Las Vegas — Another fight, another first round, sub-one minute finish for lightweight Terrance McKinney at UFC 317.
“T-Wrecks” has never been to the judges in his professional career, and rarely exits the opening round, making him something on an anomaly among modern mixed martial artists. Win or lose, there’s been no decisions in his 24-fight professional career, which has seen him post a record of 17-7.
It took all of 55 seconds to submit Viacheslav “Slava Claus” Borshchev on Saturday, but McKinney was staying grounded after the win. “I’m just not going to get too high on it, because like I tell people, my job’s not done,” he told media outlets including Cageside Press backstage at the T-Mobile Arena. “I didn’t start this just to participate or get a couple wins in the UFC. We’re looking to get the belt. So I just want to get back to it and keep developing myself as a mixed martial artist.”
McKinney noted that staying grounded has something that has come now that he’s a little more experienced in the fight game. “Just knowing like, this is a fight, anything can happen. And just knowing that I’m competing with the highest-level people in the world, so just staying humble and just knowing that it can flip any time, so just making sure I don’t get too high on it.”
Whatever comes next, rest assured Terrance McKinney will be ready. Though these days, the 30-year old needs a full eight weeks for training camp. That has to do with filling out a bit as an adult. The weight cuts are clearly getting harder. “It felt like I did the cinnamon challenge my mouth was so dry,” admitted McKinney.
Asked how he’d describe the feeling of a win like he had on Saturday to a non-fighter, McKinney chose his words carefully, noting that young ears might be listening. “It’s like getting your favorite dessert. You got in trouble all week, you parents come in and still bless you. That’s the best way I can put it.”
Watch the full UFC 317 post-fight press conference with Terrance McKinney above.
