AJ McKee

A.J. McKee was born on April 7, 1995, in Long Beach, California. His parents, Antonio Macchi and Michelle George made the boy understand early on that it was important to follow his goal and dreams. His father played a particularly important role in this, as it was he who became for A.J. one of the main inspirations to fight in the future. 

While studying at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, the guy became interested in wrestling, so he decided to join the local wrestling team. Even at a young age, it was noticeable that A.J. really sees sport as more than just a hobby. Visiting Notre Dame and Cerritos College, he continued to develop in various styles of wrestling, until McKee finally settled on MMA. It was mixed martial arts that helped him unfold to the fullest and show that constant training began to pay off. 

Since 2012, A.J. McKee began his amateur career with various tournaments for beginners. Even then the guy showed that his abilities are already far beyond the level of a beginner, which allowed him to end this period of fighting with a score of 7-1. After such success of course A.J. was waiting for a professional league, where he could show the full results of all those workouts for which he spent thousands of hours. Of course, all this way his father, Antonio McKee, coached him, which added even more strength, because every time he tried not to let down not the coach, but the father.  

After officially joining Bellator MMA, A.J. was waiting for the real test. Now his rivals were not beginners, but professional players who have gone through the same difficult path to professional status as the guy himself. The first match took place in 2015. His opponent was Marcos Bonilla. For many, it may have been a surprise, but A.J. finished the match in the first round, proving that a new champion appeared on the MMA scene to look out for. In the spring of the same year, there was a second match against James Barnes. This fight ended in less than 2 minutes with a KO punch from A.J. which once again proved that the guy is ready to win Bellator MMA. The last match in 2015 was a match against J.T. Donaldson, which traditionally ended in the first round from an accurate knee strike. 

As 2015 was a very successful year for A.J., many people hoped that in 2016 he would not fail. It's good to know that, despite AJ's strong opponents, McKee continued to train so as not to disappoint his fans and show that their faith and the faith of his father were not in vain. Of course, such hopes added strength and encouraged even more training. Maybe that's what helped beat all three rivals this year, namely Danilo Belluardo, Cody Walker, and Ray Wood. Of course, it's worth mentioning the fight with Ray Wood, because it was the first time on the professional stage when A.J. McKee faced an almost equal opponent. The match lasted for all 3 rounds, where he won through the decision.  

After finishing his first 2 years in MMA with a score of 6-0 McKee proved to be an athlete who is ready to fight with anyone. In 2017, for the first time, 4 fights were waiting for the fighter, so there was no time to rest. The first of them took place on January 27 against Brandon Phillips. This fight can not be called easy, because both fighters showed the whole arsenal of their abilities, thanks to which they stood against each other all 3 rounds. Although in the end, the victory was on the side of A.J., the fight seemed far from easy.  

The next 3 matches in 2017 were also won by A.J., which finally confirmed his unbeaten status, ending the year with a score of 10-0. In 2018, the athlete held 3 more fights, each of which ended in victory. 2019 was the beginning of something special, namely the participation of A.J. at the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix. As the name implies, the championship determines the featherweight champion. Prior to this title, A.J. has been slowly pursuing this goal since the beginning of his professional career. The first fight, against Georgi Karakhanyan, was probably the most memorable of A.J.'s career, as it ended in 8 seconds! It's hard to believe, but it's really true. Probably none of those who were going to this match expected this. After such a rapid victory, no one had any doubt that A.J. can become a featherweight champion.  

In Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal A.J. faced Derek Campos. This fight was not nearly as easy as the previous one. Both fighters showed that they don't want to retreat or give up. The first 2 rounds of both fighters showed a decent result, but it became clear that A.J. was set to finish the match in the third round. In the end, that's what happened. This victory helped him get one step closer to the title. Realizing that most likely in the semifinal he will have an even stronger opponent, A.J. began to train with even greater devotion. This approach undoubtedly helped him better prepare for the fight with Darrion Caldwell, as the fighter was able to finish the match in the first round.  

Now there was only the final against Patricio Pitbull which took place on July 31, 2021. This match was much more important for A.J. than it seems at first glance. Defeat would mean not only the loss of hope for the championship title but also the loss of unbeatable status in MMA. The stakes were high, so McKee gathered all his strength to win. Perhaps this was the reason for his victory in the first round, which officially made him the Bellator Featherweight Champion.  

Today, looking at his achievements, fights, hard training, and desire for self-improvement have made an ordinary guy who loved the sport into a true champion who is ready to prove again and again that he is worthy of his current title. Continuing to do his favorite thing, he not only proves that he is capable of more but also continues to find new methods by which he can help others reach the same heights.