This past Saturday at Bellator 263 we saw the conclusion of the Featherweight Grand Prix. Patricio Pitbull (32-5) was defending his featherweight crown against the undefeated phenom AJ McKee (18-0).
This was the one fight that Bellator fans had been waiting for since the Grand Prix started. The two best featherweights that Bellator had to offer were set to battle for the title and one million dollars.
Patricio Pitbull was the popular pick heading into Saturday night. The two-division champion has virtually ever record in the history of Bellator and he’s widely considered to be the best fighter in the history of the promotion.
While Pitbull was both the featherweight and lightweight champion, he was the much smaller man at Bellator 263. McKee looked much bigger and longer and you could see that advantage very early in the fight.
When the fight started, Pitbull was staying patient on the outside. McKee was trying to keep him at range and Pitbull was trying to find his way inside. However, before he could even get started, he got caught.
McKee landed a massive head kick and uppercut that dropped the Bellator champion. When Pitbull got up, McKee locked in a standing guillotine and put Pitbull out.
What’s next after Bellator 263?
Patricio Pitbull had lost before inside the Bellator cage, but Saturday night was different. This was the first time that he was truly finished and the fight wasn’t even close. AJ McKee ran right through Patricio Pitbull.
After that devastating defeat, what’s next for Pitbull? Well, it’s important to remember that he’s still the Bellator lightweight champion. However, he had previously hinted at dropping the lightweight title to allow his brother, Patricky Pitbull, the opportunity to become lightweight champion.
Having just lost to McKee at featherweight, I wonder if that potential plan has changed. I wouldn’t be shocked to see McKee and Pitbull fight again. McKee has teased about going up in weight and he’s said that he wanted to become a two-division Bellator champion.
Ultimately, Scott Coker is going to have a decision to make. I believe that Pitbull is going to want an immediate rematch. Given his legacy with the promotion, I think they’ll give it to him. Question is, will it be a featherweight rematch or a lightweight title fight? Time will tell on this one.