RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – A.J. McKee believes there’s a lot riding on his next fight.

The former Bellator featherweight champion is confident a win over Paul Hughes at Saturday’s PFL: Battle of the Giants will get him a crack at the belt at 155 pounds, a title currently held by Usman Nurmagomedov.

“I think it’s an exciting matchup,” McKee told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “The fight everyone has wanted for the longest is Usman (Nurmagomedov) and I, so I think this is the fight to get to that fight. So yeah, with that being said, I just have to go handle business Saturday and onto bigger and better things.”

McKee (22-1) has been displeased by some of the things Hughes (12-1) has said ahead of their lightweight bout. Although there’s been trash talk on his end in past fights, McKee believes his approach is vastly different than Hughes.

“We’re completely two different human beings,” McKee said. “In my process and my journey I always had respect for Patricio where I don’t feel it’s a respect thing. I think he’s a little headstrong and arrogant, but that’s my personal opinion. But yeah, when we get locked in that cage on Saturday, it’s just him and I. All the smack talk and the jokes go out the window.”

Although setting his sight on Nurmagomedov, McKee understands Hughes is not an easy challenge and he’ll require his full attention this Saturday.

“I can’t look past Paul Hughes, but at the same time I know where I see myself and what it takes to be there.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.

LAS VEGAS – Anthony Hernandez is like many MMA fans.

He doesn’t know what to expect out of opponent Michel Pereira come fight night, nor does it bother him.

Despite being one of the highest-ranked middleweights in the world, Hernandez (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is largely unplugged from the MMA scene. He has a low-key social media presence and doesn’t research the odds or other divisional happenings.

Sure, he knows Pereira (31-11 MMA, 9-2 UFC) does backflips and leaps off the cage. But Hernandez isn’t interested in predicting the unpredictable.

“I don’t know, and I really respectfully don’t care,” Hernandez told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a UFC Fight Night 245 pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “I’m just going to kind of go out there and do what I do. I really don’t give a f*ck what he has to offer because I’m focused on what I’m going to do great. That’s as simple as that. That’s kind of how I keep things mentally for myself.”

Hernandez laid out a very simplistic read of the fight – the things he felt he knew for sure. The difference, he thinks, lies in the cardio.

“It’s hard to say because Pereira in the third round, respectfully, he looks like sh*t,” Hernandez said. “He’s wild as f*ck. He can catch you and knock you the f*ck out. So it’s not like, ‘Oh sh*t.’ But I think that if everything goes right and my hands are up, I think I finish him just because of the way he finishes and the way I don’t gas. Stylistically, seeing it on paper is perfect for me. But now, it’s just go do it.”

“… He’s a hard guy to f*cking judge. I don’t even think he knows what he’s doing. I think he even mentioned that he kind of sees it and goes. But yeah, for sure. It’s like jogging and sprinting. He’s sprinting all the time when he’s doing all that crazy sh*t. That sh*t takes hella energy. His last two fights he came out calm and collected, so I’d expect him to come out calm and collected. That would definitely help his gas tank, for sure.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 245.

Celtic have been fined approximately £16,700 for the “lighting of fireworks” during their recent Champions League defeat away to Borussia Dortmund.

And the Scottish Premiership champions could face a one-match ban on away fans at a Uefa club match if there is another incidence in the next two years.

Uefa said, external its control, ethics and disciplinary body had decided: “To fine Celtic FC €20,000 and to ban Celtic FC from selling tickets to its away supporters for a total of one (1) UEFA club competition match, for lighting of fireworks.

“Said ban from selling tickets to its away supporters is suspended for a probationary period of two (2) years, starting from the date of the present decision.”

Celtic opened their league phase with a 5-1 home win over Slovan Bratislava before losing 7-1 in Germany.

UFC veteran and BKFC fighter Mike Perry has issued an apology following a DUI arrest in Florida.

On Oct. 12, Perry was arrested by Clermont Police Department in Clermont, Fla. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and refusing to sign a citation requiring a court appearance. During the interaction with police, Perry was verbally aggressive, as he used homophobic slurs when addressing officers.

“They know exactly who I am,” Perry said during the traffic stop, captured on police bodycam footage. “They’re f*cking mad. F*ck these f*ggots! Couple of f*ggots! They’re a couple of f*ggots, forget about it!”

Wednesday, Perry issued his first statement since the incident. In the words posted to X, Perry expressed regret for his actions and apologized to the police department. He also vowed to “ensure this type of behavior never happens again.”

Read Perry’s full statement below (via X):

I am writing this to express my deepest apologies for the inappropriate and disrespectful language I used towards members of the Clermont police department. I understand that my words were hurtful and offensive, and I sincerely regret my actions.

I recognize the important and often difficult work that law enforcement officers do to keep our community safe, and I truly respect the dedication and sacrifice that comes with the job. My behavior was inexcusable, and I take full responsibility for my actions.

Please know that this incident does not reflect how I truly feel about the [Police Department/Officers], and I will make every effort to ensure this type of behavior never happens again. I hope you can accept my apology as sincere, and I will be more mindful and respectful in the future.
Thank you for your time and consideration.

Perry, 33, is to appear in court on Oct. 30.

“Platinum” Perry has been dubbed BKFC’s “King of Violence” after defeating Eddie Alvarez last December. He then defeated fellow UFC veteran Thiago Alves in April, which led to a traditional gloved boxing match against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in July. Perry lost that fight by stoppage in Round 6.

Perry does not currently have a fight scheduled.

LAS VEGAS – Although he’s fighting in the main event, Michel Pereira doesn’t think he’ll need the full 25 minutes to get his hand raised at UFC Fight Night 245.

Pereira (31-11 MMA, 9-2 UFC), a rising middleweight contender, takes on Anthony Hernandez in the main event of Saturday’s UFC event at the UFC Apex. This is an interesting bout, as Pereira has been stopping his opposition and Hernandez (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) hasn’t been finished in four years. Pereira is confident he can end Hernandez’s run.

“I got very prepared, I’m very ready for this to go five rounds, but I do not think this fight is going to go five rounds,” Pereira told reporters through an interpreter at the UFC Fight Night 245 media day on Wednesday. “Let’s wait and see what happens, but I do not believe this fight is going five rounds.”

In most betting houses, Hernandez enters UFC Fight Night 245 as a slight favorite. Pereira, who’s riding an eight-fight winning streak, is more than fine with being the underdog in this contest and thinks “Fluffy” has done enough to deserve to be favored ahead of their bout.

“I don’t pay attention to that because I do think he’s coming off four or five straight wins in the division, so I understand why people would say that,” Pereira said. “It’s the merit to his credit, much respect to him. I’m accomplishing that, and I’m making my own accomplishments right now. That’s what I’m going to get to in this division as well.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 245.