Patricio “Pitbull” Freire vs. Adam Borics is scheduled for five rounds as the Bellator featherweight title is on the line in the main event of this weekend’s Bellator 286 show from Long Beach.
The “Pitbull” is ready to go right back to war with another legitimate contender in Borics, who hopes to pull down the curtain and wrest the title from one of the promotion's biggest stars.
This one figures to be close as the champion is slightly favored at -140. Borics has caught steam leading up to this major bout and is only a +120 underdog just days away from the fight.
Freire vs Borics odds
| Market | Patricio Freire | Adam Borics |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | -150 | +120 |
| To win by KO/TKO | +400 | +400 |
| To win by Points | +240 | +240 |
| To win by Submission | +500 | +1,200 |
| Draw | +6,600 | +6,600 |
Odds courtesy of Betway on September 29, 2022
Freire vs Borics picks
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Freire vs Borics betting preview
While “Pitbull” has had an incredible run and has faced and defeated some of the best fighters in Bellator, Borics presents a new and unique challenger to the battle-hardened champion. They both have gone 4-1 in their last five fights and are top-notch finishers, but the going sense is that Borics is peaking while Freire might be leveling out.
“Pitbull” is a three-time featherweight champion and holds practically every record the promotion has. He’s an excellent striker with a great ground game to boot, and has finished 23 of his 33 opponents inside the distance. After getting beaten up and submitted by A.J McKee in July 2021, Freire methodically broke McKee down in the rematch to regain his title by decision.
With little fanfare, Borics earned his title shot the old-fashioned way by beating good opponents in impressive fashion. His savage battle with Mads Burnell proved that he is ready for a shot at the title, and the rugged Hungarian comes in with significant height and reach advantages over the champion.
Age often fears the advantages of youth, and it’s easy to see why Borics is picking up a lot of momentum to potentially unseat Freire. He has the tools, talent, and disposition to get it done, and Freire might be slowing down after a long career.
The champion is favored, and rightfully so, but he’ll need everything he has left to pull this off.
Freire vs Borics tale of the tape
| Patricio Freire | Adam Borics | |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Age | 29 |
| 5-foot-6 | Height | 5-foot-11 |
| 145 lbs | Weight | 145 lbs |
| 65.5 inches | Reach | 70.5 inches |
| 33-5 | Record | 18-1 |
Freire vs Borics prediction and best bet
Our prediction is compiled from the analysis of the fighters and is an indication of who we are leaning with to win this bout.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this fight or where the most value lies, and is where we would put some of our bankroll behind.
Prediction: Patricio Freire moneyline (-140 at DraftKings)
Borics may be a champion yet, but Freire is still the big dog in the yard unless proven otherwise. Borics is increasingly agile and explosive, something that could catch the champion by surprise. Not to mention that “Pitbull'' is going to constantly be lacking range and will need to fight his way inside if he hopes to score any big shots.
This could start off as a methodical fight as Freire tries to maneuver around Borics’ reach while his opponent tries to make a read that could lead to a takedown or a huge counter-shot.
It may turn into a tale of two fights unless someone hits the magic button and scores a surprise stoppage. The longer the fight goes, the more it will be to Freire’s advantage. Between the two, “Pitbull” is the heavier hitter and the more creative striker. We’d dare to say that he’s also the better finisher of the two and isn’t too far gone where he’s lost the ability to close out if he senses he’s got his man hurt.
While this could go either way, we’re going with Freire retaining his title in a spirited affair.
Best bet: Patricio Freire moneyline (-140 at DraftKings)
At -140, Freire is a great pick. He could hustle some rounds after surviving Borics’ early charge or finish him after a solid sequence, but picking the champ at less than 2/1 odds is always a great call.
With all possible finishes just as likely as the other, the wise move is to stick with the moneyline. It’ll be close, but we’re siding with Freire to win straight up, and it should serve as a good standalone bet or a parlay to boost your weekend’s earnings.
