Win over Paul Hughes will get me title shot vs. Nurmagomedov

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – A.J. McKee believes there’s loads driving on his subsequent combat.

The previous Bellator featherweight champion is assured a win over Paul Hughes at Saturday’s PFL: Battle of the Giants will get him a crack on the belt at 155 kilos, a title presently held by Usman Nurmagomedov.

“I feel it’s an thrilling matchup,” McKee instructed MMA Junkie and different reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “The combat everybody has needed for the longest is Usman (Nurmagomedov) and I, so I feel that is the combat to get to that combat. So yeah, with that being stated, I simply need to go deal with enterprise Saturday and onto larger and higher issues.”

McKee (22-1) has been displeased by among the issues Hughes (12-1) has stated forward of their light-weight bout. Though there’s been trash speak on his finish in previous fights, McKee believes his method is vastly totally different than Hughes.

“We’re fully two totally different human beings,” McKee stated. “In my course of and my journey I all the time had respect for Patricio the place I don’t really feel it’s a respect factor. I feel he’s a little bit headstrong and conceited, however that’s my private opinion. However yeah, after we get locked in that cage on Saturday, it’s simply him and I. All of the smack speak and the jokes exit the window.”

Though setting his sight on Nurmagomedov, McKee understands Hughes shouldn’t be a straightforward problem and he’ll require his full consideration this Saturday.

“I can’t look previous Paul Hughes, however on the identical time I do know the place I see myself and what it takes to be there.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.