Sports

‘It’s not job done, it’s job began’

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LAS VEGAS – Rhys McKee beat Daniel Frunza with a first-round TKO Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 65 on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Have a look contained in the fight with McKee, whose first UFC win also got here with a $50,000 performance bonus.

Rhys McKee def. Daniel Frunza

Result: Rhys McKee def. Daniel Frunza via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 1, 5:00
Updated records: McKee (14-6-1 MMA, 1-4 UFC), Frunza (9-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Key stats: McKee knocked Frunza down 4 times in the primary round.

McKee on the fight’s key moment

“We knew this was a must-win fight. If I lost, I’d probably have my release papers by now. This was a must-win. And guess what the following one is? A must-win – no different. … (the sport plan was) vicious – be vicious. Any likelihood I could hurt him, as repeatedly as I could, pressure, drown him, make him exhausted – and when the possibility was there, the finish got here. We needed to get it done via damage tonight, but win No. 14 – 14th finish.”

McKee on getting his first UFC win

“It’s a relief. 4 times, I’ve been here within the UFC and 4 times I’ve needed to get the bus home early. I’ve all the time wanted to return to this (post-fight news conference) table, so to be here’s a relief. However it’s not job done – it’s job began.

“… To be honest, I assumed my UFC opportunity had slipped away. After I got the shot at No. 5, I assumed ‘That is my golden ticket. That is the time when all of it changes’ I just believed in myself. My coaches believed in me on the times I didn’t imagine in myself.”

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 05: (L-R) Rhys McKee of Northern Ireland punches Daniel Frunza of Romania of their welterweight fight in the course of the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on April 05, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

McKee on what he wants next

“(I spent) two weeks in Las Vegas. I brought my wife, brought my daughter … spent two weeks within the (UFC Performance Institute). There ain’t nothing tough about it. It’s a hell of a life. Like we said this week, should you want these items, you’ve to win the fight. We won the fight. I’d love my next fight to be in Vegas. I absolutely like it. The PI is implausible.”

To listen to more from McKee, take a look at the video of the complete post-fight interview above.

For more on the cardboard, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 65.

You should definitely visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to debate this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.


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