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AJ McKee is not going anywhere. McKee established himself as one of the leading names competing outside of the UFC during an undefeated run to the Bellator featherweight title. In 2021, McKee submitted Patricio Pitbull in under two minutes, a shocking result that moved ‘Mercenary’ to 18-0 in pro MMA. More than just being Bellator’s featherweight champion, the American claimed to be the division’s very best across all promotions. While his focus later drifted to lightweight, McKee made a successful featherweight return under the PFL banner this year. Moving forward, the 30-year-old is set to continue plying his trade in the SmartCage. Former Bellator champion AJ McKee signs a new multi-fight deal with the PFL McKee was among the major names acquired by the Professional Fighters League when the promotion purchased Bellator MMA in late 2023. At the time, the Californian no longer held gold after Pitbull got his revenge on McKee in their rematch. A win over Clay Collard in his PFL debut marked the ex-Bellator champ’s fourth straight win at lightweight, but McKee’s loss to Paul Hughes resulted in his return to 145 pounds. He announced his re-arrival in style at the first PFL Africa card this past July, where McKee defeated Khabib Nurmagomedov’s protege, Akhmed Magomedov. A few months on from his bounce-back win in Cape Town, McKee has put pen to paper on a new multi-fight deal with the PFL. The news was announced by the promotion’s new CEO, John Martin, on social media. AJ McKee insisted he would beat UFC champion Alexander Volkanovski The re-signing mark a blow to those hoping to see McKee cross over to the UFC anytime soon. Talk of ‘Mercenary’ heading to MMA’s leading promotion picked up when he won Bellator gold, especially given the remarks he made about the UFC’s best in his division. In late 2022, McKee reiterated his confidence about a battle with UFC counterpart Alexander Volkanovski, vowing to dominate the Australian legend inside the cage. “I would destroy Volk,” McKee said (h/t Sports Illustrated). “Volk beat a GOAT, he beat [Max] Holloway. I know I’m the best in the world, and that’s the biggest statement I could make. “I could prove that the best fighters in the world aren’t all in the UFC,” he added. With ‘Alexander the Great’ nearing the end of his career and McKee now tied down to the PFL, it seems likely that the American’s claim won’t be tested.
