AJ McKee is set to face Spike Carlyle at Bellator 286, and will attempt to bounce back following a title loss to Patricio Pitbull at Bellator 277 in April. McKee, who was undefeated heading into that fight, appeared on The MMA Hour to discuss how the defeat led to a “complete mental breakdown”.
“Honestly, I went through a complete mental meltdown. It was a full mental breakdown. I was checked out, I was going through it, and I would say it settled in the second week after the fight. That’s when I was off the deep end, but like always, through trials and tribulations of life, I found myself right back in the gym and I found the fuel to the fire.
AJ McKee Suffered “Complete Mental Breakdown” After Pitbull Loss
Physically, I was there; mentally, I was not. I just stayed home because I knew what was coming, so I just wanted to stay home in my safe place until I could gather my thoughts and build myself back to being stable.
But it was a legit mental breakdown. When you’re a perfectionist, and you know you’re a perfectionist, you know you’re the best, and certain things in your life are OCD to where it’s like, ‘This is this, this is that, things need to be this way’ — if something [is out of place] you’re going to notice [if you’re like that]. For me, not being able to make an adjustment to something like that, it was a lot. But now I’m faster, stronger, better.”
McKee did not expect that loss to be so hard on him. “I didn’t think it would happen, I was just kind of wishing it was more on my expense.
It wasn’t [at] my expense with the moments of the fight, but afterwards it went to the judges, and that’s when it was no longer in my control. Looking into that fourth and fifth round, instead of, ‘Hey, let’s secure a takedown and win the round, I know he can’t stop my takedown,’ but just being able to say, ‘Screw it, go finish him, like I normally do.’
I don’t know, it was just a different motivation through the whole tournament — four for four, finish everybody — I was motivated to finish everybody, and I finished everybody, three in the first round, one in the third. It’s just a little different.”
Will AJ McKee bounce back from his first career defeat? Let us know your prediction for Bellator 286 in the comments.
