Former Maximum Fighting Championship lightweight title holder Antonio “Mandingo” McKee (25-3-2) will make his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut at UFC 125 putting his 15-fight unbeaten streak on the line against Jacob “Christmats” Volkmann (11-2).
News of the fight surfaced on Saturday on MMAjunkie.com, who noted that both men have only made verbal agreements for the bout.
McKee holds a 15-fight unbeaten streak stretching back to a loss to Karo Parisyan back in February of 2003. Since that time “Mandingo” has won 14 fights and earned one draw. He’s been highly criticized for his style as being a “boring” fighter who isn’t able to finish fights as 11 of those 14 wins have come via decision.
McKee has turned it around in his last two fights by stopping both opponents in the first round. He recently defended his MFC lightweight title against Luciano Azevedo, stopping the Brazilian by cutting his forehead open with an elbow at the MFC 26 event last month. He also submitted Rodrgo Ruiz with a kimura at the March 20th Colision in the Cage event.
Volkmann has reinvented himself in the UFC by dropping down to lightweight after two straight losses to Paulo Thiago at UFC 106 in his debut, and to Martin Kampmann at UFC 108 in January of this year. He was given a third chance by the UFC and dropped to lightweight to face Ronnys Torres at the UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi event in March, winning a split decision.
His last fight had Volkmann winning a unanimous decision against Paul Kelly on August 1st at the UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko event.
UFC 125 is expected to take place on Jan. 1st at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada and could be headlined by a lightweight championship bout between current title holder Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard.