PFL fighter AJ McKee has revealed he has a retirement timeline in place, stating he will walk away from the sport unless he begins earning what he described as an abnormal amount of money. McKee made the comments ahead of PFL San Diego.
AJ McKee has issued a stark warning to PFL, revealing he has a concrete retirement timeline in place and will walk away from the sport unless his pay increases to what he called an abnormal amount of money. McKee made the comments publicly ahead of PFL San Diego.
McKee, nicknamed "Mercenary," brings a perfect 8-0-0 record into his future bouts and stands at five-foot-ten (178 cm). The unbeaten fighter has built his reputation as a relentless grappler, averaging an extraordinary 11.01 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 11 submission attempts per 15 minutes — numbers that place him among the most dangerous grapplers in the sport. He also contributes on the feet, landing 2.75 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- McKee's undefeated record makes him one of PFL's most marketable assets, raising the stakes of any contract standoff
- A departure would represent a significant loss for the promotion, which has invested in McKee as a flagship name
- The situation puts pressure on PFL to address fighter compensation before losing a top-tier unbeaten talent
- McKee's comments ahead of a live event suggest the dispute is escalating rather than quietly moving toward resolution
The timing of the statement is notable. By going public immediately before PFL San Diego, McKee appears to be applying deliberate pressure on the promotion rather than handling negotiations behind closed doors. Whether PFL moves to meet his demands or allows the standoff to continue remains to be seen, but the fighter has made his position clear: perform and get paid accordingly, or step away from competition entirely.
