Rhys McKee accepts this weekend's UFC bout with Daniel Frunza in Las Vegas is 'do or die' for the Northern Irelund man.
The Ballymena native is in his second stint with the world's biggest MMA organisation, and while he has picked up wins and championships everywhere he has been, his UFC record is 0-4 across two separate spells.
Three wins on the spin outside the UFC earned the Ballymena man a ticket back to the show, but decision defeats to Ange Loosa (Unanimous) and Chidi Njokuani (Split) has the 29-year-old once again staring down the barrel as he bids to win his first UFC fight at the fifth time of asking.
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"Let's call a spade a spade, a loss is devastating for my career," said McKee, who takes on the dangerous Daniel Frunza in Las Vegas this weekend.
"There's only one option and that's win. How good would it be? It would be everything to win.
"But there is no 'if', it has to be a win. There's no consideration of anything else but a win. That's my mindset, and that's crucially important."
While this weekend's bout is under the UFC banner, there will be less glitz and glam than more casual fans are used to. There will be no packed out arena, no famous celebrities in the crowd, no 'oohs' and 'ahs' as big strikes land, that is because this fight is taking place in the much more sedate surroundings of the UFC Apex.
The Apex is essentially a TV studio with an octagon in it. The only people in attendance for the event will be the respective coaches and entourage of each fighter, as well as UFC executives and commission officials.
When is the fight?
Saturday April 5 in Las Vegas. McKee fights on the prelim card which begins at 11pm UK time. His bout is the fourth fight of that prelim card. The main fight card starts at 2am UK time.
Where is the fight?
The fight is being held in the UFC Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Where can I watch?
The card will air live on TNT Sports in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights. Discovery+ will also air the action in the UK. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the event live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass.
Full fight card
Main card (subject to change)
Josh Emmett vs Lerone Murphy (featherweight)
Pat Sabatini vs Joanderson Brito (featherweight)
Cortavious Romious vs Changho Lee (bantamweight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Martin Buday (heavyweight)
Brad Tavares vs Gerald Meerschaert (middleweight)
Torrez Finney vs Robert Valentin (middleweight)
Prelims
Ode Osbourne vs Luis Gurule (flyweight)
Davey Grant vs Daniel Santos (bantamweight)
Diana Belbita vs Dione Barbosa (women’s flyweight)
Rhys McKee vs Daniel Frunza (welterweight)
Loma Lookboonmee vs Istela Nunes (women’s strawweight)
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