SAN JOSE, Calif. – If the behind-the-scenes contract negotiations between the Bellator brass and their No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter are tense, it didn’t show Thursday.
Not long after Bellator president Scott Coker said he’d be a little happier if featherweight champion A.J. McKee was less up front with the media about his ongoing contract talks, he was paid a surprise visit by the champ during a scrum with media members.
While Coker was in the middle of talking about Friday’s Bellator 277 co-main event light heavyweight title fight and grand prix final following the ceremonial weigh-ins at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., McKee couldn’t resist the opportunity to jump into the spotlight a little – to thank Coker and Bellator for building him into one of the current best fighters in the sport.
Check out their playful exchange in front of the media in the video above.
Friday, McKee (18-0 MMA, 18-0 BMMA) headlines Bellator 277 in a featherweight title rematch against former champ Patricio Freire (32-5 MMA, 20-5 BMMA), whom he submitted in 2021 to win the belt.
The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.
mmajunkie.usatoday.com
