5 fights that could be next for A.J. McKee in Bellator
A.J. McKee experienced his first professional loss last week when Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire defeated him via unanimous decision at Bellator 277. It was a highly-anticipated rematch of the featherweight Grand Prix final last July, which saw McKee become the new 145-pound champion.
When discussing the loss, ‘Mercenary’ mentioned that his days competing at 145 pounds are over. He believes now is the right time to commit to a move up to lightweight and explore new opportunities.
All 19 of the his professional bouts have been contested in the promotion and he is arguably their biggest homegrown star. Prior to the loss, many wondered how he’d do in a bout with reigning UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.
It’ll be interesting to see how he responds to the first setback of his career. If McKee's to be believed, he’ll be moving up a weight division as well, which could have a positive effect on his overall performance.
WIth that in mind, let's take a look at five fights that could be next for A.J. McKee.
#5. A.J. McKee vs. former Bellator lightweight title challenger Peter Queally
Peter Queally set to face Benson Henderson in Bellator's Dublin return | themaclife.com/sports/mma/pet… https://t.co/i9fjvV8HbV
Peter Queally has been a reliable draw for Bellator in Ireland. The former lightweight title challenger headlined the promotion’s return to Dublin last November. The crowd were fully behind their countryman as he fought Patricky ‘Pitbull’ Freire for the vacant lightweight championship. He came up short in his attempt, but his reception was an example as to why he should be featured at events in Ireland going forward.
‘The Showstopper’ will be doing just that in his next fight, set for September, when he'll take on Benson Henderson in Dublin. If he’s successful against ‘Bendo’, it would put him right back in the top five of the division.
If Queally defeats Henderson, a bout with McKee in Dublin, Ireland, would be intriguing. ‘Mercenary’ would be making his lightweight debut in a hostile environment, which would test his composure inside the cage. His last two bouts were contested in California. So, it could be a good idea for the promotion to gain him more exposure in the European market.