AJ McKee is focused on defeating Clay Collard at PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions on Saturday, live on DAZN and DAZN PPV.
Yet the former Bellator featherweight world champion can’t help but use the event to detail a possible path to a trilogy fight with rival Patricio "Pitbull" Freire thereafter.
“At the moment, it could happen. [PFL featherweight champion Jesus] Pinedo-Patricio — if Patricio wins, the trilogy could happen. If Pinedo wins, OK, let’s see who the baddest 145-pounder is,” McKee told DAZN as part of an exclusive Zoom session recently.
A unanimous decision loss to Pitbull back in April 2022 stands as the lone blemish on McKee’s 21-1 ledger, albeit the result was highly controversial with many believing that the “Mercenary” did more than enough to have his hand raised in that rematch. In their first fight in July 2021, McKee delivered an electric first-round stoppage via guillotine choke to become the Bellator featherweight world champion and win its World Grand Prix purse of $1 million.
“I got one loss, but to me I’m still undefeated in my mind,” McKee said. “To be the champion, you’ve got to beat the champion and the way I beat a champion was astonishing. So for me being a champion and losing that way, it was unsettling for me but at the same time, it lit a fire under me that I needed.
“It’s to the point to where now that opportunity still could arise where that trilogy could happen. I’ve always said I’m the best 145-pounder in the world and I know I’m the best 145-pounder in the world, period. Patricio is one of the best 145-pounders in the world, hands down.”
While a trilogy fight would give McKee, 28, the chance to avenge his one loss, there’s another fight that piques his interest as well — a tilt against Bellator lightweight world champion Usman Nurmagomedov (18-0).
“That’s the fight that everybody wants to see at 155 pounds — Usman vs. McKee,” he said. “So that’s a fight that I’m also worked up for. He’s undefeated and my mindset is if I can’t be undefeated, nobody f—ing can.”