A.J. McKee overcame pre-fight illness to advance in grand prix at Bellator 236

HONOLULU – Fight week wasn’t particularly smooth for A.J. McKee ahead of Bellator 236. He battled illness, but managed to overcome it and get a crucial victory,

Just days prior to his scheduled fight against Derek Campos on Saturday, McKee (16-0 MMA, 16-0 BMMA) was fighting a bug that was causing him to get sick. He pushed through it, though, and still successfully made weight before showing up on fight night and pulling off a slick third-round submission.

Although McKee doesn’t think pulling out of any fight is acceptable, this one in particular was never an option. With a spot in the semifinals of the Bellator featherweight grand prix on the line, McKee knew following through was his only option.

“Before the opening morning workout I actually ran six miles to the mountain and back,” McKee told reporters, including MMA Junkie, post-fight at Bellator 236. “I threw up four times on the run, I think I had slight food poisoning. I don’t know. I knew I just needed to get it out of my system whatever it was. It was nothing really. It’s a mindset. I’m going to fight regardless. I’m a warrior, I’m always going to fight.”

The pre-fight illness didn’t seem to hinder McKee’s performance against Campos (20-10 MMA, 9-8 BMMA) in the co-main event matchup at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Hawaii. He was in control for the majority of the fight, and in the third round locked in a tight armbar in the midst of a scramble.

McKee appeared to be quite proud of his effort when reflecting after the fight. He came in hoping to show some new tools in his arsenal, and feels he achieved that goal.

“I’m playing and it’s fun,” McKee said. “I never come out and do the same thing. That’s where I just continue to evolve. Nobody knows what to expect or train for with me. One second I’ll take you down, then I’m trying to throw elbows, then I’m trying to throw spinning stuff. I’m just always trying to be different, stand out.”

McKee certainly does stand out. His 16th consecutive victory extended the longest winning streak in Bellator history, and his finish of Campos put him into a tie for the most finishes in company history.

Additionally, McKee became the first man to advance to the semifinals of Bellator’s 145-pound grand prix. He will fight the winner of Darrion Caldwell vs. Adam Borics, who will meet in a quarterfinal bout at Bellator 238 on Jan. 25 in Inglewood, Calif.

McKee said he’s indifferent about who comes out of that matchup, and he feels he hold the advantage over both men.

“I could give a (expletive) less, honestly,” McKee said. “I pay attention to my side. The belt’s irrelevant at that point because I’ve still got to fight until I get it. My next concern, if I had a concern about anything, is on Caldwell and Borics. I’m comfortable off my back, so Caldwell, go ahead, you can take me down. Striking-wise, I’m probably one of the most elite strikers in the game – not just Bellator.”