The various choices for AJ McKee and Patricio Pitbull after Bellator 286

What have been the most important moments of Bellator 286? Jeff Wagenheim and Marc Raimondi provide up their takeaways from an action-packed occasion in Lengthy Seashore.

AJ McKee might be simply effective at light-weight, has choices

Coming off the primary lack of his profession and shifting as much as debut in a brand new weight class, AJ McKee did not do something Saturday evening to make anybody fear about his future. In his hometown of Lengthy Seashore, California, McKee beat Spike Carlyle by unanimous determination in a bloody warfare that McKee largely dominated. Carlyle got here out roaring to begin the struggle, and McKee nonetheless ended up dropping him. For the remainder of the battle, Carlyle was primarily on the defensive, with McKee hurting him on the toes and attempting to drag off a highlight-reel submission on the bottom. McKee, the previous Bellator featherweight champion, gave a powerful first efficiency at light-weight.

The query now for McKee is what’s subsequent and what makes probably the most sense. He has choices, and they’re largely good ones. A trilogy struggle with Patricio “Pitbull” Freire is arguably the most important struggle Bellator could make at the moment. McKee mentioned he would solely return right down to featherweight for a title shot and has earned that proper — he completed “Pitbull” in 2021 earlier than dropping a detailed determination again in April. Freire has talked about happening to bantamweight after cleansing out the division, however that was beneath the idea Aaron Pico can be a challenger quickly. Pico misplaced by way of harm stoppage to Jeremy Kennedy at Bellator 286.

The opposite chance for McKee? Coming into into the Bellator Light-weight World Grand Prix, which begins in 2023. McKee has already received the featherweight model of the grand prix and the $1 million that got here with it. He may attempt for a second million and the Bellator light-weight title, which might be on the road within the event. Oh, by the best way, Freire’s brother Patricky is the present 155-pound Bellator champion. If I am McKee, I inform Bellator to provide me one of many “Pitbull” brothers — both Patricio for the featherweight belt and the trilogy struggle or Patricky within the first spherical of the light-weight event for that belt. Oh, by the best way, Freire’s brother Patricky is the present 155-pound Bellator champion and can defend his title in opposition to Usman Nurmagomedov in November. — Raimondi

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Possibly it is time for Pitbull to additionally think about his choices?

The followers booed for a lot of the essential occasion’s 25 minutes. That response was predetermined, in a means, as a result of Bellator 286 was in Lengthy Seashore, California, and the fighter in management for each second of the characteristic bout was Patricio “Pitbull” Freire. Simply six months in the past, the featherweight champion had handed Lengthy Seashore’s favourite son, AJ McKee, the primary and solely lack of his profession.

However would Freire’s efficiency on this weekend’s unanimous determination win over Adam Borics have been a crowd pleaser in any enviornment in any city on this planet? Extremely uncertain. It wasn’t that Freire was missing. It is simply that he was environment friendly in a sport that rewards spectacular. The victory was the thirty fourth within the profession of the Brazilian, his eleventh by determination. He has received by knockout 11 instances and has 12 submissions. Speak about well-rounded. Speak about having no calling card.

Freire is in his third reign as Bellator’s featherweight champ. He additionally has been a light-weight champ. He has received 9 of his final ten fights, beating a few of the greatest who’ve ever set foot within the spherical cage. And but, this all-time nice someway flies beneath the radar.

When followers have mentioned which non-UFC fighters can declare to be the most effective in the entire sport, different Bellator names have come up extra typically than Freire’s. Gegard Mousasi, when he was middleweight champ. Corey Anderson, who’s not a champ however has regarded dominant since coming over from the UFC. “Pitbull” is not any much less worthy. He simply will get seen much less.

That would change in his subsequent struggle, for which he has choices. The 35-year-old may settle the rating in a trilogy bout with McKee, who placed on a heart-thumping efficiency within the co-main occasion. Or, Freire may drop right down to bantamweight in pursuit of an unprecedented accomplishment in MMA — successful a championship in a 3rd weight class.

Each choices have their downsides. Freire can be robbing his brother, light-weight champion Patricky, of that highlight bout by pursuing a McKee struggle. And as for Patricio shifting right down to 135, I am by no means in favor of fighters slicing extra weight.

However some have performed so efficiently, together with Freire’s countryman Jose Aldo. The 5-foot-6 Freire has the stocky physique to drag it off. He may discover his weight-reduction plan motivation within the stakes in entrance of him: The chance to make historical past. — Wagenheim