Pitbull demolishes Choi in first round at UFC 331 and calls out Jean Silva

Patricio Pitbull recorded his first UFC knockout on Saturday, stopping Doo Ho Choi at 3:28 of the first round at UFC 331. The former Bellator featherweight champion dropped Choi with a perfectly timed jab-straight right combination that left the Korean frozen mid-air before he crashed to the canvas.

Pitbull had been candid about his slow start in the UFC, and the finish felt like a statement that those early struggles are behind him. “I’m sorry about my last three fights,” he said in his post-fight interview. “The pressure is bigger [in the UFC] but now I’m comfortable. Jean Silva, let’s see who is the dog!”

The Brazilian came out aggressive from the opening bell, repeatedly cracking Choi with heavy shots to the head and body. Choi found moments to fire back, but he could not match the power or timing of Pitbull’s counters. When the decisive right hand landed, Choi stiffened and buckled simultaneously, and the referee moved in quickly once he hit the ground, waving off the contest before Pitbull could land further follow-up shots.

The callout of Silva — one of the more highly regarded names in the UFC featherweight division — may be a stretch given where Pitbull currently sits in the rankings, but the performance itself made a credible case that the 34-year-old is now operating at a different level than in his UFC debut stretch. His combination work, patience in setting up the finish, and the sheer force of the knockout punch were all hallmarks of the fighter who dominated Bellator’s 145-pound division for years.

Whether the UFC matchmakers reward him with Silva or opt for a more measured step up in competition, Pitbull has at least given them something compelling to work with heading out of UFC 331.