AJ McKee, with just one exception, has overwhelmed all comers since making his skilled combined martial arts debut in 2015, and whereas his solely loss up to now nonetheless fills him with frustration, “The Mercenary” is conscious that generally there’s extra data to be gleaned via failure than victory.
In a chat with M&F, the 29-year-old discusses a variety of points forward of his all-important bout in opposition to Paul Hughes on October 19, together with why the transfer from featherweight to light-weight has freed him, and the way he’s coaching himself mentally and bodily for one more victory.
McKee hit the highest the MMA mountain when he beat Patrico “Pitbull” Freire and took his Bellator Featherweight World Championship in simply 1 minute and 57 seconds through guillotine choke. That victory was his 18th skilled win and earned him a cool $1 million prize within the course of. However how does that type of success weigh on the thoughts of McKee?
“I would say I was fine with it, you know?” says the previous newbie wrestler. “My motivation comes from a different source: knowing I’m the best in the world, wanting to continue to be the best in the world, wanting to fight the best in the world. That’s my motivation, you know. So, anytime I got somebody that’s doubting or saying, oh he’s not this or that, it just adds fuel to my fire, that makes me just want to go prove them wrong, you know?”
AJ McKee continues to make historical past along with his father by his facet
McKee isn’t any stranger to creating a press release within the cage. He did, in any case, destroy Goergi Krakhanyan in simply eight seconds. “Everything was just dialled in and lined up properly,” he explains. “The night started off with my father (Antonio McKee) fighting, and he went and got a finish. So, at that point the tone was set, and I kind of knew what I had to do, you know? So going into the fight, I’m warming up and I’m like; ‘Dad, I’m going to get the fastest knockout and I fell a couple of seconds short of it, but, it was the mindset, the self-belief, just knowing what I was capable of, and being able to go in there and implement. It was the key.”
Sharing moments along with his dad, who can also be his coach, has been important to AJ’s success. “It’s awesome, he’s always a father, but when we’re in the gym he’s coach, so he’s able to tell when I’m slacking, and I’m just kinda B.S.ing, and I want a little break versus, okay, ‘he’s really tired and his body’s needing a break’. So, it’s a double-edged sword. He knows the ins and outs of the fight game, he knows the ins and out of my life, and what I’m capable of as well. So, there’s really no slacking. You give it a 110%, and just continue to do that. And, sometimes he tells you, ‘hey, you need a break’. That’s when you gotta just take a break. He’s been by my side.”
AJ McKee turned larger and stronger after his first loss
Inevitably, with the highs additionally come the lows, and McKee’s loss to The Pitbull in his return title defence ranks proper up there. The Mercenary informed Morning Kombat that he’d had a full “mental breakdown” within the aftermath of that controversial factors resolution. Nonetheless, as irritating as it’s for the media to have to say that singular loss to him in interview after interview, there are positives to be gleaned in the long run. McKee has accepted that we regularly be taught much more via failure than success.
“Oh, definitely,” he says. “That fight pissed me off a lot. So, you know, I came back with a different fuel under my fire. And, I think a lot of people could see it. The fight after that (a unanimous decision over Spike Carlyle) was such a high-paced fight, and every fight since then has just been nothing but fireworks, high paced output. Make sure that you’re trying to finish it the entire time. Don’t leave it to the judges, and if it does so happen to go to the judges, make sure that you’ve put in enough work so that they see you victorious.”
His return to kind is all of the extra spectacular, as a result of it’s going down within the light-weight division, the place McKee has moved up and amassed a clear sheet of 4 victories up to now. The light-weight division has proved to be a breath of recent air for the highest contender. “I decided to go up to 155 pounds. Once I went up to 155 pounds I’ve felt my skill set is more than capable of being utilized in that division as well,” he explains, noting that it is a extra comfy weight for him to take care of. “Trying to make 145 pounds; there are no cheat meals. There’s no cheat days, you know. You’re dialled all the way in. And, there’s a lot more discipline to make 145 pounds. So, it’s gotta make sense.”
Within the light-weight division, McKee is consuming steak (rib eye is his first alternative) and ribs, packing on the protein. He’s hoping this provides extra energy to his already clubbing blows. “So, a lot of these guys, they cut out food, and they start starving themselves,” explains McKee. “Dehydrating is kind of obviously what you’re gonna have to do. But a lot of these guys, they stop eating, and your body needs the nutrition. So, you gotta make sure you’re supplying your body with the right proteins.”
AJ McKee tunes himself in mentally through motivational discourse
It’s not simply his bodily prowess that McKee is focussed on, he likes to tune himself in mentally as effectively. The fighter normally enjoys all sorts of music together with rap, nation, and rock. However as every combat attracts close to, the MMA star’s playlist turns into stuffed with motivational audio system to pump him up psychologically. It’s a approach to put his sporting profession into context whereas the world speculates on his subsequent transfer. The largest hypothesis: Whether or not we’ll ever see The Mercenary vs. The Pitbull III.
Earlier than that may occur, or any hopes of a light-weight championship, McKee’s head wants to remain within the recreation, so he retains his focus locked in. ”I don’t care [who is next], man,” says the chilled-out cage fighter. “Whatever they call me with, you know, you call a mercenary to go do a job—he’s gonna go do the job. So, you bring me the paperwork and I’ll go handle it.” Subsequent to be “handled” is Paul Hughes, with a formidable document of 12-1-0. This will likely be a pivotal match in McKee’s profession, however he appears to have the correct strategy. “Believing in yourself is a big key, so don’t underestimate the mind. Don’t underestimate yourself.”
AJ “The Mercenary” McKee will face “Big News” Paul Hughes in an explosive confrontation at PFL Tremendous Fights: Battle of the Giants on October 19, 2024, at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The large card will likely be headlined by Francis Ngannou vs. PFL Heavyweight Champion, Renan Ferreira.
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