INGLEWOOD, Calif. –A.J. McKee wasted little time putting the finishing touches on an evening that will be remembered around the McKee household for a long time to come.
Just a couple hours after cornering his 49-year-old father, Antonio McKee, during the latter’s victory in his return from a five-year retirement, the younger McKee (15-0 MMA, 15-0 BMMA) needed just 8 seconds to knock out Georgi Karakhanyan in the opening round of the featherweight grand prix at Bellator 228.
McKee, who got in Karakhanyan’s face as he circled the cage during his entrance, dropped Karakhanyan (28-10-1 MMA, 6-8 BMMA) with a thunderous overhand left to the jaw. It was all academic from there, as McKee landed a few more punches until the bout was waved off.
“I told him I was coming out for Bellator’s fastest knockout,” McKee said. “My teammate Aviv got the fastest submission, and I wanted the fastest knockout. I want that (expletive) belt. Winner, winner chicken dinner baby, let’s go!”
After the bout, there was a skirmish in the crowd, which McKee thought might’ve involved his family members. McKee briefly left the cage before being corralled back in as the scene was calmed down.
Antonio McKee had defeated William Sriyapai via second-round TKO earlier during the evening’s preliminary card.
With his 10th career victory via finish, McKee extended his Bellator record winning streak to 15.
“I’m gonna keep doing it and keep doing it,” McKee said. “I want the mother(expletive) belt.”
Up-to-the-minute Bellator 228 results include:
- A.J. McKee def. Georgi Karakhanyan via knockout (punch) — Round 1, 0:08
- Darrion Caldwell def. Henry Corrales via unanimous decision (29-27, 30-27, 30-27) — featherweight tournament opening round
- Daniel Weichel def. Saul Rogers via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28) — featherweight tournament opening round
- A.J. Agazarm def. Jonathan Quiroz via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Ava Knight def. Shannon Goughary via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 1:46
- Antonio McKee def. William Sriyapai via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 1:17
- Johnny Cisneros def. Mike Jasper via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 4:28
- Leandro Higo def. Shawn Bunch via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 4:34
- Weber Almeida def. Castle Williams via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 0:20
- Joshua Jones def. Dominic Clark via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 2:39
