PFL News: AJ McKee on Last Win, Opponent ‘Hit List,' & Bellator GOAT (Exclusive)
AJ McKee continues to make a name for himself.
At 28 years old, the homegrown Bellator talent can say he's won a championship, fought across the world and now in multiple promotions with his latest stop being under the PFL banner.
Former featherweight champ McKee made quick work of Clay Collard at the PFL vs. Bellator event on Feb. 24 and his Bellator compatriots almost pulled off a repeat clean sweep over their PFL rivals with the exception being Renan Ferreira KO'ing Ryan Bader in 21 seconds.
Still though, McKee is proud of their cross-promotional charge.
"In normal Bellator stuff, we go to unmarked territory, and we take it over. 5-1, those are great odds to me," McKee told SI's MMA Knockout. "We did our thing as a team, as individuals, and I think that was the big key was just going out there and represent Bellator well and representing each other well. So, we were all very pleased with the performances."
The Bellator veteran says he "couldn't be more happy with the organization" following the PFL's purchase of the promotion in November, citing even more eyeballs are on him now that he's fighting on ESPN+.
McKee recaps his victory over a tough contender in Clay Collard, who he submitted in a little more than a minute with a triangle-armbar.
"That was the game plan. It was go out there, fight with him a little bit on the feet, and then take him down and choke him out. I didn't know how soon– but after our first couple exchanges, he didn't budge at all. So, I was like, 'Oh, this dude's got a chin. At that point, you gotta weigh things out and if it ain't matching up, there's no point in sticking around to find out what the repercussions of it not matching up are."
As for who 'The Mercenary' will face in his next test remains unknown. "Honestly, I'm not quite sure," McKee said of what's next for him. "That's kind of, that's a question for the organization. I'm just a contract killer. You call me, tell me to take the person out, and that's what I'm gonna go do."
One thing is certain though, McKee wants to cross off some names en route to becoming a two-division champion, whether that's in the PFL season format or Bellator's new 'Champion Series'.
"It could be 145, 155 [lbs]. But the year 2024, I'm definitely going to become a champion again this year no matter the weight class. I've always said I wanted to be champ-champ.
"For 155, the belt's vacant at PFL. Usman [Nurmagomedov] was the champ. I don't know what's going on with that whole situation. That's still a great fight, I feel the people wanna see. So, that's a potential fight at 155. Clay Collard retired the champ [Olivier Aubin Mercier], so I feel next fight should be for the title."
With 2023 PFL Lightweight Champion Olivier Aubin-Mercier retired after last season and Bellator champ Usman Nurmagomedov out indefinitely, McKee wouldn't mind setting his sights on the featherweight division and maybe even settling a score in the process.
"Let me go fight for that [lightweight] title. If not, 145 is Patricio Pitbull, and [Jesus] Pinedo. Something happened with Pinedo, he pulled out, not quite sure what. So, Pitbull's defending his belt in Bellator with [Jeremy] Kennedy. I don't wanna wait around and see what happens between those two. Let me go fight Pinedo.
"I'll beat Pinedo up and then if Patricio still wants a crack at the baddest, man, we got a trilogy to finish off anyways. That's something the fans wanna see. It's still a very big fight. So, there's just so many options."
McKee has yet to fight 2023 PFL Featherweight Champion Jesus Pinedo, but he has fought Patricio Pitbull twice before in Bellator. The rivals are currently 1-1 with a trilogy still to be completed.
Like Pitbull, McKee is considered one of the best fighters to ever grace the Bellator cage. Eddie Alvarez, Michael Chandler, Ben Askren are among them, but McKee believes he stands above the rest with 21 victories in the promotion with 13 of those being stoppages.
"I don't wanna toot my own horn, but for damn sure me," McKee said, when asked who was the Bellator GOAT. "If you look at the stats, who's got more finishes? Who's got more wins? Who's got a better stat record than myself? Nobody, bro.
"Only person in the world that's competing with me is Jon Jones. When we go stat for stat, Jon Jones is the only one. They're gonna give the respect in due time. And if they don't, I don't really give a s*** because I'm cashing checks, and I'm kicking ass, taking names, and I can't be beat.
Speaking of Jon Jones, AJ McKee recalls his experience of meeting the UFC's all-time great.
"I actually got to meet Jon Jones. Super great guy, bro," McKee continued. "He wanted to take a picture with me, and I was like, 'No, bro. I'm taking a picture with you. Like, you're the bigger version of me, bro. So like we're neck-and-neck. It is very respectful, very great legend. I was honored to meet him and he's a beast."
AJ McKee (left) and Jon Jones (right) at the the PFL vs. Bellator event. Photo courtesy of McKee.