Grotesque staff infection forces AJ McKee out of Bellator tourney

Former Bellator featherweight champion AJ McKee (20-1) was on a crash course with the Bellator lightweight championship. He was set to face Patricky “Pitbull” Freire in the promotion’s lightweight grand prix at Bellator x Rizin 2 on Sunday in Japan.

McKee’s bout with Patricky Pitbull was nixed, however, when he developed a staph infection that forced him out of the fight.

AJ McKee’s not-safe-for-work flesh-eating staph infection

Just to clear the air 🙌🏾💯🙌🏾 The progression of this infection in 1 week smh.. A few more weeks of rest/healing and it’s back to the grind.🦾🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/mYmznV1Puw

— AJ “The Mercenary” McKee (@ajmckee101) July 27, 2023

McKee wanted to become the latest Bellator double-champ

McKee became the Bellator featherweight champion by defeating Patricky’s brother, Patricio “Pitbull” Freire in 2021. He lost the belt back to Patricio in their immediate rematch less than a year later.

Having moved up to lightweight, where he has won two consecutive bouts, McKee was looking to make an assault on the lightweight title via the tournament. His bout opposite Patricky was supposed to headline Sunday’s Bellator vs. Rizin 2 fight card, but the staph infection forced him out.

“I ended up catching staph, guys. You know staph, it’s a really bad infection, flesh-eating, it literally puts you in the hospital. I had to go to the ER. I’ve been on antibiotics and it’s healing up well.” – A.J. McKee

McKee’s statement about staph infection forcing him out of Bellator x Rizin 2

“It’s A.J. ‘Mercenary’ McKee. I’m sorry but I won’t be fighting this weekend in Japan. To all my Japanese fans, I’ll see you guys soon, and guess what? We will be back in Japan, I promise you that. So I’ll see you guys soon. I appreciate all the support,” McKee said in a video accompanying the staph infection photos.

“I ended up catching staph, guys. You know staph, it’s a really bad infection, flesh-eating, it literally puts you in the hospital. I had to go to the ER. I’ve been on antibiotics and it’s healing up well.

“A couple little holes in my knee, but we’re going to come back stronger, better than ever, and y’all already know what it is. Champ sh*t only.”

Patricio “Pitbull” Freire joins Bellator x Rizin 2 at the last minute

No, the Bellator featherweight champ is not taking McKee’s place to fight his brother in Japan. Although, Patricio is a former Bellator lightweight champion. 

When Bellator announced McKee’s removal, they also announced that Patricky would instead face Roberto de Souza in the Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix tournament, but also that his brother, Patricio, would also join the fight card.

Patricio steps into a short-notice 154-pound catchweight bout opposite decorated kickboxer and MMA fighter Chihiro Suzuki. The bout takes top billing on the Super Rizin portion of the fight card.

Watch AJ McKee smoke Darion Caldwell