Patricio Pitbull-AJ McKee Promises Fireworks At Bellator 263

Instead of Friday night, Bellator 263 will take place Saturday. And what a fight we have in the main event between Patricio Pitbull and AJ McKee.

The featherweight title that Pitbull wears, along with the Featherweight World Grand Prix crown, will be on the line live on Showtime. 

Pitbull, who is also the reigning Bellator lightweight champion, and McKee, one of the top prospects in MMA, faced off earlier this week. And it generated fireworks. 

“This is one of the biggest fights of my career. I have fought several guys that were very tough too. I beat Michael Chandler which was revenge for me. Now is a new opportunity to show my talent,” Pitbull said. “He is very nervous, he doesn’t want to be there in the cage. When your enemy is making a mistake, don’t interrupt him.

I fought four times against someone like McKee, it was Daniel Straus. I feel comfortable, I have several training partners in my gym like him.”

McKee, the son of a fighter, knows that he has a big-time opportunity in front of him. 

“I plan on fighting smart, keeping my range, and making him bring the fight. Everyone goes out there and rushes him, so let’s see what he does,” he said. “All my training in my entire life has been built up for this moment. I’ve been on big stages since I was a kid. He thinks I’m nervous but I think that’s him trying to self-reflect and push his little self on me. 

“There is definitely a lot on the line. Being undefeated, there is an extra 0, it’s not just the six in that check I am fighting for. I’m fighting to live up my legacy, continue my father’s legacy, and be a champ. It’s now time for me to go get my belt.”

While just the featherweight title is on the line this time, McKee is already targeting the lightweight belt of Pitbull.

“At 18-0 in the organization, there’s nothing left for me in the division. What more can I do? I want to go conquer the 155-pound title as well. I’ve been calling for it, before anyone did it I said I was going to be champ-champ. It’s time for me to go get my goals,” he said. “For 22 years I’ve been dreaming for this moment. It’s now here so you embrace it and enjoy every second of it, and you continue to build off of it.

“It’s not going to the championship rounds. He doesn’t want to go championship rounds, I know that. If it comes down to it I can fight five fives. The Pat Curran fight was a perfect example, it was three five minute rounds of easy work. To do another two rounds like that is bread and butter.” 

Saturday’s card also features former featherweight title challenger and No. 2 ranked Emmanuel Sanchez versus Denmark’s No. 8 ranked Mads Burnell and lightweight bouts between Usman Nurmagomedov and Manny Muro and Brent Primus and Islam Mamedov. The Showtime telecast opens with a lightweight bout between No. 5 ranked Goiti Yamauchi and Chris Gonzalez.