Latest news with #RhysMcKee
USA Today
07-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Rhys McKee after first UFC win: 'It's not job done, it's job started'
LAS VEGAS – Rhys McKee beat Daniel Frunza with a first-round TKO Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 65 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Take a look inside the fight with McKee, whose first UFC win also came with a $50,000 performance bonus. Rhys McKee def. Daniel Frunza Result: Rhys McKee def. Daniel Frunza via TKO (doctor's stoppage) – Round 1, 5:00 Updated records: McKee (14-6-1 MMA, 1-4 UFC), Frunza (9-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) Key stats: McKee knocked Frunza down four times in the first round. McKee on the fight's key moment 'We knew this was a must-win fight. If I lost, I'd probably have my release papers by now. This was a must-win. And guess what the next one is? A must-win – no different. … (the game plan was) vicious – be vicious. Any chance I could hurt him, as many times as I could, pressure, drown him, make him exhausted – and when the chance was there, the finish came. We had to get it done via damage tonight, but win No. 14 – 14th finish.' McKee on getting his first UFC win 'It's a relief. Four times, I've been here in the UFC and four times I've had to get the bus home early. I've always wanted to come to this (post-fight news conference) table, so to be here is a relief. But it's not job done – it's job started. '… To be honest, I thought my UFC opportunity had slipped away. When I got the shot at No. 5, I thought 'This is my golden ticket. This is the time when it all changes' I just believed in myself. My coaches believed in me on the days I didn't believe in myself.' McKee on what he wants next '(I spent) two weeks in Las Vegas. I brought my wife, brought my daughter … spent two weeks in the (UFC Performance Institute). There ain't nothing tough about it. It's a hell of a life. Like we said this week, if you want this stuff, you have to win the fight. We won the fight. I would love my next fight to be in Vegas. I absolutely love it. The PI is fantastic.' 'This win has been 14 years in the making.' Rhys McKee (@RhysMcKee) notches his first win inside the Octagon with an impressive performance over Daniel Frunza at #UFCVegas105 Prelim Results ➡️ — UFC News (@UFCNews) April 6, 2025 To hear more from McKee, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 65. Gallery UFC on ESPN 65: Best photos from Las Vegas View 132 photos
BBC News
07-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
UFC win '15 years in the making'
Northern Ireland's Rhys McKee believes he has "finally arrived" in the UFC after recording his first win in the organisation on losing his opening four bouts in the UFC, the 29-year-old earned a 'Performance of the Night' accolade with an impressive stoppage win over Romania's Daniel Frunza."I probably never truly believed how good I was until this fight camp," McKee said after the bout."I have literally woken up every day dreaming about how I'm gonna finish this fight. I just knew I was going to win. It was in my heart and soul."The Ballymena fighter dropped Frunza multiple times throughout the opening round as he dominated the welterweight Romanian opponent made it to the bell at the end of the first but such was the volume of blows landed by McKee, the doctor made the decision to call the fight off."Rhys McKee has finally arrived to the UFC," the man nicknamed 'Skeletor' added after the victory."It was a detour over a few years but this win has been 14 or 15 years in the making and we got it done in true, Rhys McKee fight fashion."Being 0-4 in the UFC, many people wouldn't have had the confidence I had, and the guts I had to walk forward the way I was. There's still going to be a lot of people underestimate me, but bring them forward."McKee's last outing before Saturday's win was a split decision defeat to Chidi Njokuani in March 2024 but with victory now under his belt, the 29-year-old wants to keep active and is targeting more fights in 2025."I want three fights this year. To be honest, I don't even know what month it is so I'll sit back with the team and we'll develop more and work out when we're going next."
USA Today
06-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 65 video: Rhys McKee blows up Daniel Frunza's face for doctor's stoppage TKO
It took Rhys McKee five tries over the course of nearly five years and two stints with the promotion, but he finally got his first octagon win Saturday at UFC on ESPN 65. The welterweight from Northern Ireland put on a striking clinic against Daniel Frunza (9-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in their preliminary card bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. After four knockdowns by McKee (14-6-1 MMA, 1-4 UFC) that badly swelled the eye and split the lip of his opponent, the doctor waved off the fight after the first round for the TKO (via X): It was a moment of disappointment for Frunza, who was courageous throughout the damage and wanted to fight on. But for McKee, he was proud to finally get his hand raised. 'It feels normal. It feels damn good. I'm here to stay,' McKee said in his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. 'This is just the first one. I have to thank the (UFC) for giving me the opportunity, because I'll turn this thing around and be in the top 15.' Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 65 results include: For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 65.
