A.J. McKee loves a good challenge.
Facing an opponent with 35 professional MMA bouts and 18 pro boxing matches, the Bellator lightweight is willing to go toe to toe.
“I want to beat him at his game,” McKee said.
Antonio McKee understands why his son is looking forward to duking it out with former title challenger Clay Collard at Professional Fighters League’s superfight event, pitting the best from PFL and Bellator against each other Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“I think that comes down to ego,” the father and lifelong coach said.
And while he’s leery of the idea, Antonio McKee is confident in his son’s skills – as long as A.J. can accept the consequences of trading and banging with a heavy hitter.
“I think we need to do it smart. We’re in a sport to hurt people,” Antonio McKee said. “So, you know, we’ll see where he’s at when he’s on his feet. I think I think no matter where he’s at, this is a great fight for him. I think he finishes him.”
Of course, it would be foolish for A.J. McKee to discard all the weaponry in his ever-growing toolbox against the 30-year-old Collard (24-11). In his nearly nine-year career, all with Bellator, McKee (21-1) has six victories by knockout and six via submission.
But since moving up to lightweight in October 2022, the former featherweight champion has won all three of his fights via unanimous decision.
Antonio McKee says it’s because his 5-foot-10 son is not a true 155-pounder.
“I think he just likes to eat whatever he wants. So he lacks a little discipline, he likes to eat whatever he wants,” he said. “But his skills, he can fight all the way up to 170 because he has the skill sets.”
A.J. McKee, 28, says the challenge is eating well and maintaining his weight. Other lightweights will routinely walk around north of 180 pounds while he is struggling to get past 170.
Once they’re in the cage, the Lakewood resident says he notices the added weight – versus fighting…
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