If Alexander Volkanovski has questions about the level of competition A.J. McKee’s career has been filled with challenges, but the Bellator featherweight champion can help you find an answer.
With both fighters fighting within a week of one another, McKee responded to critics about his UFC resume compared to Volkanovski.
“What the f*** is he talking about?” McKee told The Fighter vs. The Writer . “I was mentioned by this man? Oh yeah, Volkanovski, talk to Uncle Dana [White] ASAP, player. Bring it over to Showtime. Let McKee do his mercenary thing. The audacity of this man.
” Level of competition. Bro, my brother is four years older than me and has better wrestling skills. Get this guy. Is it possible to stop a double leg? This is my only question .”
McKee has never been shy about his belief that he is the best featherweight in the sport regardless of promotion, but that declaration has typically been met with questions about how he would fare against fighters like Volkanovski. He is not ignoring the UFC against Bellator debate, even though it’s possible that the fight will still take place down the line.
“I think people tend to forget that the fighters make the organization, not the organizations make the fighters,” McKee said. “It’s our skill sets as athletes that has got the UFC the representation they have. I feel like my skill set has gotten not only me, but Bellator the recognition that we deserve as a company, me as an individual and I’m looking forward to testing my skills against anyone who claims they’re the best cause at the end of the day, I know I’m the best.”
While the UFC is undoubtedly the largest MMA promotion in the world, McKee discredits the notion that Bellator doesn’t provide him with quality competition. Ultimately, he sees that bias as the reason why Volkanovski or anybody else would question his resume, especially when looking at the way he’s dispatched opponents to this point in his career.
“This is where I feel like my mindset as the fighters making the organization is different from other fighters,” McKee explained. These fighters believe that the organization makes the fighters, and it is evident in McKee’s attitude of “oh well A.J.” McKee has never fought top level competition.’ Bro, a fight is a fight. Have you ever been in a street fight? You’re in a fight. No matter what level of competition, it’s a fight. You can get caught at any point, any moment.
“But for me, how many losses does Volkanovski have? What is the total number of losses this individual has? There’s no one that is undefeated like myself with the finish rate like myself with the mixed martial arts record like myself. 13 finishes, six subs, five knockouts. Bro, look at the stats. 10 finishes in the first round. If Volkanovski is able to come to me looking at his stats even half-way like this, bro will be able to say something. “Just give him that look like you don’t know what your talking about.” You don’t have to give him the look that you think you know .”
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In his current situation with Bellator McKee can’t jump to the UFC in any fight. However, he is confident that the Paramount-owned business would support him if Volkanovski was granted the same permission.
It’s obvious that McKee doesn’t hold his breath for this to happen, but it’s not impossible.
” In all honesty, I’d like to unify the belts,” McKee stated. “Whoever feels like they’re the baddest man, come step up to the plate. This is how it should be done, and this’s what I learned in the boxing world.
“[Volkanovski] may try to exaggerate himself, but he is protected by UFC. I won’t listen to anything from him until he isn’t protected by UFC. I am not protected. I am an open book. If someone feels that they are the best, I say, unify these belts .”
