UFC president Dana White is confident Rhys McKee will prove he’s a “badass” despite losing in one round to rising star Khamzat Chimaev in Dubai.
The Irish MMA fighter lost his recent UFC debut to an impressive Chimaev who took his professional record to 8-0 with a dominant display on Fight Island 3.
It was a steep learning curve for McKee, but White is confident there’s more to come from the 23-year-old who fights out of Ballymena in County Antrim.
Asked by reporters if he would continue to match Chimaev “against lower ranked guys”, White described McKee as "a badass".
He said: “That guy is legit. Don’t let the way the fight played out fool you.
“That kid was very good and he (Chimaev) made him look not very good because he’s at a whole another level. This dude is real.”
On an Instagram Q&A, McKee - who was given only six days notice to fight Chimaev - said he is relishing a return to fighting on a UFC bill and doesn’t mind who he is put in the octagon with.
“I’ve no one in mind,” he said. “I don’t care. I’m just excited to get back in there with full preparation.”
Asked if a full training camp would have benefited him ahead of Fight Island 3, he replied: “Of course. Not taking anything away, but it would have. But I’ve no excuses. I was game and there when asked.
“Making my first walk was amazing but also totally normal. I didn’t feel any jitters. It was a sense of being exactly where I’ve wanted to be for so long.”
