A.J. McKee doesn’t need to hear the full question to answer it. He hears the name of his training partner, childhood friend and fellow Bellator featherweight Aaron Pico and jumps right in.

“No, it won’t happen,” McKee told MMAjunkie.

The question, in case you were wondering, was whether McKee would ever consider fighting Pico. The reason why McKee guessed it was coming is because he’s heard it before. And, as the two young up-and-comers tear through Bellator’s 145-pound division, it’s a question that’s he’s bound to hear more often.

Pico, on his end, has answered it a couple of times. And for now, anyway, the two seem to be on the same page.

“I can’t lose a friend and a brother over some money, over entertainment,” McKee said. “If it’s that serious for you, and you want that limelight, you can have it. Because it’s not that serious for me. I’m pretty sure we’ll both be taken care of – more than – financially at that point, where we wouldn’t even have to be in the area to fight for that much money. I’m OK. It’s not that serious. I’ve known Pico since we were about 5 years old. We were kids running around tearing (expletive) up together.

“… If we were to ever even decide, it would probably be the last fight of our career. It would probably be some trillion-dollar (expletive) fight that everyone was going to see. And we would ask for a trillion dollars each, because that’s what we agreed on, but I would never want to fight him. I would honestly rather retire than fight my brother and my friend like that. Because why would I want to inflict pain upon a brother? I don’t know, I’m not like that.”

McKee and Pico currently train together at Team Bodyshop, which has been a stable for young Bellator talent. They also happen to train under McKee’s father, Antonio, whom Pico has largely credited for helping turn things around after losing his professional debut in stunning fashion.

But their training ties are just part of it. Pico, on his end, has talked about memories of shared barbecues and family trips and how it would be “just weird” to fight his friend. Clearly, there’s a lot of history. And McKee just doesn’t see the point of risking it.

“There would have to be, like, some crazy fall-out between us or something,” McKee said. “There would have to be a personal reason, a cross of loyalty between us to do that. And I’ve never had a loyalty issue with him, you know? I remember, as kids, we have childhood (expletive) stories, his dad gets in a fight, and we’re (expletive) jumping the dude that his dad’s fighting together.

“This is the level of friendship that we have. We have years and years of just friendship and chemistry together. And, dude, why? He’s yang, and I’m yin. We work best together. Why work against each other? Why, for other people’s enjoyment? For other people’s entertainment?”

The same way one can see where McKee is coming from, though, one can also see why the question even comes up in the first place. They are, after all, two of Bellator’s most exciting prospects, riding some serious momentum in the same 145-pound division.

At only 23, McKee (12-0 MMA, 12-0 BMMA) holds record for the promotion’s longest winning streak. He meets Daniel Crawford (10-2 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) on Friday at Bellator 212 looking for the 13th straight win of his unbeaten pro MMA career – which involves twice as many finishes as decisions.

Gallery Photos: Best of A.J. McKee view 19 images

Pico (4-1 MMA, 4-1 BMMA), meanwhile, returns to action next month at Bellator 214 against Henry Corrales. The 22-year-old wrestling ace looks to get his fifth win in a row, following big knockouts of Justin Linn, Shane Kruchten, Lee Morrison and, most recently, veteran and “Team Pitbull” fighter Leandro Higo.

Although the two are somewhat hovering around the title picture, McKee arguably is the closer to getting a title stab. Even champ Patricio “Pitbull” Freire has touched on the possibility, albeit not very enthusiastically, after defending his title against Emmanuel Sanchez.

McKee is quite comfortable with the idea that a title shot might be waiting just around the corner.

“For me as a fighter, it seems right,” McKee said. “For me, as my career and looking at the fans and the organization, I would think it seems right. Why? I’m 12-0. I’m holding records. I’m breaking records. I’m approaching a couple more records, so I’m at the peak of records right now. So I feel this is the ultimate test of getting all these records on the line at the same time. Let’s create some pressure. I’ve never really felt pressure. I’ve always been comfortable.

“So let’s see what A.J. feels like with what everyone would call pressure. Let’s put all my records on the line. Undefeated this, most finishes this, all these things. Let’s put as many records as we can on the line and see what happens. Patricio Pitbull, he’s a great fighter. He’s held it down for the division. He’s been through some wars. He’s come out victorious. He’s lost some. I look forward go going in there and doing what I do best, and that’s putting on a show and getting my first belt on me. That’s something I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid.”

Gallery Photos: Best of Aaron Pico view 18 images

But here’s where McKee offers more proof of just how close he and Pico are. If, for some reason, Pico ends up becoming Bellator’s featherweight champion before he does, McKee says he would be “happy as hell” for his teammate and friend.

“Say I go fight for the belt and I lose. Dude, (expletive) line Pico up,” McKee said.

Provided things go as McKee has planned, though, this hypothetical match-up won’t get to the point where it’s even an issue.

“I’m not going to be a 145er for much longer anyway,” McKee said. “I’m going to go beat up ‘Pitbull’ soon and off to 155 I go, and Pico can take over the division. He’s young in his career, too. … He’s 4-1, he’s got time, you know? I don’t see why anyone would even try to rush him. Even at 23, I don’t feel I need to rush into a title shot. At 23, I can wait a whole ‘nother year and still be a great champion.”

For more on “Bellator and USO Present: Salute the Troops,” check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.