Terrance McKinney eyes Paddy Pimblett or one of two legends

LAS VEGAS – When a microphone was put in entrance of his face Saturday at UFC on ESPN 40, Terrance McKinney name-dropped one in all MMA’s fastest-rising stars.

McKinney (13-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) needs Paddy Pimblett subsequent, both in Abu Dhabi or New York, and he let the world comprehend it after his first-round submission of Erick Gonzalez (14-7 MMA, 0-2 UFC) on the UFC Apex.

“I believe it’s good, man,” McKinney mentioned of the callout at his post-fight information convention. “The followers will like it. I believe it’s nearly time for us to conflict. It’s only a matter of time. Even when it’s not this 12 months, it’s going to come back. Me and Paddy will headline a (UFC present). It’s going to be a sellout combat. … I would like the group, man. I’m like Goku. I would like the spirit bomb. Give me that vitality. I would like the group, Dana (White). Come on.”

If the UFC decides to go in a unique course than the Pimblett (19-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC) combat, McKinney has two different names in thoughts – two of essentially the most skilled lightweights on the roster. Their callouts come from a spot of respect, he mentioned.

“Both Jim Miller or Bobby Green. What’s up?” McKinney mentioned. “It could be an honor to combat both of you guys. You guys are legends. … (I like) simply the way in which they carry themselves outdoors of the cage and the way they’re actually concerning the combating and the way they’re nonetheless evolving like true martial artists. Whilst they become old, their sport is all the time nonetheless evolving. That’s one thing I look as much as.

“… I wish to do the respectful route as a result of these guys have been right here. They’ve paved the way in which. I grew up watching them, man. It’d simply be an honor to share the cage with them. I simply wish to take a look at myself as a martial artist. I do know with these guys, I can evolve and study. They’re calculated. They’ve been there, and that’s what I wish to expertise.”

Miller (35-16 MMA, 24-15 UFC) is on a three-fight successful streak with a end in every. After TKOs of promotional debutants Erick Gonzalez and Nikolas Motta, Miller submitted Donald Cerrone at UFC 276 in July.

Inexperienced (29-13-1 MMA, 14-9-1 UFC) competed in and lost his first UFC headliner in February when he stepped in on quick discover to combat Islam Makhachev. The defeat snapped a two-fight streak of wins over Al Iaquinta and Nasrat Haqparast.