A.J. McKee wants to fight for Bellator lightweight title after featherweight grand prix

HONOLULU – A.J. McKee has his sights set on the Bellator featherweight championship, but that’s not all.

On Saturday night, the undefeated 24-year-old McKee (16-0 MMA, 16-0 BMMA) advanced to the Bellator 145-pound grand prix semifinals with a third-round submission win over Derek Campos.

Although McKee’s next opponent will be the winner of the Bellator 238 co-main event between Darrion Caldwell and Adam Borics, McKee is thinking ahead.

McKee believes he’ll be the last one standing when the dust settles and a tournament champion is crowned. A similar status at lightweight will be obtained afterwards, according to McKee.

“Where’s my belt?” McKee asked, a question directed at Bellator double champ Patricio Freire. “After this 145-pound tournament, I want the 155-pound (belt) right after.

“That’s why I didn’t mind if we could have ran it before. So he could get prepared for that ass-whooping to come. Show him a little taste of it. I hope you like sweets, because it’s going to be sweet.”

Freire is expected to take on SBG’s Pedro Carvalho in March at an event to be named. The fight is a quarterfinal fight in the Bellator featherweight grand prix, so it’s possible McKee and Freire will square off before the tournament is over.

With his most recent victory, McKee’s unbeaten streak as a professional has been extended to 16. All of McKee’s pro fights have been under the Bellator banner.

Bellator 236 took place Saturday at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu. The main card streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Check out McKee’s full post-fight interview in the video above.