San Jose, CA – The significance of the rematch with Patricio Pitbull is not lost on Bellator featherweight champion AJ McKee. After taking the belt off Pitbull at Bellator 263 in July of last year he now faces the former champion once again in his first title defense.
McKee defends the belt in a rematch against Patricio Pitbull at Bellator 277 on April 15th at the SAP Center.
Speaking at Bellator 277 Media Day on Wednesday McKee clarified what a second consecutive win over Pitbull would mean.
“Solidify myself as the best 145 pounder in the world. To go do it in such a fashion and style two times in a row, back-to-back, with him knowing what’s at hand. 8 months to train for it, it’s not going to make a difference. I’ve got a job to do man, you know what I mean? I’m hungry. I’ve got goals, ambitions, life goals, things that I’ve set for myself that I don’t expect people to understand,” McKee told reporters.
“That’s why they’re called ‘Your Dreams’ they’re for you to understand and only you.”
In terms of what Pitbull would have to do in order to defeat him on Friday night McKee doubted it was possible to do in 8 months.
“It’s going to take longer than 8 months, and it’s going to take more than one training partner. You’re going to need a jiu jitsu guy, you’re going to need a wrestler, you’re going to need a striker, and you’re going to need a conditioning coach. And then you’re going to need a game plan, and then you’re going to need a backup game plan, and another backup game plan,” McKee said.
“I’m looking forward to this fight man. He’s been the man since I first stepped in this cage so hat’s off to him, but like I’ve constantly said, it’s a new era. New wave and waves they come with some power.”
McKee expressed a desire to be more active regardless of who the opponent is including this main event fight on Friday night.
“I don’t think it was really about the opponent. Obviously I think Bellator, Scott, they wanted the rematch. Patricio wanted the rematch, clearly,” McKee said.
He also took aim at another belt namely the one currently held by Pitbull’s brother the Bellator lightweight champion Patricky Pitbull.
“He (Patricio) released a belt for his brother to become a champion. In my eyes, in order to become a champion you have to beat a champion, so that 155-pound title is still vacant to myself,” McKee said.
“But to solidify myself as the best 145er in the world yeah I’ll put the icing on the cake, finish him off, and then go beat his brother up as well.”
Watch the rest of AJ McKee’s media day scrum above. Bellator 277 goes down April 15th in San Jose, CA on Showtime.
