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AJ McKee’s debut match in Japan was a blast.

The former Bellator Featherweight Champion enjoyed everything about fighting in Japan under the banner of Rizin FF. From the fans and their reception, to the $100,000 samurai suit and outing at the ceremony, everything was a good time for McKee (20-1).

But one of the things he enjoyed most about his unanimous decision victory over Roberto de Souza at Rizin FF 40: Bellator vs. Rizin on New Year’s Eve was some of the freedom he gained, and it was a battle in the United States. was not available.

Under the Rizin FF rule set, kneeling or kicking an opponent on the ground is fair game and illegal under uniform US MMA rules.

“I’ve always been conscious of fighting PRIDE since I was a kid, so I knew the rule set and the mindset,” McKee told MMA Junkie. “And I’ve always been that warrior, always wanted to end the fight. I’ve always dreamed of doing that.

“So when the opportunity came full circle, they called me a ‘mercenary’ dog. I have to use my entire arsenal.” Circumstances don’t allow you to do that, but this was an opportunity to do so and I had to make sure there were some things out there. I kept it in the corner of my head. I was like, “OK, where can I throw my knees?” where can i throw kicks?

But it’s a double-edged sword. McKee admits that while there was a lot of excitement heading into the fight, there was a new layer of tension as he was also sensitive to those new attacks.

“It could go either way and that’s why I say it was a tough fight,” McKee said. That’s just me going there and thinking off the top of my head what to do.When it becomes second-hand nature, that’s when things get really fun.

McKee hopes to return and re-experience Japan in 2023. Still, despite wanting to start over, the Bellator star still wants the US to adopt the Japanese ruleset when it comes to ground attacks. is better than the way it is done in America.

“If anything, you have to adopt the way fights work, a style system like judging,” McKee said. That’s No. 1. It shows who the invaders are… Then we move on to the aggressors, what’s going on?

“If you’re doing submission after submission and you’re trying these things, you’re an aggressor. They judge the whole fight to one. can be put on him, that’s what they like.”