‘We’ll See’: Dana White Open To Negotiate With AJ McKee To Compete In UFC
UFC President Dana White seems to be extending his hand to Bellator star AJ McKee to negotiate with the organization.
In a recent interview, White hinted at being open for the new champion to potentially face some UFC fighters. But the history between White and the fighter dates back to over a decade ago.
McKee revealed in a 2020 interview that he met the organization president 13 years prior. He told White that he plans to become world champion, and the UFC president told him he’d buy him lunch if it happened.
White told UFC Arabia on Tuesday that he didn’t remember his promise, but intends to keep his word anyways.
I asked Dana White about A.J. McKee’s bet that he will become world champion and how White would owe him lunch if he fulfilled his goal.
Full interview for @UFCarabia coming soon. pic.twitter.com/gTCE0Dj3Az
— Farah Hannoun (@Farah_Hannoun) August 3, 2021
McKee (18-0, 18-0 BMMA) headlined Bellator 263 and publicly dethroned Patricio Freire, the nearly two-year featherweight champion Saturday night. He dropped Freire at the beginning of the first round with a high kick, finishing him with a standing guillotine choke.
The 26-year-old fighter expressed the desire of sharing the cage with top featherweights of the UFC. He has a contract with Bellator MMA and has only competed for there at the professional level.
“I don’t know. We’ll see. When his contract’s up, he’ll have to call, and we’ll see what we can do,” White said in a separate interview.