Victorious at Bellator 263, Mads Burnell anticipates future showdown against A.J. McKee

Former Cage Warriors featherweight champion Mads Burnell maintained his undefeated run in Bellator and has his sights set on the top of the division.

At Bellator 263, Burnell (16-3 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) defeated Emmanuel Sanchez by unanimous decision in a back-and-forth battle, earning scores of 29-28, 30-27, and 30-27 from the judges. Now 3-0 under the Bellator banner, his opportunity to fight for the title could be in the near future.

“I can say hands down for sure, I’m the slickest 145er in the world,” Burnell said at the post-fight news conference. “It may seem like I’m getting hit, but I’m rolling with the punches and all that stuff. I saw the significant strikes after the fight and I was like, ‘What the hell, man?’ Of course, he hit me with a little bit, but the shots he hit me with was like nothing.”

The main event of the evening saw a crowning of a new featherweight champ as A.J. McKee defeated Patricio Freire in the grand prix final. Burnell was impressed with McKee’s performance, but will be ready to take him on should he be holding the title when the time comes.

“If that’s who I have to fight for the title, that’s who I have to fight for the title,” Burnell said. He later made it clear that statement wasn’t a call out of McKee. However, when the time is right, he’ll be ready for that challenge in order to accomplish his goals.

“I want to fight the best, (but) we’ll take that slowly,” Burnell explained about a potential meeting with McKee later down the road.

Watch the full post-fight press conference with Burnell in the video above.