RHYS MCKEE's first stint in the UFC was a short-lived one – and he's determined to prove he belongs in the promotion second time around.<\/p>\n

The Northern Irishman was given his marching orders after just TWO<\/strong> fights in mixed martial arts' top promotion back in 2020.<\/p>\n

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McKee was thrown to the wolves against welterweight and now middleweight title contender Khamzat Chimaev before given a difficult dust-up against crafty veteran Alex Morono.<\/p>\n

The UFC brass decided they'd seen enough after his defeat to Morono and sent him packing, which prompted a return to Cage Warriors.<\/p>\n

It wasn't long before he rediscovered his form of old and captured and defended the Cage Warriors 170lb strap, which paved the way for a second UFC call-up.<\/p>\n

And he's vowed to showcase what he's really capable of in his second octagon debut on Saturday night at UFC Paris.<\/p>\n

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'Skeletor' told SunSport: "Obviously, Chimaev [at the time] was the unknown. But I'm going to tell you now, I beat Morono nine times out of ten. And that one time he beat me.<\/p>\n

"What's happened since and how I've come back has shown I can overturn these results and I can overturn these fights.<\/p>\n

"The skills I've developed and the fights that I've had have shown that I'm coming back a better athlete."<\/p>\n

Despite there being absolutely no shame in losing to Chimaev and Morono, getting axed from the UFC was a huge psychological blow to McKee.<\/p>\n

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"It was hard but I feel like that was the lesson I needed," McKee admitted. "And I feel like it happened for that exact reason.<\/p>\n

"I was young, I was 23, I'm in the UFC and it's everything I've ever wanted. But I was still making bad decisions.<\/p>\n

"When I fought Morono, I challenge anybody in the world to go and find another fight where I've performed the same way I did in that Morono fight.<\/p>\n

"It shows everything was off as I've never fought like that again."<\/p>\n

The pain of coming up short on the world stage and being released has well and truly stoked a fire in the Ballymena bruiser.<\/p>\n

He said: "I understand that I was thrown to the wolves and at the time I was. But out of it has grown a wolf."<\/p>\n

Standing between McKee and his first octagon triumph is Switzerland<\/span>'s Ange Loosa – who has gone 1-1 in his two outings in the promotion.<\/p>\n

As he does with all of his opponents, the soft-spoken and cerebral McKee has the utmost respect for' The Last Ninja'.<\/p>\n

"He's done some good work, he's durable, he's explosive and he's good at what he's good at, "Mckee said. "He doesn't have any major holes in his game.<\/p>\n

"But what I do know for a fact is I'm better and I'm more dangerous and have more skills. <\/p>\n

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"I'm very good at winning fights.<\/p>\n

"I Plan A doesn't work, I always have a Plan B, C, D, E, F right the way down to Z. <\/p>\n

"I know I have so many tools to win this fight.<\/p>\n

"Whether it's a knockout or submission or decision, I really don't care. I'm coming there to win."<\/p>\n

McKee will be under enormous pressure to prove the UFC matchmakers were right to give him a second chance at the big time.<\/p>\n

But he welcomes the high stakes and the possibility of inspiring kids in Northern Ireland to continue following their dreams in the face of adversity.<\/p>\n

He said: "I feel like this is my chance to shine. I know what you mean with the sense of the word pressure and I do get that.<\/p>\n

"But I relish pressure. If there is no pressure, then nothing matters. Without pressure, why do we all do it?<\/p>\n

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"I'm really excited to show all the kids in Ireland that should it not go right the first time, you get up and go again.<\/p>\n

"You can do everything you and better."<\/p>\n

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