Terrance McKinney is scheduled to fight this month at UFC 283, which serves as the promotion’s return to Brazil, but if the turmoil in Brazil forces the event to be cancelled, McKinney won’t be completely heartbroken.
The highly-touted lightweight up-and-comer is set to face Ismael Bonfim at the UFC’s first pay-per-view event of the year, which takes place Jan. 21 in Rio de Janeiro. Currently, Brazil is in the middle of political chaos after thousands of supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the country’s Congress, Supreme Court, and presidential palace on Sunday following the swearing in of new president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
While there has been no sign of the UFC calling an audible for the event, McKinney says he has a backup plan in his mind if the political situation affects UFC 283.
“There’s a lot of chaos out there,” McKinney said on The MMA Hour.
“[I’m concerned they might cancel the card] a little bit, but I wouldn’t mind because we all know I need to knock that scouser [Paddy Pimblett] out. If that’s what God has in mind, let his will be done.”
Pimblett capped off a 3-0 2022 campaign with a highly controversial decision win over Jared Gordon at UFC 282.
McKinney is a vocal advocate for fighting “The Baddy”, and like many others, believes Gordon deserves to be given a chance.
” McKinney spoke out about Pimblett, saying that he saw the fight and lost. “I think [it was] 29-28 Jared. I’d give [Pimblett] one round, maybe just give him one round. That’s just being honest.
“The way he blocked Jared’s punches with his chin, it was very impressive.”
Pimblett seemed incredibly confident that he would win the fight after his performance. He even stated that he was “coasting” in round three, which he thought was his best result, despite not having won the first two.
McKinney was certainly aware of Pimblett’s resistance after one the most controversial decision victories in recent history.
“Man, that’s crazy. McKinney said that he must have been with Sean O’Malley or some other person. “He must think he’s still undefeated.”
As of now, McKinney has his mind on Bonfim at UFC 283, and plans to take another step towards getting into the rankings of, arguably, the UFC’s toughest division.
Should he be victorious, McKinney feels as if the UFC will give him his wish to face Pimblett next — possibly as early as UFC 286 on March 18.
“I think they get it done after this fight for sure,” McKinney said. “And [I’d be] cutting weight two times, super close together. He has the best shot to beat me.
” I’ve been listening to a lot through the grapevine and it seems like it might be next. It would definitely be in March, and if I don’t get Paddy, we want a ranked opponent in April.
“[It would] just be domination everywhere,” McKinney added. McKinney said, “I watched Jared out-wrestle me, he couldn’t really get any submissions off of him, but I have a larger frame. I’m faster. So yeah, I see him getting killed, a lot of people looking sad — the UFC, Dana sad — me getting a bigger check. After I knock him out, I can see many positive things. Then they’ll have to promote me, and I think I’m the right prospect to invest in.”
Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/1/10/23546923/terrance-mckinney-wouldnt-mind-if-ufc-283-gets-cancelled-due-to-turmoil-in-brazil-ko-paddy-pimblett?rand=96749
