A.J. McKee is set to face rising prospect Paul Hughes at the PFL: Battle of the Giants event, while eagerly anticipating a potential future fight with Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov, a matchup both he and the MMA community have long desired.
A.J. McKee’s got a big task on Saturday, but if things pan out, he’s finally getting the fight he’s been itching for over a year.
At PFL: Battle of the Giants, McKee squares off against rising star Paul Hughes in the first pay-per-view main card bout. But let’s be real—everyone’s buzzing about a potential clash with Bellator lightweight champ Usman Nurmagomedov. An injury sidelined McKee from the Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix, putting that dream on hold. Yet, a chat with Usman’s cousin and coach, Khabib Nurmagomedov, brought some exciting news.
“Usman vs. McKee—that’s the fight everyone wants,” McKee told MMA Fighting. “It seems like that’s next on the docket. Honestly, what else is there to make?
“I was at [Usman’s] fight in San Diego when Khabib walked by and said ‘see you in Dubai.’ I’m thinking, alright, see you there! Looks like both sides are eager to make this happen. No other fight makes sense right now.”
Since jumping to lightweight, McKee’s been unstoppable—4-0 with a lightning-fast finish over PFL favorite Clay Collard back in February.
Now he’s up against Hughes, a fresh face who joined PFL as a free agent earlier this year and has just one fight under his belt. Going from beating a journeyman like Bobby King to facing arguably the top contender in lightweight? That’s a huge leap.
McKee can’t read Hughes’ mind but plans to show him there’s levels to this game come Saturday.
“He hasn’t faced real pressure yet,” McKee remarked. “He’s been breezing through guys. What happens when things get tough? I’m not backing down. I’ll be in his face nonstop. We’ll see how he handles it when things aren’t going his way.”
“I remember wanting to go toe-to-toe with the best. It’s like Fast and the Furious — too soon Junior. That’s my line for this one.”
Truth is, McKee didn’t really know Hughes before this matchup—he leaves scouting to his dad and trainer, Antonio McKee.
Maybe Hughes is the next big thing, but McKee’s firm—he won’t be anyone’s stepping stone.
“I don’t focus much on opponents,” McKee admitted. “My dad handles videos and game plans. For me, it’s just names on a list. I’m here to take them out one by one. Paul Hughes is tough; I can’t deny that. But I’ll show him I’m built different.”
“I’ve been where he is—I get that hungry feeling,” he reflected. “My first vet was Pat Curran. So yeah, I know that drive. I’m older but still strong. I’ll do what I do best—win by any means necessary.”