AJ McKee is one of the best featherweights in the world and he’s going to Japan this month in hopes of further proving that point. McKee, the reigning PFL champion will take on RIZIN champion Razhabali Shaydullaev in a special unification bout promoted by the Japanese powerhouse promotion. I sat down with McKee to discuss the fight, his past bouts and how he decided to stop smoking marijuana. Let’s talk MMA.

The Oath He Broke and Giving Up Weed

McKee says he broke an oath and went back to smoking marijuana. He broke down his journey on that front.

“Oh yeah,” McKee started. “I made a prayer, and it’s crazy because I prayed and I was like, I just want to knock people out again. And I had a dream that I did it, and I knew the combination, how to do it, everything. And I was praying, and I was like, I’ll stop smoking weed. But I stopped smoking weed just enough in time so that I had a full clean camp, not, I’m actually going to stop smoking weed. So come full circle. And then even after that, I stopped smoking for a few years, and then I went back.”

McKee says he believes a lot of people use weed to self medicate and to run away from their issues.

“My generation, a lot of people are starting to see the side effects that it’s been causing,” McKee said. “So health is wealth, man. And anybody that’s smoking weed, looking for a crutch, I just tell them, bro, face the problem. Whatever you’re fighting internally, just deal with it, because weed makes it to where you don’t have to deal with it.”

Breaking Down Razhabali Shaydullaev

McKee gave a specific and transparent take on how he plans to beat Shaydullaev.

“I think I assess what he does, but I don’t really fixate on how he does it,” McKee said. “I know he likes to throw overhand right into a takedown, he’ll try to elevate you off that single leg, or he’ll run you to the cage and finish the takedown there. I think the guys that he’s fighting don’t have elite wrestling, so they’re not really able to neutralize his wrestling.”

So does this wind up being a fight that is settled on the feet or is it a grappling contest.

“Striking-wise, I think honestly this is a fight where I’m going to have to make him strike, because we’re not in a cage,” McKee said. “He’s not going to be able to run me against the cage and finish the takedown. He’s going to have to have a clean takedown in the middle of the cage, which I don’t know if he can just take me down if I can. So I think keeping him at bay, keep the range, pick him apart, and make him bring the fight. He’s got to bring the fight. He’s a lot smaller, so he’s got to cover double the distance and he’s got to get inside and take the takedown.”

MVP, Netflix and Where the Sport is Going

I asked McKee about his thoughts when he heard about the PFL-MVP merger. He was excited.

“I think it was awesome,” McKee said. “I was able to witness the MVP event with Netflix, and I’m just sitting at the arena and I’m thinking, this thing has so much potential. The fact that they’re flexing and stunting the way that they are, you bring in AJ McKee on a card like that, in LA, you let me hustle and sell tickets and do what I do. That’s all they’re missing. They got the money, that’s all they’re missing. They got the names, they got the platform, they got everything.”

McKee’s honesty is refreshing. He’s one of the most transparent athletes in a sport packed with characters. I also spoke with McKee about being in a position to cement himself as the top African-American fighter in the sport.

“Definitely, I think my character," McKee said. "It’s the mercenary, you know what I mean. I’m quiet. I’m calm. I’m cool. I dress really well. I speak clearly, articulately. I’m not some trash talker who’s going to get all in your face, but if you do bring that out of me, I do have it. But for the most part, I treat everybody with respect and I’m going to be respected.”

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McKee has a chance to make a statement in Japan on multiple fronts. Can he come back to America with two belts? We’ll be waiting to see.