“What’s better than a 20-second knockout? Can’t complain about that,” Terrance McKinney told us coming out of UFC Vegas 81 just over 10 days ago.
Lightweight McKinney (15-6) got the job done in a big way at the event, where he knocked out Brendan Martin, a short-notice newcomer, with a knee and punches. Though if McKinney had his way, those punches wouldn’t have been necessary.
“I wish they would have called it right when he dropped. I didn’t even want to hit him again, I was like ‘it’s over,'” McKinney recalled. “The ref made me have to catch a body, made me commit a 187.”
The aftermath may have bore a slight resemblance to a crime scene, with Martin down and out. McKinney would no doubt like to keep the ball rolling now. With the Martin KO, he’s got two straight wins under his belt after all.
“I’m looking at all the cards, it’s looking like they’re pretty booked so I’m assuming I fight in January or February,” he noted. “T-Wrecks” has big plans for 2024, however. “Next year’s the start of a five-fight win streak. Not counting this two-fight win streak, but I’m saying I’m about to go on another five-fight win streak. I think I’m in the right spot, I think I’m with the right people, and as you’re gonna see I’m not just a wild animal. I know when I’ve hurt someone, I know when they’re finished, my striking’s really coming to another level.”
If it works out, McKinney would even be down for a trip to Canada, with UFC 297 set for Toronto in January. “I wouldn’t mind fighting Chris Duncan there.”
McKinney is among the younger generation of UFC fighters, who have grown up with social media and tend to use it to their advantage.
“It’s huge, especially if you have a little hiccup. It’s not about just fighting anymore, it’s about being sellable,” McKinney said of the importance of having an accessible online profile. “And right now my interactions this month is like 3.5 million and I’ve barely been in the UFC. So I’m valuable. The goal is to make yourself valuable. The more media presence you have, for the rookies coming up, the better. Make yourself look irreplaceable, and that’s what I’ve been doing.”
While Terrance McKinney has big plans for 2024, he has even bigger plans for his future overall. We asked if he believes he’ll be champion someday. “Without a shadow of a doubt,” he replied.
Watch our full interview with UFC Vegas 81 winner Terrance McKinney above.
