A.J. McKee Sets Sights on Becoming Champ-Champ, Wasn’t Impressed by Volkanovski Victory

@ajmckee101 already has his eyes on @PatrickyPitbull and the Lightweight gold but @PatricioPitbull says not to underestimate the fight in front of him #Bellator277@SHOsports | @SAPCenter | Friday, April 15th pic.twitter.com/h4ovOLpGOa

— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) April 11, 2022

Although A.J. McKee and Patricio Freire won’t ever be the best of friends, McKee believes he owes it to his rival to give him a rematch given the Brazilian’s credentials in Bellator MMA.

“I would say it’s a respect thing,” McKee said at a press conference to promote his rematch with Freire at Bellator 27. “He’s been the reigning champ for a long time. For me, I’d honor him with that rematch at any point.

“The goals I’ve set for myself, I want to be champ-champ. The [Team Body Shop] saying is to be a champion, you’ve got to beat the champion. I still see him as the [lightweight] champ.”

While the animosity didn’t reach the level it did ahead of their first meeting, when Bellator president Scott Coker had to separate McKee and Freire at a press conference prior to Bellator 263 last summer, things did get a little bit tense when McKee further elaborated on his ambitions to become a two-division champion.

“I’m gonna put out the same energy when I step in that cage,” McKee said. “Other than that, I’m always respectful, but when you cross that line, you know, that’s the line. Things got to get dealt with. And, yeah, it’s no disrespect – nothing but respect. Obviously things are a little bit different now. I’m the champ, so I like to carry myself a little bit differently. But the first fight was like picking at the brother, you know what I mean? This fight, I’m just looking forward to going out there and putting on a show. I’m looking forward to being champ-champ. His brother’s got the (lightweight) belt. A ‘Pitbull’ is a ‘Pitbull’ to me.”

Patricio Freire was the lightweight champion until he vacated the belt to pursue a rematch with McKee. His older brother, Patricky Freire, claimed the strap with a stoppage of Peter Queally at Bellator 270 this past November. Patricky, who was in the audience during the Bellator 277 press conference, responded to McKee and eventually both he and his brother were going back-and-forth with “Mercenary.”

Though McKee and Patricio didn’t come to blows, the featherweight champ added some fuel to the fire during the exchange when he vowed that, “I’m going to destroy the ‘Pitbull’ legacy.”

Legacy was a prevailing theme for McKee during the media session, as he is looking beyond Bellator 277 when it comes to securing his standing in the sport.

“I’ve got an extra ‘0’ to fight for. It’s not just the ‘0’ on my checks, but also on my record. It’s a lifelong legacy, it’s a family legacy,” McKee said. “I’ve got a lot to fight for. This fight is definitely just go out there and put the icing on the cake and show everybody that I’m the best 145-er in the world.”

As far as featherweight goes, McKee is willing to put himself and his Bellator 277 opponent against any of the UFC’s best. After Alexander Volkanovski had the spotlight last weekend at UFC 273, the undefeated McKee will get the attention with his matchup against Freire.

“I feel like I’d come out on top with any 45er in the world. I watched the Volkanovski fight. I wans’t too impressed,” McKee said. “I feel myself and ‘Pitbull,’ we can hang with any 45er in the world. I strongly feel that Bellator has has the best 145-pound division in the world.”