In my opinion, there’s no one on the Bellator roster that has superstar potential quite like AJ McKee (17-0). From his style inside the cage to his confidence when he speaks, McKee has all the makings of a superstar.
Bellator‘s Scott Coker has raved about their homegrown star. McKee has said that he wants to become the Floyd Mayweather of MMA. So far, he’s ran through everyone who has stood in his way.
McKee made his professional debut with Bellator back in 2015. The 25 year old has fought his entire career under the Bellator banner and the promotion has done a very good job of bringing him along slowly.
They never rushed him seeing the potential that he has. McKee is on the verge of finally reaching the Bellator mountain top as he’s currently in their featherweight Grand Prix finals awaiting the winner of Patricio Pitbull and Emmanuel Sanchez.
While it’s going to be a massive year for McKee inside the Bellator cage, there is a budding storyline outside the cage. McKee recently revealed to MMA Junkie that he only has two fights left on his contract.
That being said, McKee is already looking across the pond at contenders in the UFC. McKee told MMA Junkie, “I’m looking across at the UFC and I’d love to have a field day with some of these guys…I’ve said I’m the Floyd Mayweather of MMA. I’m looking to make that Floyd Mayweather money.”
Will Bellator lose their star in 2021?
The face of Bellator over the last decade was Michael Chandler. Chandler left the promotion in 2020 to sign with the UFC. McKee has arguably the most star potential of anyone that the promotion has ever had and he might walk as well.
If McKee goes 2-0 this year, Bellator is going to have to do everything they can to retain McKee. McKee did allude to the fact that there might be some clauses in his contract that make it difficult to leave should he be the champion, but he didn’t elaborate.
For the sake of argument, if McKee is free to explore free agency after going 2-0 this year, Bellator could be in a lot of trouble. In reality, there is the possibility that McKee could earn more right away with Bellator than the UFC.
Michael Chandler told Brendan Schaub that the UFC wasn’t his highest offer on a per fight basis. However, his desire to compete against the best is why he ultimately signed with the UFC over returning to Bellator.
There is certainly the possibility that Bellator offers more up front in guaranteed money than the UFC for McKee. However, there is no comparison when it comes to the earning potential between the two.
There is no chance that McKee could get to a Conor McGregor level in Bellator. However, he can definitely do that in the UFC. If McKee is free to walk after his contract is up this year, the house favorite would have to be the biggest show in town, the UFC.