LOS ANGELES – Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Freire and A.J. McKee got their first look at each other during Bellator 263 fight week, and everything was fine … until it wasn’t.
For the majority of Thursday’s 26-minute press conference held at the host hotel, everything was kosher. But the mention of family lit a fuse.
“Remember you said you’re gonna beat my ass in front of my father?” McKee said. “I’m gonna beat your ass in front of your wife and kids. How about that? You wanna talk disrespect. We can be disrespectful. Now the disrespect is out.”
Moments later, Freire popped up from his chair and knocked his microphone onto the table. Bellator president Scott Coker turned to restrain McKee before two other Bellator staff members stepped to hold back both men. When McKee grabbed Freire’s title belt, the champ kicked a chair toward the challenger. Expletives were hurled at each other as Freire walked off the stage.
You can watch the near-scuffle in the video above.
Freire (32-4 MMA, 20-4 BMMA) and undefeated McKee (17-0 MMA, 17-0 BMMA) will headline Bellator 263 on Saturday at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. Their title fight is the culmination of the 16-man featherweight grand prix, which will also pay $1 million to the winner.
Bellator 263 video: Patrico ‘Pitbull,’ A.J. McKee restrained during tense press conference moment
