A.J. McKee – Page 18 – Syndication Server

Derek Campos plans to expose A.J. McKee’s flaws, derail ‘hype train’ at Bellator 236

Derek Campos doesn’t think A.J. McKee is all he’s cracked up to be, and he plans on proving as much at Bellator 236.

[autotag]Derek Campos[/autotag] doesn’t think [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] is all he’s cracked up to be, and he plans on proving as much at Bellator 236.

McKee (15-0 MMA, 15-0 BMMA) has put together a run that’s turned him into one of the top rising stars in the sport. He’s undefeated through his career, and despite 15 bouts, hasn’t seen much in the way of adversity. That was especially true in his opening-round bout in the Bellator featherweight grand prix, which he won against Georgi Karakhanyan in a mere eight seconds.

Campos (20-9 MMA, 9-7 BMMA) isn’t on board with McKee being the next big thing, though. The grizzled veteran specifically picked a matchup with McKee for the quarterfinals of the single-elimination tournament, which continues on Saturday at Bellator 236.

“Without a doubt I believe I am going to be A.J.’s biggest test,” Campos told MMA Junkie. “He’s fought a lot of guys, but who are they? The only two guys that come to mind that he’s fought are Justin Lawrence and Pat Curran. I’m going to be the guy that derails A.J.’s hype train.

“You look at the difference between the other guys he’s fought then Lawrence and Curran. Totally a night-and-day difference. Those guys are superior athletes and fighters and A.J. was able to barely get by with them. He’s got holes in his game, I see weaknesses I’m looking to capitalize on.”

Bellator 236 takes place at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii. The main card, which featured Campos vs. McKee in the co-main event, streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Campos punched his ticket to the tourney’s second round when he beat former Bellator champ Daniel Straus at Bellator 226 in September. Given the structure of the tournament, he was allowed to pick his opponent for the next round, and went with McKee.

It’s a matchup others in the field were seemingly not chomping at the bit to get, but Campos feels he has a strong path to victory.

“I want to grind him out,” Campos said. “I want to take him to deep waters, I want to put him in the most uncomfortable positions I can put him in and I want to see where his heart is. I want to break his will, I want to be the one that beats him and takes away that zero on his record.”

With Campos vs. McKee being the first fight in the second round of the tournament, the winner will likely see a sizable break waiting for the semifinals to commence. 2019 is the first time since 2013 that Campos has fought more than twice in a year, though, so he said he’s not overly concerned about a break.

“There’s potential for a bit of a layoff after this, but I will put it to good use trying to heal up and make good with my body,” Campos said. “But first I plan to go in there and handle business. People are going to count me out here and they’re going to count me out of the rest of the tournament, but that’s what I like. That’s what motivates me. I like to be the underdog and regardless, I’m going to go get that title.”

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Bellator 236 pre-event facts: A.J. McKee out to continue record winning streak

Check out the key facts and figures about Bellator 236, which takes place Saturday with a Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Kate Jackson main event.

The second half of Bellator’s Hawaii doubleheader takes place Saturday with Bellator 236, which goes down at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

A flyweight championship fight headlines the card. Hawaii’s own [autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 9-0 BMMA) looks to defend her belt on home soil for the second consecutive year when she meets top contender [autotag]Kate Jackson[/autotag] (11-3-1 MMA, 3-1 BMMA).

For more on the main card, which also features the first bout in the second round of the organization’s featherweight grand prix, check below for 30 pre-event facts about Bellator 236.

* * * *

Main event

Macfarlane became the inaugural Bellator flyweight champion when she defeated Emily Ducote at Bellator 186 in November 2017.

Macfarlane’s three consecutive Bellator title defenses are tied with Patricio Freire (featherweight) and Julia Budd (women’s featherweight) for most among current champions.

Macfarlane competes in her 10th Bellator flyweight bout, the most appearances in divisional history.

Macfarlane’s nine Bellator victories are most among female fighters in the organization.

Macfarlane’s nine-fight Bellator winning streak is the second longest active streak in the organization behind A.J. McKee (15).

Macfarlane’s nine-fight Bellator winning streak in the longest among female fighters in the organization.

[lawrence-related id=472492,472150]

Macfarlane’s seven stoppage victories in Bellator competition are most among female fighters in the organization.

Macfarlane’s seven stoppage victories in Bellator flyweight competition are most in divisional history.

Macfarlane’s five-fight stoppage streak in Bellator competition is the longest among active fighters in the company.

Macfarlane’s six submission victories in Bellator flyweight competition are most in divisional history.

Jackson’s two-fight Bellator winning streak in flyweight competition is tied for the third longest active streak in the division behind Macfarlane (nine) and Juliana Velasquez (four).

Co-main event

[autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] (15-0 MMA, 15-0 BMMA) competes in his 16th Bellator featherweight bout, tied for the second most appearances in divisional history behind Patricio Freire (20).

McKee’s 15-fight Bellator winning streak is the longest active streak in the company.

McKee’s 15-fight Bellator winning streak is the longest streak in company history.

McKee’s 15-fight Bellator winning streak in featherweight competition is the longest active streak in the division.

McKee’s 15 victories in Bellator competition are tied for third most in company history behind Freire (18) and Michael Chandler (16).

McKee’s 15 victories in Bellator featherweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Freire (17).

[lawrence-related id=472261]

McKee’s 10 stoppage victories in Bellator competition are third most in company history behind Freire (11) and Chandler (11).

McKee’s 10 stoppage victories in Bellator featherweight competition are tied with Freire for most in divisional history.

McKee’s six knockout victories in Bellator featherweight competition are tied with Freire for most in divisional history.

McKee’s eight-second knockout victory at Bellator 228 is the fourth fastest in Bellator history. Three fighters are tied with a seven-second win.

McKee’s four submission victories in Bellator featherweight competition are tied with Freire for most in divisional history.

[autotag]Derek Campos[/autotag] (20-9 MMA, 9-7 BMMA) is 1-1 since he dropped to the featherweight division in December 2018.

Campos has earned six of his nine Bellator victories by decision.

Remaining main card

[autotag]Kiichi Kunimoto[/autotag] (20-8-2 MMA, 0-1 BMMA), 38, is the oldest of the 12 scheduled main card fighters.

Kunimoto is 2-1 since his final UFC appearance in June 2017.

[autotag]Juliana Velasquez[/autotag]’s (9-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) four-fight Bellator winning streak in flyweight competition is the second longest active streak in the division behind champion Macfarlane (nine).

Velasquez’s four victories in Bellator flyweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Macfarlane (nine).

Velasquez’s three stoppage victories in Bellator flyweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Macfarlane (seven).

Velasquez’s two knockout victories in Bellator flyweight competition are tied with Jackson for most in divisional history.

[autotag]Bruna Ellen[/autotag] (5-2 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) has earned four of her five career victories by decision. That includes all three of her Bellator wins.

[autotag]Nainoa Dung[/autotag] (3-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA), 20, is the youngest of the 12 scheduled main card fighters.

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Pursuing $1 million, A.J. McKee says ‘malicious’ side could come out at Bellator 236

“For a million dollars, if you want to come at me crazy, the dog in me will come out.”

HONOLULU – [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] is not taking his Bellator featherweight grand prix quarterfinal matchup against [autotag]Derek Campos[/autotag] lightly, but the undefeated fighter said if he lives up his potential, it should be a whitewash.

The pair meet on Saturday at Bellator 236 in a second-round matchup in the 16-man tournament. Campos (20-9 MMA, 9-7 BMMA) is one of the more experienced opponents McKee (15-0 MMA, 15-0 BMMA) has faced to this point in his career, and in his mind, the most durable, too.

“I’d for sure say he’s probably the toughest opponent that I’ve had – literally speaking, the toughest,” McKee told MMA Junkie. “That man has taken a lot of damage. He’s going to stay in your face and take everything you throw at him, but I don’t think he’s ever been hit as hard as I hit.”

McKee opened his tournament run in spectacular fashion at Bellator 228 in September when he scored a devastating eight-second knockout of Georgi Karakhanyan. He predicted going into that fight that he’d set the promotional record for fastest knockout, and was just a few ticks shy of making it happen. Nevertheless, his point was made.

There’s a strong belief from McKee he can put on a brilliant encore against Campos. He said it really comes down to how his opponent chooses to approach the contest, because McKee has an endless amount of tools in his arsenal, many of which he claims to have not yet shown.

“I was thinking about pulling off some (Jorge) Masvidal (expletive), honestly,” McKee said. “Flying knee him in his face. If that doesn’t work – it just takes me getting in there and seeing. I think he’s going to have a problem with my kicks regardless. If I don’t Masvidal him I’m definitely going to finish him with some kicks. If he wants to get in my face and come at me and be a wild man, I haven’t really had anyone do that yet. There’s another side of me that snaps and the deeper the fight goes the more ferocious I get. If he wants to be the one to bring it out of me he’s just going to put worry into the rest of the guys in the division.

“I haven’t really thrown any elbows, or Jon Jones kicks to the knees. I’ve just been out there fighting, I haven’t really tried to hurt anyone yet. I’m not a malicious person like that and none of these guys get paid enough for me to end their careers like that yet. But for a million dollars, if you want to come at me crazy, the dog in me will come out.”

McKee said he feels his tools are sharper than ever going into Bellator 236, which takes place at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii, and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie. The matchup with Campos will be his third fight since May, although that schedule has kept his focus in tact, he said he’s keen to have a bit of time off.

“After this fight I will get a little break,” McKee said. “The next one won’t be until March or April, so it will be the most time I get off since Hawaii last year. I’m going to hop on a plan, give up my phone, pick a return date then I’m out. (Expletive) everybody. I need a little break. I’ve been grinding. It’s nice to buy jewelry and go shopping and all this stuff, but sometimes you just need a break, you need a vacation to clear your head and that’s pretty much where I’m at right now.”

The upside of McKee being the first to fight in the second round is that, if he wins, he will get a sizable gap between fights going into the semifinals, compared to the others in the field.

McKee said that will only give him more time to get better at his craft. He said he feels he’s the frontrunner to win the entire thing, and while a matchup with current Bellator dual-champ Patricio Freire would seemingly be the biggest final available, McKee said he’s been having different visions.

“The interesting part about that is, when I dream about the end, I dream of choking out Emmanuel Sanchez,” McKee said. “We’ll see if he makes it. I know I got a lot these guys shaking in their boots. I don’t really care. I’m on a mission. I’m trying to better my life all around. Once I have the money and am content and don’t have to worry about anything, I’m literally going to be like Anderson Silva in there having fun and playing with people.”

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Bellator 236: A.J. McKee full pre-fight interview

Bellator 236: Make your predictions for Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Kate Jackson

We want your predictions for Bellator 236 in Hawaii.

We want your predictions for this week’s Bellator 236 “Salute the Troops 2019” event in Hawaii.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Wednesday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the Bellator 236 event staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. Bellator 236 takes place Saturday at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu. The main card streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Make your picks for all six main card fights inside.

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