Patricio Freire Claims A.J. McKee Escaped Choke Due to ‘Oil He Used on His Hair’

Bellator MMA featherweight king Patricio Freire firmly believes he is the best featherweight on the planet, regardless of organization.

Three months after regaining his belt in a unanimous decision win over AJ McKee, Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Freire does not yet know who will be his next opponent. According to the champion, Adam Borics may vie for the strap before McKee moves forward into the rubber match. “Pitbull” claimed his title back from the man who wrested it from him in McKee in April, making him the first fighter in Bellator history to have four reigns as champion. Freire spoke to Sherdog about that second McKee fight as well as what he thinks will come in his future.

“What the organization told me is that to make a trilogy, it’s necessary to have some[thing] ‘spicy,’ and they are not sure if it’s occurring now,” the champ explained. “Once Borics defeated Burnell in a title contender fight, he might get the chance, but that’s up to [Bellator]. I’m the champion, and my obligation is to be ready for anyone they choose.”

In case Bellator opts for the immediate trilogy between McKee and “Pitbull,” Freire expects that the third fight with McKee would be different than the previous ones. He is more confident than ever that he could get the finish this time around. The Brazilian also reiterated a bold claim, based on his belief that his guillotine choke in Round 3 atop Bellator 277 should have finished the job.

“He surprised me in the first with a feint, I beat him clearly in the second via unanimous decision,” Freire stated. “The only possible result for a third fight would be my win via knockout or submission. I don’t want to look arrogant, but there is no human being that survived my guillotine; A.J. just escaped because of the oil he used on his hair. I never lost a [rematch] in my life, and if Bellator wants to make it again, it will be no different. I got his number.”

Concerning the rumors that McKee could be negotiating with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, “Pitbull” believes his former opponent would be a bad matchup for UFC featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski.

“Let’s be straight, Volkanovski is coming from two easy fights,” Freire said without batting an eye. “Unfortunately, Max Holloway is not even close to the fighter who beat [Jose] Aldo twice. Max is paying the price for his style of ‘hit and get hit’ for [his] entire career. Don’t get me wrong, I have a lot of respect for him, no doubt one of the best of all time, but he is just not the same fighter anymore. Volkanovski is explosive and fast, but he is not a top striker, wrestler or ground specialist. A.J. is a very talented striker, also explosive and fast and better than [Volkanovski] in wrestling and on the ground, besides having a natural range advantage. I have no doubt it would be a bad matchup to Volkanovski [for McKee].”

About the possibility of facing Borics, the confident Freire believed he has the skills to stave off the once-beaten Hungarian.

“Borics is a world kickboxing champion, who uses his range to apply kicks and knees very well,” “Pitbull” analyzed. “I’m already training with tall kickboxers like him. Also, he is training with Gilbert Burns and clearly evolved a lot his takedown defense, it was clear against Burnell. But we are working hard here [at] Pitbull Brothers to make a good gameplan in case he is the one chosen by Bellator.”