IF YOU’RE AN Irish MMA fan waiting for a new star to emerge, Rhys McKee is a man you should be keeping an eye on.

Ever since he moved up in weight to make his professional debut on short notice against the vastly more experienced John Redmond in September 2015, McKee’s career has been on an upward curve.

The 21-year-old, who trains under respected coach Rodney Moore and alongside the likes of UFC veteran Norman Parke at the Next Generation gym in Ballymena, has put together quite a highlight reel in the space of just 18 months.

Now boasting a 5-0 record as a pro, all of his wins have come inside the distance. McKee goes into his next bout this Friday night on the back of four consecutive knockout victories, the most recent of which earned him the BAMMA Lonsdale lightweight title.

After taking just 58 seconds to upset former world kickboxing champion Tommy McCafferty last September, McKee clinched the belt when the British MMA organisation returned to Dublin in December.

Jai Herbert brought an identical 4-0 record into the bout, but Herbert’s undefeated run ended a minute and 47 seconds into the first round after McKee buckled his legs by landing a ferociously powerful left hand on the Englishman’s chin.

It was a superb performance by McKee, which was made even more admirable by the fact that he had lost his father just 10 weeks earlier.

“It was tough and a lot of the time I was hesitant about whether I wanted to take that fight. But then I found a new hunger inside and thought, if anything, he would have been telling me to go for this belt. There was a new hunger,” McKee told BAMMA.

“Once I stepped in that cage I was not leaving without that belt. It was the last fight that me and my father talked about. I was just a man on a mission that night. You could have put anyone in the cage, Conor McGregor, and I would have been leaving with that belt.

“It was an emotional moment, winning. It was bitter sweet. I’d love to have gone up into the stands and presented the belt to my pops. If anything I felt him on my shoulder. He was in my corner that night, that’s for sure. No one would have touched me that night. My da was watching down on me.”

McKee believes he has gone to another level since quitting his job and devoting himself full-time to mixed martial arts. He’ll aim to take the next step on that journey on Friday night when he defends his belt against Tim Barnett, another undefeated Englishman, at BAMMA 28 in Belfast.

The Antrim native describes it as a dream come true to compete in the SSE Arena, although even at this early stage in his career he’s no stranger to such a big show, having already fought at Dublin’s 3Arena on three occasions. It’s early days for Rhys McKee, but he’s adamant that he has merely scratched the surface of his potential so far.

McKee en route to victory over Jai Herbert. Gary Carr / INPHO Gary Carr / INPHO / INPHO

“I’m only getting started,” he said. “I’m only 1% into my career. The way I look at it, I’m 21, I’m 5-0 already, I’m taking out big names, I’ve took out big names. I’m going to keep going and I’m ever evolving. I don’t think there’s anything anyone can do to stop me. Trust me, I’m a different level.”

He added: “I’ve waited my whole career to compete in this arena. I’m going to enjoy the moment and really soak it all in. For me to step out in that arena is going to be phenomenal. It’s what dreams are made of for us local boys. I get goosebumps every time I think about walking through those doors.

“I’m destined for greatness.”

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