LOS ANGELES – If there’s any real estate inside Patricio Freire’s head, A.J. McKee thinks he’s residing in it.

At the Bellator 263 pre-fight news conference Thursday, McKee (17-0 MMA, 17-0 BMMA) ignited a scuffle that resulted in the two fighters being separated by promotion staff. Freire (32-4 MMA, 20-4 BMMA) was the first one to make a physical move – but it came after a pair of insults thrown by McKee and his father/head coach Antonio.

“I ruffled his feathers,” McKee told MMA Junkie shortly after the press conference. “He’s talking about how everyone is being disrespectful. At the end of the day, I know in my heart I’ve been nothing but respectful. For him to do what he did and then to speak about my father and (how he says) he’ll whoop my ass in front of my father, I gave him a little taste of his own medicine.”

Seeing how Freire reacted in the fray of chairs, tables, and spilling water cups, was a sign to McKee. Two days out from what some deem the biggest fight in Bellator history, McKee thinks he’s inside the champion’s head.

“Definitely,” McKee said. “I’ve been inside his head since Day 1. For me, it just shows the art of war. Mental warfare is the No. 1 warfare. I read that book forward to back and highlighted multiple things in that book. At the end of the day, man, you’ve just got to go in there Saturday and do what I do best. (I’ll) put on a show and make him fight. I definitely feel like he’s going to come out and fight now.”

Bellator 263 takes place Saturday at The Forum. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.