SAN JOSE, Calif. – Patricio Freire has evened things up.
In the Bellator 277 main event Friday at SAP Center, Freire (33-5 MMA, 21-5 BMMA) defeated A.J. McKee (18-1 MMA, 18-1 BMMA) via unanimous decision (48-46, 49-46, 48-47) to once again become featherweight champion.
The first round was closely contested with striking technique on full display from both men. “Pitbull” utilized his leg kicks, while McKee fired some head kicks – the strike that led to the beginning of the end in their first meeting.
Round 2 was a stronger one from the challenger as his counter timing on McKee’s head kicks and body kicks appeared to be down to a science. McKee remained competitive, though he struggled to find a rhythm.
The biggest moments of the fight came in Round 3 when Freire rocked McKee, who then wobbled and scored and secured a takedown. Freire popped up and snatched McKee’s neck for a signature guillotine choke. It appeared to get tighter and tighter with grip readjustments from Freire, but McKee leveraged his way out.
WOW! @PatricioPitbull tags @AJMcKee101, but then the champ gets the takedown.#Bellator277 is LIVE on @SHOsports 👇 pic.twitter.com/UkQachFXkL
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) April 16, 2022
Round 4 was the strongest to date for McKee, who edged Freire out in the striking, a momentum he carried into Round 5. In between Round 4 and 5, coach Antonio McKee told his son he thought he was up on all scorecards. In Round 5, Freire found success with his striking before McKee secured a takedown late and finished the fight out on top.
Some nice strikes from @AJMcKee101. Is he doing enough to retain his title?#Bellator277 is LIVE on @SHOsports 👇 pic.twitter.com/o2QCtCaozj
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) April 16, 2022
The fight was a rematch of the Bellator 263 main event, in which McKee finished Freire with a standing guillotine choke at the 100-second mark of the fight. Neither fighter had competed since, with the rematch a long time in the making. The loss snapped a seven-fight winning streak for Freire, while it exploded McKee’s stock and popularity in the public eye.
With the victory, “Pitbull” gets his title back as a moderate underdog. He has never lost back-to-back fights in his entire career. Bellator 277 marks the third time “Pitbull” won the featherweight title and the 10th time he won a Bellator title fight.
🗣 “On that day…I came in peace. Today…I came for war.”@PatricioPitbull did not mince words as to his intentions tonight at #Bellator277. 🇧🇷#AndNew pic.twitter.com/OgY82VUIxU
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) April 16, 2022
As for McKee, he lost a fight for the first time in his professional career. His last loss in MMA overall came in his second amateur fight, in 2013 when he was 18 years old.
The up-to-the-minute Bellator 277 results include:
- Patricio Freire def. A.J. McKee via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)
- Champ Vadim Nemkov vs. Corey Anderson ends in no contest (accidental headbutt) – Round 3, 4:53
- Aaron Pico def. Adli Edwards via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 0:55
- Linton Vassell def. Tim Johnson via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:21
- Tyson Miller def. Khalan Gracie via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 1, 5:00
- Tyrell Fortune def. Rakim Cleveland via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:38
- Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov def. Rafael Carvalho via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:04
- Bobby Seronio III def. Calob Ramirez via knockout (punch) – Round 2, 2:14
- Gaston Bolanos def. Daniel Carey via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:59
- Kyle Crutchmer def. Michael Lombardo via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Edwin De Los Santos def. Alberto Martinez Mendez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Rogelio Luna def. Socrates Hernandez via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 4:48
- Laird Anderson def. J.T. Donaldson via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:44
- Theo Haig def. Alan Benson via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:08
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