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A.J. McKee delivers a crushing, first-round head kick to Patricio Pitbull, which led to McKee profitable the $1 million Bellator World Featherweight Grand Prix last and the featherweight title at Bellator 263 on July 31, 2021, at The Discussion board in Inglewood. (Photograph by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Day by day Information/SCNG)
Armed with the featherweight belt, $1 million and his 117-second annihilation of Bellator’s biggest champion, A.J. McKee is again for extra.
Now considered the promotion’s pound-for-pound king, McKee will make his first title protection in a rematch in opposition to Patricio Pitbull within the Bellator 277 essential occasion on April 15 on the SAP Middle in San Jose, Bellator officers confirmed Tuesday.
The co-main occasion is not any slouch both, as 205-pound champion Vadim Nemkov takes on prime contender Corey Anderson within the $1 million Mild Heavyweight World Grand Prix last.
Bellator 277 tickets go on sale Friday at Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com, with a particular presale beginning Thursday.
Skilled by his father, Antonio, with Staff Bodyshop, McKee admitted Tuesday he was wanting ahead to going through a special opponent. Even after his victory, the Lengthy Seaside resident teased shifting up from 145 kilos to 155, the place Pitbull was additionally the champion earlier than vacating the title in October so his brother, Patricky, may win it a month later.
But when Pitbull couldn’t make it out of the primary spherical of their first struggle, McKee surmises, after by no means having been completed in 36 skilled fights spanning 17 years, he’s greater than keen to entertain doing it once more.
“First time I’ve ever needed to take out an opponent and do it twice, so it’ll be enjoyable, ?” McKee stated in an unique interview. “Normally once I struggle individuals, the intent is for them to not wish to struggle me once more. So I’m wanting to do this at first spherical to spherical two for me.”
Lengthy thought-about one of many sport’s rising stars, McKee (18-0) stomped a large footprint on the MMA panorama with his dynamic victory over Pitbull (32-5) at Bellator 263 within the $1 million Bellator World Featherweight Grand Prix finale on July 31 at The Discussion board in Inglewood.
A McKee left head kick staggered Pitbull, who went down following a stiff left uppercut. McKee prematurely raised his arms in celebration because the partisan crowd roared, solely to have Pitbull rise and proceed preventing. McKee rapidly secured a guillotine choke, with referee Mike Beltran, sensing Pitbull was dropping consciousness, calling a cease to the struggle at 1:57 of the primary spherical.
Pitbull, who hadn’t misplaced in 5 years and had gained seven consecutive title fights, initially protested an early stoppage. Regardless of the Brazilian nice recanting that in his postfight interviews, others have echoed the sentiment, which has the brand new champ motivated.
“The primary struggle was simply form of getting in there and figuring out what I wanted to do, ? This struggle, I believe it’s extra proving some extent now,” stated McKee, who will flip 27 eight days earlier than the rematch. “It’s extra of a private level with individuals saying, , the early end. And so I wish to guarantee that there’s no query and little doubt left in his mind after this subsequent struggle that AJ McKee is the most effective 145er on this planet.”
McKee has been having fun with life the previous six months. He says he’s been snowboarding and rewarded himself with a 2018 Cadillac CTS V Championship Version.
“I gained a championship belt. And I purchased myself a championship automobile. I’m feeling champ prepared, champ authorized,” he stated.
Final week, McKee did interviews on Radio Row forward of Tremendous LVI at SoFi Stadium, the place McKee was wholeheartedly supporting the Rams forward of their 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
He even joked about swapping his championship belt with Rams receiver Odell Beckham Jr. for the appropriate value.
“Man, Rams on prime all day! I’m fascinated about buying and selling OBJ his first Tremendous Bowl ring for my first world title with the hit record on it,” McKee stated. “I do know it’s loopy, nevertheless it sounds cool.”