'Full circle' moment for McKee in Lohore fight

McKee will make his PFL debut against Alex Lahore in the co-main event on 16 April [Getty Images]

Ballymena's Rhys McKee says it will be a "full circle" moment when he faces Alex Lohore in his PFL debut on Thursday at Belfast's SSE Arena.

The 30-year-old welterweight signed a multi-fight contract with the PFL in March and is the co-main event for the Belfast bill.

His opponent is 36-year-old Lohore, who McKee previously wanted to fight during his time with the BAMMA promotion and while that failed to materialise, he is delighted that they will now face off in his first Belfast fight since 2022.

"He's a great opponent, he's been around the world. We always had words back then and we wanted to fight, so it feels full circle coming back again. He'll finally get the punch in the mouth he deserved back then," McKee told BBC Sport NI's Michael Markey.

"He's a tough fight, someone there to win, has loads of experience, but when have I never not wanted a test."

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PFL could offer McKee 'arenas with big night feels'

McKee, whose record stands at 14 wins - all by stoppage - with seven defeats and one draw, was released by the UFC for the second time in his career following defeat by Axel Sola last September.

He follows friend and teammate at Fight Academy Ireland Paul Hughes in making the move to PFL and praised the County Derryman for putting the promotion on the map and taking the road less travelled to the top rather than aiming for UFC glory.

"I itched that itch in my career, I reached the UFC twice, but Paul Hughes was the first to go off the grain and go a different path," he added.

"He was a ground breaker, going down a path we weren't meant to go per say but looking at what he's done recognition wise and how rewarded he is, it's hard to see the UFC as the only answer when you see Paul getting everything and more than he ever wanted from the sport.

"For me, the landscape has changed since I was a 15-year-old, there are different options; you can cut your teeth in Europe and make far superior money than the UFC which is a global organisation. My advice now to a young fighter would be be respected and know your worth.

"Coming out of the UFC, I wanted one word and that was excitement. I wanted a contract that was worthy of me and arenas that still had big night feels and PFL could offer me all of those, so it was very easy."

Hughes was set to headline the PFL event in Belfast against Jay Jay Wilson but was forced to withdraw due to a knee injury.

While McKee said he was "gutted" that Hughes will miss out, he hopes he can step up and deliver for the Belfast crowd.

"It's hard, but he needs to look after his injuries and I need to use the silver lining for me which is becoming co-main event of this huge show.

"I get to be the local fighter and put the show on the fans deserve. I feel I'm the man for that job."