Tag: Bellator 263

Video: Patricio Freire or A.J. McKee – who has more to lose at Bellator 263?

Who has more on the line at Bellator 263? Dual champ Patricio Freire or unbeaten title hopeful A.J. McKee?

At long last, [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] gets his shot at a Bellator title Saturday.

McKee (17-0 MMA, 17-0 BMMA) reached the final of Bellator’s featherweight grand prix, as did dual champion [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (32-4 MMA, 20-4 BMMA), who will put his 145-pound title up for grabs against the unbeaten standout.

McKee will be fighting in front of what is likely to be a friendly crowd at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., not far from his home base. A win would give him not only the tournament crown, but Freire’s featherweight title (Freire also is the lightweight champion).

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Considering McKee has long predicted he’d become featherweight champion, who has more to lose? A loss for him would be his first – and deny him what he’s promised himself. A loss for Freire would take arguably his most important title, but still leave him with the 155-pound strap.

Our “Spinning Back Clique” host John Morgan asked this week’s panel of George Garcia, Mike Bohn and Nolan King which of those two superstars has more on the line Saturday.

Check out that topic in the video above, and don’t miss the full episode below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROil_04S684

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Bellator 263 video: Patricio Freire, A.J. McKee composed in intense final faceoff

All that’s left for Patricio Freire and A.J. McKee is the fighting.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – All that’s left for Bellator dual champion [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] and [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] is the fighting.

After officially making weight earlier Friday for their featherweight grand prix title fight, Freire (32-4 MMA, 20-4 BMMA) and McKee (17-0 MMA, 17-0 BMMA) got one last look at each other ahead of Bellator 263 when they faced off at The Forum, site of Saturday’s main event.

Following a pre-event press conference that went off the rails at the end, Freire and McKee kept their composure as they engaged in an intense faceoff ahead of what’s been dubbed the biggest fight in Bellator history.

You can watch it in the video above.

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Bellator 263 takes place Saturday at The Forum, with a main card that airs on Showtime following prelims streamed on MMA Junkie.

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Bellator 263 predictions: Who’s picking A.J. McKee to take Patricio Freire’s title?

Check out our staff members’ picks for Bellator 263, featuring a featherweight title fight between champ Patricio Freire and A.J. McKee.

Freire
vs.
McKee		 Burnell
vs.
Sanchez		 Muro
vs.
Nurmagomedov		 Mamedov
vs.
Primus		 Gonzalez
vs.
Yamauchi
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2021: 111-66		 mckee2021
McKee
(64%)		 burnell2021
Burnell
(52%)		 usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov
(96%)		 mamedov2021
Mamedov
(65%)		 yamauchi2021
Yamauchi
(74%)
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2021: 112-65
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 mckee2021
McKee		 sanchez2021
Sanchez		 usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov		 mamedov2021
Mamedov		 gonzalez2021
Gonzalez
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2021: 109-68		 mckee2021
McKee		 burnell2021
Burnell		 usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov		 mamedov2021
Mamedov		 gonzalez2021
Gonzalez
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2021: 109-68		 freire2021
Freire		 burnell2021
Burnell		 usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov		 mamedov2021
Mamedov		 gonzalez2021
Gonzalez
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2021: 108-69
trophy copy 2020 Champion		 freire2021
Freire		 burnell2021
Burnell		 usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov		 mamedov2021
Mamedov		 gonzalez2021
Gonzalez
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2021: 107-70
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 mckee2021
McKee		 sanchez2021
Sanchez		 usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov		 mamedov2021
Mamedov		 gonzalez2021
Gonzalez
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2021: 106-71		 mckee2021
McKee		 sanchez2021
Sanchez		 usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov		 mamedov2021
Mamedov		 gonzalez2021
Gonzalez
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2021: 106-71		 freire2021
Freire		 burnell2021
Burnell		 usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov		 mamedov2021
Mamedov		 gonzalez2021
Gonzalez
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2021: 105-72		 mckee2021
McKee		 sanchez2021
Sanchez		 usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov		 primus2021
Primus		 yamauchi2021
Yamauchi
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2021: 105-72
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 freire2021
Freire		 sanchez2021
Sanchez		 usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov		 primus2021
Primus		 gonzalez2021
Gonzalez
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2021: 104-73		 freire2021
Freire		 sanchez2021
Sanchez		 usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov		 mamedov2021
Mamedov		 yamauchi2021
Yamauchi
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2021: 103-74		 freire2021
Freire		 burnell2021
Burnell		 usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov		 mamedov2021
Mamedov		 gonzalez2021
Gonzalez
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2021: 100-77		 freire2021
Freire		 burnell2021
Burnell		 usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov		 mamedov2021
Mamedov		 gonzalez2021
Gonzalez
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
2021: 36-25		 mckee2021
McKee		 burnell2021
Burnell		 usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov		 mamedov2021
Mamedov		 gonzalez2021
Gonzalez
BetMGM
Betting Favorites		 freire2021
Freire -115		 burnell2021
Burnell -125		 usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov -1100		 mamedov2021
Mamedov -200		 yamauchi2021
Yamauchi -165

Bellator makes its long-awaited return to the road this week with the featherweight title on the line at the top of the bill.

Bellator 263 takes place Saturday at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, lightweight and featherweight champion [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (32-4 MMA, 20-4 BMMA) puts his 145-pound title on the line against [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] (17-0 MMA, 17-0 BMMA) in a fight that doubles as the featherweight grand prix final. It’s nearly a pick’em fight at the betting window, where Freire is at -115 at BetMGM with the comeback on McKee at -105. Not surprisingly, our 13 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers are torn in their picks, too – Freire has the smallest possible edge at 7-6.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Mads Burnell[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) is a slight favorite at -125 against two-time featherweight title challenger [autotag]Emmanuel Sanchez[/autotag] (20-5 MMA, 12-4 BMMA). And like the close picks in the main event, it’s tight here, too. Burnell has a 7-6 lead from our pickers.

Our lone unanimous pick should come as little surprise. [autotag]Usman Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (12-0 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) is a massive 11-1 favorite against [autotag]Manny Muro[/autotag] (12-6 MMA, 3-0 BMMA), and he’s got a 13-0 shutout in the picks.

[autotag]Islam Mamedov[/autotag] (19-1-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) is a 2-1 favorite against former lightweight champion [autotag]Brent Primus[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA), and he’s got a big 11-2 picks lead.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Chris Gonzalez[/autotag] (6-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Goiti Yamauchi[/autotag] (25-5 MMA, 11-4 BMMA) at lightweight. Yamauchi is the betting favorite at -165, but Gonzalez bucked the trend with our pickers at 11-2.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, McKee (64 percent), Burnell (52 percent), Nurmagomedov (96 percent), Mamedov (65 percent) and Yamauchi (62 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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Bellator 263 breakdown: Can dual champ Patricio Freire hold off A.J. McKee?

MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom takes a closer look at the Bellator 263 main event between Patricio Freire and A.J. McKee.

[mm-video type=video id=01fbqg2h0w2gvaq9jzb6 playlist_id=01eqvpne7c1q486dvv player_id=01f5k5h8pz3brj4xqb image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fbqg2h0w2gvaq9jzb6/01fbqg2h0w2gvaq9jzb6-618ad347ca9e37dc1457fe9a8416ffce.jpg]

MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the Bellator’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for Bellator 263.

Bellator 263 takes place Saturday at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Mads Burnell surprised Emmanuel Sanchez fight isn’t title eliminator at Bellator 263

Mads Burnell was expecting bigger implications from his Bellator 263 co-main event.

LOS ANGELES – [autotag]Mads Burnell[/autotag] was expecting bigger implications from his Bellator 263 co-main event.

Burnell (15-3 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) faces former two-time title challenger [autotag]Emmanuel Sanchez[/autotag] (20-5 MMA, 12-4 BMMA) on Saturday and hoped to emerge as a No. 1 contender for the featherweight title.

But after the promotion determined that the Bellator 265 fight between Jay Jay Wilson and Adam Borics will serve as a title eliminator, Burnell was a little surprised.

“I’m only focused on this fight. What happens after, that’s after,” Burnell told MMA Junkie at the pre-fight news conference. “(Saturday), we get it on – we see who’s the best, and the best man continues, goes on, and probably gets the title shot. I thought initially this would be a title eliminator, but then I saw Jay Jay Wilson and Adam Borics had a title eliminator, No. 1 contender spot fight coming up, so it is what it is. I have this fight on Saturday – that’s all I’m focused on.”

Burnell may not earn a title shot with a win over Sanchez, but the stakes are high regardless for the Danish prospect. An impressive showing will push him a big step toward the winner of the grand prix final between champion Patricio Freire and undefeated challenger A.J. McKee, who headline Saturday’s card.

Bellator 263 takes place at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Bellator 263 weigh-in results (noon ET)

Check out the results from the official Bellator 263 fighter weigh-ins.

LOS ANGELES – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Friday’s official Bellator 263 fighter weigh-ins, which kick off at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

The weigh-ins take place at the Bellator host hotel in Los Angeles. The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., hosts Saturday’s event. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Among those weighing in are featherweight and lightweight champion Patricio Freire (32-4 MMA, 20-4 BMMA) and A.J. McKee (17-0 MMA, 17-0 BMMA), who meet in the featherweight grand prix final for Freire’s 145-pound title.

The full Bellator 263 weigh-in results include:

MAIN CARD (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Champ Patricio Freire () vs. A.J. McKee () – for featherweight title; featherweight grand prix final
  • Mads Burnell () vs. Emmanuel Sanchez ()
  • Manny Muro () vs. Usman Nurmagomedov ()
  • Islam Mamedov () vs. Brent Primus ()
  • Chris Gonzalez () vs. Goiti Yamauchi ()

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Ilara Joanne () vs. Vanessa Porto ()
  • Daniel Carey () vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov ()
  • Khasan Magomedsharipov () vs. Jonathan Quiroz ()
  • Johnny Cisneros () vs. Joshua Jones ()
  • Kiefer Crosbie () vs. Georgi Karakhanyan ()
  • Brian Moore () vs. Jordan Winski ()
  • Justin Barry () vs. Daniel Compton ()

Video: Watch Friday’s Bellator 263 ceremonial weigh-ins live on MMA Junkie at 4 p.m. ET

Check out a live video stream of the Bellator 263 ceremonial weigh-ins.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Bellator 263 ceremonial fighter weigh-ins take place Friday, and you can catch a live video stream of the proceedings here on MMA Junkie at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT).

The weigh-ins take place at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. The same venue hosts Saturday’s event, which has a main card on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

In addition to the video stream above, you can check out the early and official Bellator 263 weigh-in results from earlier in the day.

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Unapologetic A.J. McKee thinks he ruffled Patricio Freire’s feathers: ‘I gave him a little taste of his own medicine’

According to A.J. McKee, family was only fair game because Patricio Freire mentioned his father and head coach Antonio McKee.

LOS ANGELES – If there’s any real estate inside [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag]’s head, [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] thinks he’s residing in it.

At the Bellator 263 pre-fight news conference Thursday, McKee (17-0 MMA, 17-0 BMMA) ignited a scuffle that resulted in the two fighters being separated by promotion staff. Freire (32-4 MMA, 20-4 BMMA) was the first one to make a physical move – but it came after a pair of insults thrown by McKee and his father/head coach Antonio.

“I ruffled his feathers,” McKee told MMA Junkie shortly after the press conference. “He’s talking about how everyone is being disrespectful. At the end of the day, I know in my heart I’ve been nothing but respectful. For him to do what he did and then to speak about my father and (how he says) he’ll whoop my ass in front of my father, I gave him a little taste of his own medicine.”

Seeing how Freire reacted in the fray of chairs, tables, and spilling water cups, was a sign to McKee. Two days out from what some deem the biggest fight in Bellator history, McKee thinks he’s inside the champion’s head.

“Definitely,” McKee said. “I’ve been inside his head since Day 1. For me, it just shows the art of war. Mental warfare is the No. 1 warfare. I read that book forward to back and highlighted multiple things in that book. At the end of the day, man, you’ve just got to go in there Saturday and do what I do best. (I’ll) put on a show and make him fight. I definitely feel like he’s going to come out and fight now.”

Bellator 263 takes place Saturday at The Forum. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXNByfW9aZw

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Bellator 263’s Patricio ‘Pitbull’ reacts to A.J. McKee scuffle, Antonio McKee’s PED accusations

Moments after the heated scuffle on stage, Patricio Freire sends a fired-up message to A.J. McKee.

LOS ANGELES – [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] doesn’t take lightly to PED accusations, nor trash talk involving family. So when both were hurled his way by the McKees at the Bellator 263 pre-fight news conference Thursday, he exploded.

Restrained by Bellator president Scott Coker and promotion staffers, “Pitbull” and [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] ended the press conference in a flurry of toppled furniture, spilled drinks, and expletives.

The first move physically was made by Freire (32-4 MMA, 20-4 BMMA) who took exception to PED accusations made by McKee’s father and head coach, Antonio.

“Things went south when he started to talk sh*t about respect,” Freire told MMA Junkie shortly after the scuffle. “Everyone knows his father was saying to the media that I was on drugs. After that, he said something about (how he) would beat me in front of my family. I will make him show some respect for them. The last one who talked sh*t like this, I kicked his ass in less than a minute. Now, he deserves the same thing.”

If anyone should be accused of performance-enhancing drugs, it should be Antonio McKee, according to the standing Bellator featherweight and lightweight champion.

“I don’t know, he has 60 (years),” Freire said. “He is stronger than me, so he’s on drugs, too? Maybe? I don’t know what he wants. I’m 34. F*ck, man. I’m not 60 or 40. I’m a competitor and still a little bit fat. F*ck, man. He’s afraid of what will happen.”

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What bothered Friere more than anything, and what he attributes to his aggressive behavior on stage, was the comment by McKee (17-0 MMA, 17-0 BMMA) that he would beat the Brazilian in front of his wife and kids. While he sees Antonio as fair game because he’s A.J.’s coach, Freire thinks family is otherwise out of bounds.

When it comes time for the talk to finally end and fists start flying in the cage Saturday at Bellator 263, “Pitbull” had a short-and-sweet prediction for the undefeated title challenger.

“I’m going to kick his ass up,” Freire said.

Bellator 263 takes place Saturday at The Forum. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL_MNI3WX9s

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Patricio Freire had the perfect response to Snoop Dogg picking A.J. McKee at Bellator 263

Patricio Freire got the last laugh after Snoop Dogg picked A.J. McKee to beat him at Bellator 263.

Snoop Dogg picking [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] to dethrone featherweight champion [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] at Bellator 263 should come as no surprise. It’s not like Snoop was going to pick against a fellow Los Angeles native ahead of the biggest fight of his life.

Snoop announced his pick in a Twitter video on Wednesday. Then on Thursday, “Pitbull” clapped back with a tremendous burn (via Twitter):

“Hey, Snoop Dogg, I hope you know I’m not Pitbull the rapper. I’m Pitbull the GOAT. Maybe you should fight someone in the cage. If you land a strike, it’ll be your first hit in 50 years, motherf*cker.”

Legit hilarious and a brilliant response from “Pitbull.”

Bellator 263 takes place Saturday at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims streamed on MMA Junkie.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXNByfW9aZw

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