Rhys McKee | UFC Return, Irish Takeover 2.0 & UFC Paris | Energized Show

Summary

What is up and welcome to The Energized Show! On this episode FAI's Rhys McKee joins us to discuss his UFC Return, The Irish UFC takeover & UFC Paris. Like, Comment, Subscribe & Hit the notification bell for more Energized Shows! Youtube : Energized Show Instagram…

Transcript (youtube_captions)

foreign [Applause] okay what's going on guys welcome to brand new episode of energize brought to you by Fortune Irish doubt Ross are you intoxicated or something it's your Tuesday guess man today we are joined by UFC welterweight he is the one and only Reese Skeletor McKee we're back baby we're back Rhys how good does it feel yeah you know it's good to it's good to hear that sentence again and the signs just right it sounds like what you know I've probably been hearing for the last three years but to hear other people saying it and I've been able to write it it makes a lot of sense so it's good to hear will overboard we love a book congratulations I'm sure everyone tuned in right now is over the moon for you because once we saw that announcement like just people just love it absolutely love it yeah it's so nice people have been people have been so supportive you know I think everybody has a wee bit of uh of my story and and their own story so you know if people can find a bit of inspiration on that then then so be it Reese we obviously want you to tell us exactly how this came about but I have to take a guess first was it when you held abroad you see flip-flop and call there Dana White did that was that it was that the winner yeah I think I think the delay has been they're probably laughing at that video soon um you know Rodney's um Rodney's daughter actually calls it the the famous slider now so um but he still wears them so they're not that famous I thought they'd be framed or something but um yeah it was funny it was like I you know I actually had a lot of ideas and under that fight of stuff I could have done to maybe make something viral and none of them happened and then I remember just talking with Dan Hardy and see in the slider and he's like you know what let's cut a little a little video here yeah absolutely yeah it was iconic now I've never seen it before I've never seen someone uh you know get this loader out that's where it needs to be next it was uh it was iconic reason I don't think anyone else could have pulled it off either so uh that's class and Rodney said he's not framed those until you get his next pair so uh he'll affraying them after Paris yeah I don't think you'll see it again ever no I don't I don't think so I don't think so Rhys tell us this where were you when you found out the news and who broke the news to you thought the UFC contract is in the inbox yeah so it's another it's always a big question isn't it it's like um so I was home and I was training that night and it was about half ten and Graham text and Graham's setting up a facility in uh in California and he was asking my opinion on some equipment and he said do you mind if I give you a quick call because obviously with the equipment at the gym at home as well so I find it a bit funny and it was a bit late at night it was like almost one of the months where I said I'll catch you in the morning um but I just jumped on the clock it was a quick video call but he didn't masturbate he cut the cheese pretty quick and he said I just need to pick your brain of a few things and I was like yeah of course if I can help I will um and then he just said are you free September 2nd and um you know I just said you're very sneaky um that's the second time he's got you in a row wasn't it and you know what like this one was probably even like even Stranger than the first um but it's like anytime I talk to Graham if I'm being totally honest anytime you speak to Graham on a video call but like we do video call quite a bit when we talk um so anytime you're in a video call you're kind of hopeful but I've had five or six video calls regret and that haven't ended in this way so you can't you know you want it but you never expect it and then uh was Rebecca home at the time when when this video called took place yeah so again we were just like we're watching we're actually watching Love Island before bed and um the typical of uh carry on in the McKee household yeah typically even on the key high school for sure so Rebecca was beside me so that was nice because the first time I got signed and Rebecca was away at work and stuff and it was nice like it's nice to let someone else um who that who that call means as much to hear it live you know because everybody wants to know what the call is like but you know Rebecca get first grasp of what it was but it was yeah it was a nice moment it was it was definitely definitely cool oh absolutely and did you go train that night well it was half ten so the problem what the problem was I couldn't sleep so it was about half five in the morning before I fell asleep um just like so excited so buzzing you want to tell the world but you can't tell anyone even when it was half ten I couldn't get through to a few people until until the morning so um but yeah it's nice like that them first 12 hours and I actually said this to Keelan yesterday like give him a message it's like to enjoy the moment now because once the whole world knows it's no longer just your own news it's everybody's um so it was nice to enjoy it by myself for a few hours as well yeah absolutely run around the house with the belt and the energized glasses on and then to the flip-flop guards yeah that's just yeah it's crazy what goes through your head you know and how much and I even said the support last night like I feel I fell for ages like nothing was happening um until everything happened and everything changed and then you can't even remember the time that you were frustrated because it's all night just changed what's the difference between this time and last time when you get that call like did you have any different feelings like yeah like this time this time was like the time when the time when the call met the first time I didn't even think like I felt like it didn't really feel how would you say it's hard to describe it like I didn't really even think about having the fight if that makes sense I didn't even think about everything to do with it all I was like oh I'm in the EFC now like this is you know amazing but I didn't really even think about the fight where this time it's like oh now you gotta compete in the UFC again it's very different like I'm here to fight and compete now yeah you know the first time maybe it was a wee bit like as a 24 year old a bit more naive you know I just I was happy to be there and be involved we're not like I don't care about being there and being involved like I'm there to win and move into the top one in the world like that's where I want to be yeah it's it's one of those things where like after after you beat Jimmy and Dublin you're like you almost had like that phone call should have been instantaneous at times you know what I mean you're I was like I was like what more can that fell actually do and then you know we're looking at the cage roster and I was like after those last two wins Burlington and walhead it was like there's no one else for that fella to actually beat I was like it has to happen and like I think the suspense and the delay it was actually I don't know you tell us but was it getting to a make or break point where you were like right am I gonna have to do another cage Warriors fight or like am I hanging on like what what was the time frame on like what was the what was the waiting period because it was probably getting close to booking something else yeah so me and pop we're we're kind of talking about actually the week before and we were looking it was actually darn sure fought and I can't remember who he who oh I beat that guy um and there was like he ever he ever like you know maybe came out top there I would have maybe went for a middleweight fight to try and make a bit of noise um so we were looking at different different options none of it seemed that attractive you know um I never looked at other promotions still like never had anything serious you know I knew they were there in the sidelines and they were they were um asking questions but I knew if anything I would have went and done one more cage Warriors and if it didn't happen to end you know I maybe would have had a different different headspace but I always knew it was going to happen I just I was getting to the stage where I thought it might have to be one more yeah that's the thing like where when was Dublin Dublin was was it April April yeah so like April 25th yeah yeah never July so like he there was that Capital when I was like when's the call coming when's the call coming you know I mean but look I suppose April September turn around now now they are fighting in Paris France like that's lovely and are you happy that you're probably in Paris France because I suppose it's not as far to travel for some of your family and friends took it over the fight as opposed to if you're in Vegas like or Foreigner more expensive a more difficult journey to make yeah like the soon there's so many reasons why this fight plays into my hands it's like you know we're talking you're traveling to Europe if you know I believe there's a very little time different if any time difference you know it's a three-hour flight it's you know very like very like home and so there's not there's not a lot of like change in Parts uh with anything you know you're not traveling halfway across the world so like I I'm delighted I'm fighting the powers to be honest um we're actually in Paris at the start of the year after the Jimmy fight which is which makes it all even stranger like we were in Paris you know celebrating the the Jimmy fight and then if you told me there and then that that would have been where I made my Debbie and two or three months like you know you just probably wouldn't have believed it but lo and behold here we are so everything comes around full circle and it's you know what it's probably the perfect place to to make the Debbie you know I think ever since you actually uh put the ring on on the thing of Rebecca there it's all more please McKee you know uh you know you're back in the UFC Bambino on the way you know I mean like you know I mean once you put a ring on my finger it's all come to fruition so shout out to Rebecca yeah shout out to Rebecca it's all coming together you know what it is like it's um it's one of them things it's like you know once once one thing in your life goes so right like it just takes a huge knock on effect so um you know but all this stuff has been in the works for a long time and I think even like people keep saying why is Irish MMA taking off and it's it's not taking off it's been in the work for the last 12 13 14 years but night 2023 and 2022 maybe is is the year it all came up came a float welcome back welcome back to the show this time around what type of order is the UC getting from Reese McKee this time around yeah it's um it's totally different is and of course I'm going to say this but like my Approach is is so different you know I took the I took a long break after leaving the ESC the first time I developed I upskilled and I learned a lot of patience which is probably my main asset right now is my patience and composure and you know I've just I'm just choking cheese I actually watched a bit of the Murano fight um yesterday and I laughed at it because it's so different like it's just not who I am uh but I think what people are going to see is like that maturity is a fighter and you know just someone who who's who's with them where they're meant to be no not a young kid in a candy shop with you know big white eyes it's this is very much my workplace now and that's going to be very different that's going to be a show a very different side of me you forgot to mention underworld champions yeah of course so I've like I've learned a lot you know I again it's been pretty much three years um from that last stint so you know a lot changes in three years yeah absolutely and like I even think uh looking from when you made it UFC debut last time to your last fight like even your frame has changed so much like you you've grown into your body even more and like I feel like all your skills are so much sharper and from watching um your next opponent uh and I was watching um I just saw Reese's boxing there's going to be too much for this guy um like I just felt like your fundamentals are so sharp and I feel like this is obviously a far better first fight back in the UFC than uh being like right before Hamza on like two days no let's get in there don't worry about it uh I suppose this time like you're coming in and you know you're getting plenty of time to prepare um I can't wait to see the best recently show up on the night yeah like this is a nice fight like you know um Ange is like you know he's he's from a very good gym and he's um he's well versed he's an exclusive athlete and stuff but um I think when this comes down to the bread and butter fundamentals of um of martial arts and just better and you know that combined with a bit of maturity and a bit of um uh a bit of patience makes me a nightmare fight for him uh this is a very similar fight to the Murano fight when I came in with the wrong approach and but done with the right approach you're able to smashed Murano um so like it's all about approach here but people will see on on September 2nd and it's going to be a very fun night something else we have to look forward to as well is actually being fans in the arena Rhys like how many people are you expecting to bring over the Paris France well to be let's call the speed of speed and this one that's it's hard because the tickets are so hard one they're hard to get your hands on and if you do get your hands on them they're a bomb so um you know I'd like to I would love to say 100 150 people but uh I'm not I'm not sure I'm really not sure um I know there will be I'm gonna say at least 20 people with me um but who knows it's just not as accessible as as we would have wished maybe but it was fun sometimes the tickets Fall Away the tickets fall and it's not as it's not as uh it's not like you have your sort of uh section like you might do in cage Warriors it's sad like everyone wants to go see UFC especially in Paris it's only I think it's second show there so it's gonna be uh it's going to be a packdale house it's going to be an absolute extra card especially with a few Irish maybe one more to go on there speaking of maybe one more to go obviously uh Anne's trains in there kill cliff in May and uh good friend here is Paul Hughes there's a stint over there recently uh was it was there a spy in the camp Paul was there did you see him we paid Paul so much money that I don't know if I'll be able to fill my training camp this time because we paid Paul to go over to Keller Cliff just for an inside look um so all my money spent no you know what it's killer Cliff such a such a stable of Fighters and I don't believe Paul one knows who he is or two synonym or free talk to him that and that just shows you know the size of this team like it's like all these all these teams in the world which effectively they're all the best teams in the world but there's so many people it's um yeah there's so many people that's what else can I say Paul didn't see him I don't believe him in various I think half the world Waits on the roster I know to uh yeah 100 so um yeah Paul had no inside's good for us yeah the thing is Ken lock round is now after being signed as well he's going to be on the card as well and the Virgin Media sport is going to be shown on the the void live as well on July sorry September 2nd so I mean like the the Bulls is going to be unbelievable look at the hype Sean is after getting all this week for UFC London as well um Rhys can you proceed a UC Dublin that happened in the near future yeah I think it's one of them things it's like we've all been hopeful for it we've all wanted it but we're no real grounds to make the noise um where now we have you know and it was a four is it five five people signed with a few more to go and it will not just be at the point where you have to realize that the UFC signed the Irish for this card so I 100 would imagine and I know March or April of next year would be we could be lying in Dublin so um be unbelievable be so good and uh also also Reese who in your opinion should be the next person saw him by the UFC yes it's this is an easy answer that it has to be Paul Hughes it's like you know like Paul Hughes is just he's just the guy he's next he's the final piece of this Irish puzzle for right now like you know there's obviously a few more people coming tonight are coming soon but if there's anybody to be saying that has to be Paul um the level is the the patience he's had you know he's a very deserving kid and he's one of them people that's like you know Paul was one of the very first few people I run after I got the news and you know just such a motivational guy but a real guy that's as happy for everybody as a B for himself so the man deserves the reward and it's not the reward for being a good person the reward for being someone that could go in there and challenge the top five straight away and I was like I was like well don't worry it's your destiny to get there like you will get there because like the the way the way yourself and Kailyn got signed and so short succession like obviously his phone was blowing up as well being like when's it your turn when's your term and that's obviously gonna be hard for me I mean to be getting those messages not like the contract from the door yeah like I was with Paul last night when I found out and stuff and like again he was delighted for Keon too but it's um like I said um as I said to you nothing for me was happening there was nothing moving until I got signed and then everything changes and before you know it you can't remember the time you're frustrated and that'll be the same with him like when he gets signed he'll not remember the nights you know he's thinking when am I getting sacked like you don't like as humans we don't remember that stuff so it will come and you know it just at the minute it doesn't make sense but it will very soon yeah avoid I would definitely like to see Paul in is Paul versus Morgan Sharia in Paris as well on the card I think that would be a fight to make do you see one pollen do you see one Sharia in I think that is the fight to make so uh Liam Shannon Pat McAllister uh that is definitely a fight we want to see foreign [Applause] which is the first ever UFC Dublin so I think it's like next July I know they normally do London in July but I think it's the perfect time to do a Dublin Fortnight and I think it'll be an absolutely epic occasion you'd have maybe doing like Crow park or something you have McGregor next year like I think it's very very feasible to get the job done yeah absolutely like yeah imagine croak you're crazy would you be available for that reason are they available I'm sure I'll make it worked absolutely love it uh like obviously we're going to distract things because you have to go train and kick some ass um but Reese look it's always brilliant talking to you when that news came out like we were over the moon for you after seeing your like The Comeback like having having Jan doing the face-offs promoting your fights like uh like hanging around with you like it's like you're the first ever person to have been let go but you see but you've now shown everyone who's like building their careers now that you're asking back into UFC and there is always only one person who can do it on that is yourself you'll be put in Irish ma history for doing that uh Ross like these glasses and the flip-flop obviously yeah uh for for all those non-aware MMA fans it's going to be uh you almost forgot moment come September 2nd reason he's coming back and he's going to make a statement I can feel it in my bones uh and you know one thing you're guaranteed in life death taxes and Reese McKee finishing fights we need that in a t-shirt for for Paris yeah yeah I love it and I'll take zero percent commission that's nice even better well Reese's right now you want to say because like loads of people are tuned in now like I mean senior comeback now is gonna definitely inspire people a feeling there's going to be a lot of talk about this in the build up to your Void on on September 2nd it will be on Virgin Media Sports I think the whole country is going to be supporting you so uh we'll give you the final words before yeah I'll come in I think I think it's nice and you've said a lot of nice words that I probably couldn't talk but like everybody in Irish MMA has played their part you know from from myself obviously from the gyms till um yourselves have played a big role you know if we don't have these platforms to talk and voice their opinions on you know the days we're excited or the days were grumpy then you know we couldn't make the noise to the EFC or whatever promotion people end up to so you know if if anything like you know we we all we as Fighters should fight users well for giving us that that place so um I appreciate all the support you to give me this is number one rust is away board Reese uh unbelievably Delaware both on a professional and personal level you're the man we love you we always have an object can't wait to see you back in that UFC here it's going to be unbelievable and representing all your friends family and Country it's going to be absolutely Whopper night and if you haven't watched this make sure to like share subscribe and as always saying show up the Irish and so seeing you guys a couple of times show me the views with Dylan and that I I saw so keep going keep up the good work guys