Report: McKee-Pitbull rematch in works for April

A rematch between Bellator featherweight champion AJ McKee and former champ Patricio "Pitbull" Freire is being targeted for April, according to MMA reporter Ariel Helwani.

McKee and Freire met last July in the final of the Bellator Featherweight Grand Prix, one of the biggest bouts in Bellator history. McKee won by first-round submission to become the new 145-pound titleholder.

Freire is one of the faces of Bellator, having held the featherweight belt on two separate occasions. He was riding a seven-fight winning streak heading into the first McKee fight and hadn't lost at 145 pounds since 2015.

The Brazilian used to also hold the Bellator lightweight title and is one of three two-division champions in promotion history. Freire vacated that belt in 2021 to focus on the featherweight division, allowing his brother, Patricky, to challenge for 155-pound gold.

McKee, considered a top-five MMA featherweight regardless of promotion, is undefeated as a pro at 17-0. All of his fights have taken place under the Bellator banner.