Peter Queally felt his charge for the Bellator lightweight title come to a sudden end tonight in Dublin. Knocked out in the second round with a silenced arena of Irish fans. The first round against Patricky “Pitbull” Freire had went well for Queally with the fight finely balanced after the opening three minutes.
The Dungarvan native met the Brazilian in the centre of the cage, with his hands held high and his front foot off the ground in a Muay Thai stance. The two traded blows with Queally kicking his opponents legs and Freire working Queally’s body.
The SBG fighter would no doubt have planned to take the fight to the later rounds and ai to take the win when the harder hitting lightweight would have less pop in his hands.
The plan didn’t go as he would have hoped as one minute into the second round, the younger of the two Pitbull brothers – and now the second to wear a belt – was able to slip a right straight from the Waterford man and return a right hand of his own.
Speaking after the fight to former referee who now supplies commentary “Big”John McCarthy, the now lightweight champion who has not exactly welcomed with open arms by the fans in the Three Arena says he plans to “enjoy the great Guinness”.
It’s not the first time the pair have met. In May, the “Showstopper” earned a second-round win over “Pitbull” when the doctor stopped the fight due to the Brazilian’s heavy bleeding from the elbows to the head that Queally had delivered.
With a rematch already set, Patricky’s younger brother Patricio vacated the lightweight belt he held in order for his older brother to have his chance at lifting gold.
Walking in to the crowd singing Zombie, with Dolores at full voice and a tri colour over his shoulders, the 14-5-1 Queally arrived to the cage.
The crowd washed over the announced to the point that the fighters names couldn’t be heard. The singing continued as the fight started.
🇮🇪@PeterQueally aims to be the first-ever Irish champ in #Bellator, NEXT at #Bellator270.
Don’t miss this bout LIVE on @SHOSports NOW!
👉 https://t.co/RNtauZGbbQ#AndNew pic.twitter.com/Q8R82mRiCi— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) November 5, 2021
You could be excused for thinking the crowd were already riding on a high, but not half an hour before Queally’s walk, his teammate James Gallagher had been submitted in the third round by American Patchy Mix. The US fighter had missed weight in the build up to fight night.
🔥 @TeamMixMMA with a moment of submission brilliance!💪
🇺🇸The American silences the @3ArenaDublin crowd with the victory via guillotine.#Bellator270 pic.twitter.com/cbkDPVj0ae— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) November 5, 2021
With that recent loss banished from their minds, the Dublin audience were back at full song for Queally who has now began the throws of his fight with the Brazilian.
Likely a 10-9 round to Freire for working Queally’s body better than the damage Queally had caused to Freire’s legs, but a judge could see it going to either fighter.
The second round heralded a lengthy break when Queally accidentally poked Freire in the eye, with the doctor allowing the fight to resume.
When the fight resumed, it was the Brazilian who looked the more potent and when he connected with Queally’s chin, it sent the Waterford man tumbling.
Scrambling to find where the ground was so that he could put his feet on it, Queally was pounced on Freire – determined to deny Queally the chance of standing back up.
Despite nearing his footing twice, the referee had to make the call and stood in to wave it off.
The Pitbull legacy continues! 🇧🇷👑#AndNew 🐕 @PatrickyPitbull joins his brother @PatricioPitbull in the history books as a Bellator Lightweight champion! #Bellator270 pic.twitter.com/8TPMWWD9eF
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) November 5, 2021
Freire now becomes the second of the two brothers to wear the lightweight belt, with the book end that Brazilian fans would have hoped for. Patricio stood aside earlier this year so that Patricky could have his day in the sun.
Queally will remain the first Waterford man to fight for a world title, and with one win each in two fights, don’t be surprised if we see a rematch – maybe even in Brazil.
#AndNew | The legacy of The Pitbull Brothers continues as @PatrickyPitbull is crowned the lightweight world champion tonight at #Bellator270. pic.twitter.com/lyZkneW25h
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) November 5, 2021
