper chaos” bonus from Dana White himself, Choi is feeling good about his chances for another payout.
He’s not chasing the money, he says, but his track record speaks for itself. “I don’t chase the bonuses. But if you look at my past fights, I’ve won a lot of bonuses. I don’t chase them, but I’m pretty confident I can get this one as well,” Choi stated. He’s ready for whatever ‘Pitbull’ brings. “I don’t know what his approach is going to be for the fight,” Choi noted, “I’m the type that welcomes the fight. So if he brings it, I’m going to welcome it.” That’s the kind of attitude that wins bonuses and earns respect.
This main card clash at UFC 331, streaming on Paramount+, is a massive moment for Choi. Beating a legend he specifically called out could absolutely catapult his career, especially if he walks away with that extra cash. Will ‘Pitbull’ bring the fight Choi is hoping for, igniting the kind of chaos that earns bonuses? You better believe all eyes will be on Crypto.com Arena this Saturday to see if ‘The Korean Superboy’ can deliver another bonus-winning performance and seize this career-defining opportunity.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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