Not long ago, A.J. McKee was regarded as one of the top featherweights in the MMA world. However, following a disappointing split decision loss to Patricio Pitbull in 2022, he decided to move up to the lightweight division, competing at 155 pounds.
After securing four consecutive victories in his new weight class, McKee faced rising star Paul Hughes in what was effectively a No. 1 contender`s bout. The winner was slated to challenge then-Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov. Unfortunately, McKee fell short, losing via split decision, but he asserts he has no regrets about his performance, especially considering the challenges he was enduring at the time.
“I underwent shoulder surgery right before my last fight,” McKee revealed. “Many weren`t aware of it. I chose not to disclose my injury. Doctors advised me not to compete, but I felt compelled to do what I had to do. I came up a bit short. Now, having completed my recovery, I feel healthy, strong, and better than ever. The shoulder pain is gone, and I`m returning to the featherweight division (145 pounds) to once again demonstrate and remind everyone who the best in this weight class truly is.”
He elaborated on the surgery`s specifics: “I had a torn pec, a torn labrum, a torn bicep, and they also shaved down my AC joint and rotator cuff. So it was a complete shoulder repair. It went very well. I have no aches, no pains, no positions where I feel like my shoulder might give out. It`s completely back to normal.”
While revealing a pre-fight surgery might seem like McKee is making excuses for his loss, he insists that the decision to compete that night was solely his own. And even though he deeply wished to be at 100% health, McKee still gave his utmost effort and narrowly missed victory in a close decision.
“Ultimately, I stepped in there and fought. That`s on me,” McKee stated. “It was a close fight. I can genuinely say I wasn`t myself. I think many people noticed and commented, `A.J. looks drained, he looks out of it.` I was fatigued after the first round and throughout. I gave it my all. But I don`t think people realize how surgeries impact your brain, your body, everything. Literally going into a fight without even completing therapy wasn`t the smartest move, but I can throw punches, and that`s what matters. We made it look good, and it was a great opportunity. I can`t say it was a missed opportunity because I went in there and did what I could. That`s life.”
His loss to Hughes wasn`t the sole reason for McKee`s return to his familiar featherweight division; he always had a feeling he`d eventually go back to 145 pounds. However, this transition was expedited after he missed the opportunity to fight Nurmagomedov for the lightweight title – a matchup he had pursued since his debut in that division. This doesn`t rule out a future return to lightweight, but McKee is confident that at his absolute best, he`s nearly untouchable when competing at featherweight.
“It`s time to make a statement again,” McKee declared. “Ultimately, I love titles. I love fighting through challenges that are meant to break you or set you back. Being just one fight away from the lightweight title (155 pounds), then falling short, merely serves as a reminder that you`re still one of the toughest individuals on the planet. I`m returning to the 145-pound division to run it back and remind the world who the baddest featherweight is. I believe this return was due. After my first loss in the 145-pound division, I came back with fire. Now it`s simply about demonstrating to everyone who the baddest man in the 145-pound division truly is.”
Part of his previous frustration in the featherweight division stemmed from a lack of significant competition, as McKee had effectively defeated most top contenders before his rivalry with Pitbull. Thanks to the PFL-Bellator merger, McKee now has access to a host of fresh opponents, which greatly motivates him. He hopes to secure another championship belt sooner rather than later.
Furthermore, McKee is coming off only the second loss of his career, and he intensely dislikes that feeling. “I lost, but guess what? I`m still the baddest man on the planet in this division,” McKee asserted. “I was one fight away from being the baddest man in the lightweight division. I believe my entire venture into lightweight was to demonstrate to everyone that I am genuinely one of the best fighters on the planet, whether at 145 or 155 pounds. I can hold my own in any division. It`s not about the weight; it`s more about the skill set and the mindset. That was essentially my perspective on the 155-pound division. At 145 pounds, I don`t care who it is; if you`re in front of me, I`m coming to take your head off. Obviously, I suffered that loss, and every time I lose, I return with a vengeance. I`m hungrier than ever. In the featherweight division, I don`t care who my opponent is.”
Oliver Croft