Rising MMA star Rhys McKee will make his UFC return this weekend.
The Co Antrim fighter will appear on the massive UFC Vegas 14 card at the UFC Apex.
McKee flew out on Tuesday morning from Dublin to put the fine tuning on preparations for his fight against welterweight Alex Morono.
Here's some more information on Northern Ireland's emerging MMA talent...
Profile
Name : Rhys McKee
Age : 25
Where from : Ballymena, N Ireland
MMA nickname : Skeletor
MMA record: 10-3-1
Rise through the ranks
McKee first stepped into coach Rodney Moore's gym 10 years ago as a raw 14-year-old, but it wasn't long before Moore saw the potential of the youngster.
An encouraging amateur career eventually led to McKee's progression with the BAMMA promotion where he had 10 fights, winning seven with two defeats and a draw.
He then went on to Cage Warriors where he started cementing a name for himself, with three stoppage wins from three outings.
He was due to challenge for a Cage Warriors title in May until the coronavirus pandemic put paid to that show.
But the UFC had already seen enough talent, notably through impressive wins over Hakon Foss in Cork last November. His debut at Cage Warriors 100 also led to the first-round finish of Jefferson George.
Throw in a brilliant win against Perry Goodwin and McKee's reputation was on the rise.
UFC debut
McKee made his eagerly anticipated UFC bow back in July when he was stopped inside a round by the highly-rated Khamzat Chimaev.
It was a gamble for the young Ballymena man as he took the fight at one week's notice.
He also took on a fighter who is being tipped for big things in the sport.
What type of fighter is McKee?
Rhys is a pretty well-rounded athlete but is known for his punch power.
Coach Moore believes McKee's octagon craft and tactical nous makes him a special talent, with his young fighter able to adapt to any situation.
He can grapple and also strike, making him a dangerous opponent.
Who does he face this weekend?
McKee takes on veteran UFC fighter Alex Morono who has a record of 17-6-0-NC. Moreno is coming off the back of a first-round loss to Kalinn Williams in February.
McKee believes he is a level above Moreno but it will be another stern test for the UFC newcomer.
Anything else?
McKee has signed a four-fight deal with the UFC, so this is his second outing in that deal.
He is highly-rated by UFC supremo Dana White who recently described the Northern Ireland man as a "badass".
Hopefully McKee proves that this weekend.
