The Bellator featherweight champion, AJ McKee, first claimed gold when he dispatched Patricio “Pitbull” Freire. With a rematch set for Bellator 277, and Pitbull’s younger brother the reigning lightweight champ, the future of these two divisions, and AJ McKee’s career, is very much a Freire family affair.
McKee made things personal at Monday’s press conference. “I’m always respectful, but when you cross that line, that’s the line. Things got to get dealt with. It’s no disrespect, nothing but respect.
AJ McKee Blasts Pitbull Brothers: “I’m going to destroy the Pitbull legacy”
Obviously things are a little bit different now. I’m the champ so I’d like to carry myself different. But the first fight was like picking at the brother, you know what I mean? And this fight, I’m just looking forward to going out there and really putting on a show, man. I’m looking forward to being the champ-champ, so his brother’s got the belt — a ‘Pitbull’ is a ‘Pitbull’ to me.”
Patricky Pitbull, Bellator lightweight champ, yelled from the audience that he’d be waiting. “I know you are. To be a champion, you must beat a champion though. Remember that. … I beat one. I’ll beat your brother and you again.”
Patricky, who claimed the lightweight title in a fight with Ireland’s Peter Queally, was only able to do so because Patricio vacated the 155 pound title to approach on his McKee rematch. He told McKee he was “dreaming”, which only fired the featherweight champ up even more.
“What do you mean dream? It’s going to happen, bro. It’s going to happen. It’s inevitable. Inevitable. Faster, stronger, bigger.
That’s why [Patricio] gave you the belt. That’s why he gave you the belt, let’s be realistic. Let’s be realistic, he doesn’t want to see me faster, stronger, bigger [at 155 pounds]. I’m going to destroy the ‘Pitbull’ legacy. It will end with A.J. ‘Mercenary’ McKee.”
As for Patricio, McKee reminded him of his brutal first-round submission win in their previous outing. “Dude, you didn’t make it out of two minutes.
You didn’t make it out of two minutes. Make it to the second round [on Friday]. I’ll let you make it to the second round this time.”
AJ McKee has long billed himself as Bellator’s future. The featherweight champ even believes he can take out the UFC’s featherweight elite, including Alexander Volkanovski. If he can dominate two weight divisions in Bellator, a move to the rival promotion – a la Michael Chandler – may well be on the cards. Do you think McKee will be the one to end the Pitbull era in Bellator? Let us know in the comments.
