Exclusive: AJ McKee Plots Featherweight Title Run and ‘Champ-Champ’ Dream After Cape Town Comeback

PFL featherweight AJ McKee shared his thoughts on his triumphant return to the division at PFL Cape Town and has vowed to make a title run. McKee believes it's only a matter of time before he captures the PFL featherweight championship and proves he's the top featherweight in the world.

In an exclusive conversation, produced in collaboration with The Game Plan, McKee opened up about his featherweight return, competing at the PFL's first-ever Africa event, and reaffirmed his plans to become a two-division champion.

McKee also provided insight into his training camp, highlighting some adjustments that ensured he had a smooth weight cut.

"I think that people forget that I was originally a [145-pounder]," McKee told SportsBoom.com.

'The Mercenary' has accomplished a lot at featherweight, having won both the Bellator featherweight championship and Bellator featherweight Grand Prix. 

"It was just like, let's go back and remind them who the baddest 145-pounder in the world is again."

For McKee, who also competed in the PFL's inaugural Saudi Arabia card, competing on the promotion's first-ever Africa card held special meaning. 

"Just being the first to be on those big [PFL] cards, being the first to do things and explore new territories, is always awesome."

"It's a milestone that I can look back on," he added.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES FOR FEATHERWEIGHT RETURN

In preparation for his featherweight return, McKee made lifestyle and dietary changes, committing fully to the process of properly cutting weight.

"[I got] back to being a disciplined athlete," McKee said. 

"No more chicken parms, and blueberry and banana pancakes every day." 

"It's just really dialing in the food intake and the water intake, and getting a strict system put together," he explained.

Unlike many fighters who deplete themselves during fight week, McKee said his smarter, more sustainable approach allowed him to continue eating.

"The good thing is I'm able to eat still [during fight week]. I think that's where a lot of guys mess up, they stop eating and they start starving themselves," he explained.

"When you eat the right things and you give your body the right nutrition, your body will naturally do what it's supposed to do." 

ASPIRING TO BECOME TWO-DIVISION PFL CHAMPION

Although McKee is focused on capturing the featherweight championship, he hasn't lost sight of his goal to become a two-division champion. 

He was just one win away from a lightweight title shot against Usman Nurmagomedov before his split decision loss to Paul Hughes stalled those plans. 

"I've always wanted to be a champ-champ, so [featherweight and lightweight] champ," McKee said. 

"Having now previously fought at 155 pounds, I now know how and what I need to do to put on the correct weight."

While his next opponent hasn't been discussed, McKee remains eager to return to the cage.  

McKee still has a path to becoming a two-division champion, but could expedite that by capturing the PFL featherweight championship first. He made it clear that two lightweight fights intrigue him most.

"Usman vs. McKee, that's the fight everybody wants to see. Paul Hughes edged out a win against me; that's great for him, but I would love to fight him again too."