After competing in many Brazilian promotions, Freire compiled a 7–1 record before entering the Bellator Season Four Lightweight Tournament.
He faced former WEC Lightweight Champion, Rob McCullough at Bellator 36 on March 12, 2011, in the opening round of the tournament.
[2] The win saw him progress to the final of the tournament where he faced fellow finalist Michael Chandler at Bellator 44.
[5] After a back-and-forth opening minute that saw both fighters rocked, he lost the fight via knockout in the first round.
[6] It was announced that Freire will face Guillaume De Lorenzi in the Bellator 2013 Lightweight Tournament on January 31.
[19] Freire replaced an injured Derek Anderson to face Ryan Couture at Bellator 148 on January 29, 2016.
[22] Just four days before their scheduled bout Campos pulled out due to injury and replaced by the newly signed former UFC fighter Kevin Souza.
The bout was for the vacant Bellator Lightweight Championship, which was vacated when champion Will Brooks was released from the promotion.
Despite rupturing a tendon in his right wrist on the first round of the fight, Freire won by split decision.
[36] On February 20, 2019, Bellator announced that Freire had signed a multi-year, multi-fight contract extension with the organization.
[39] In the semifinals of the grand prix Freire faced Luiz Gustavo at Rizin 20 - Saitama on December 31, 2019.
[42] In the first fight after the Rizin Lightweight Grand Prix, Freire was expected to headline Bellator Dublin 2 against Peter Queally on October 3, 2020.
[45] In turn, this bout was cancelled the day of the event when the Mohegan Tribal Athletic Commission deemed Freire unable to compete due to what was termed an undisclosed medical issue.
[50] Freire won the bout via second-round technical knockout to become Bellator Lightweight World Champion.
[57] However, on July 26, it was announced McKee had pulled out of the bout due to an injury, and that he was replaced by Rizin Lightweight Champion Roberto de Souza.
[60] In dominant fashion, Shabliy beat Patricky via unanimous decision, gathering all 50-45 scorecards from the judges.
[65] On January 21, 2025, Patricky announced that he had been released from his PFL contract per his request and signed with the Global Fight League.