With the UFC looking for a short-notice opponent to face the hugely-impressive Khamzat Chimaev at UFC on ESPN 14, the promotion turned to a tried and trusted source of fighting talent for a suitable matchup.
As a result, Cage Warriors welterweight contender Rhys McKee is all set to take on Chimaev on Saturday night at Yas Island as the Northern Irishman gets set for a whirlwind few days as he signs the paperwork, packs his bags and goes through the rigorous testing and quarantine stages required before he can make his octagon debut.
McKee was already set for a big fight, with his 63-second win over Hakon Foss at Cage Warriors 110 last November putting him in line for a shot at the promotion’s vacant 170-pound title following the departure of champ Ross Houston and interim titleholder Nicolas Dalby to Bellator and the UFC respectively.
But when Cage Warriors president Graham Boylan video-called McKee, it wasn’t to conduct a social media Q&A with the boss, as the 24-year-old thought.
Instead, he was told he’d be stepping up on short notice to make his UFC debut. His reaction, which started with stunned silence, then disbelief, then pure excitement, was priceless as he became the 96th Cage Warriors fighter to be signed by the UFC.
Check out “Skeletor’s” reaction to his UFC call-up via the video above.
