The former champion is the reigning champion once more after outpointing AJ McKee in the main event from San Jose, California
Patience is rarely a quality that is rarely associated with a Pitbull, but it was the quality that helped Patricio Pitbull win the Bellator Featherweight Championship for the third time in his career. Pitbull managed to take out AJ Mackie in a highly competitive fight in the main event of Bellator 277 on Friday night from the SAP Center in San Jose, California.
Mackie won the first meeting between the two with a guillotine choke in less than two minutes last July after moving Pitbull with a head kick. Instead of rushing into Mackie's offense, Pitbull stood in the middle of the cage and picked up his spots for leg kicks and occasional punches.
Mackie continually urges Pitbull to stand in front of him, daring Pitbull to engage in wild attacks. Pitbull didn't give up, sticking to his patient's gameplan as the close rounds ticked by.
The most dramatic moment of the fight came in the third round, with Pitbull landing a heavy right hand that staggered Mackie. Mackie responded to the injury by scoring a takedown and controlling the action on the ground. Working back on his feet, Pitbull locks Mackie into a deep guillotine, which seemed close to the finish, before freeing Mackie's head.
Both fighters were increasingly tired in the final two rounds, but Mackie seemed to do a better job with strikes and takedowns. That effort turned out to be too little, too late as Pitbull would have raised his hand after round five when all three official scorecards were read in his favor. The official scores were 49–46, 48–47 and 48–47.
👑 The King of rematches is once again the King of the Featherweights.#AndNew World Champion, @PatricioPitbull - winning by Unanimous Decision.#Bellator277 is LIVE on @SHOsports pic.twitter.com/FoxBMVceOk
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) April 16, 2022
"He's a tough guy," Pitbull said after the fight. "He's a great opponent. It was a tough fight but I came to put my strategy to work today. Now, two brothers are two world champions."
McKee was distraught after reading the decision, leaving Cage after having tasted defeat for the first time in his professional career.
Pitbull further cemented his status as the greatest fighter in Bellator history, winning the featherweight title for the third time with a run as the lightweight champion. Pitbull is also now 6-0 in a rematch, having never lost to the same man twice as well as never losing back-to-back fights. However Mackie will get a chance to change what is likely to be a guaranteed rubber match between the two in the near future.
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Bellator 277 card, results
- Patricio Pitbull (c) def. AJ McKee via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)
- Vadim Nemkov (c) vs. Corey Anderson ends in no-contest after accident headbutt
- Aaron Pico def. Adli Edwards via third-round TKO (punches)
- Linton Vassell def. Tim Johnson via first-round TKO (punches)
- Tyson Miller def. Rhalan Gracie via first-round TKO (doctor stoppage)
- Tyrell Fortune def. Rakim Cleveland via first-round TKO (punches)
- Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov def. Rafael Carvalho via second-round TKO (elbows, punches)