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ANTONIO MCKEE IN A "PUT
UP OR SHUT UP" BOUT THIS FRIDAY ON HDNET
 MFC
Lightweight Champion Has Promised to Retire If He Can't Finish His
Opponent - Friday, 10:00 p.m. ET
(PRESS RELEASE) -- With a professional record of 24-3-2 and a 14
fight undefeated streak that stretches back to 2003, Antonio
"Mandingo" McKee should be known as one of the best lightweights in
the world. Unfortunately, instead of dominating, the word that comes
to mind most often to describe McKee is "boring'" due to the fact
that 18 of his wins have come by decision.
After finishing one opponent in the last nine years and coming off
an uninspired decision victory against Carlo Prater in October,
McKee has promised to retire if his bout with Luciano Azevedo for
the MFC Lightweight title at MFC 26: Retribution on Friday doesn't
deliver.
HDNet will air the event LIVE beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET.
"When this fight is over, if it's not what the fans want to see, I'm
done," said McKee. "I've taken everything the critics have thrown at
me for the last five years. Now I'm going to shut them all up."
His opponent Azevedo (16-8) is no push over - he handed WEC
Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo his only defeat.
Michael "The Voice" Schiavello, who will call Friday night's action
live on HDNet thinks McKee may have talked himself into a tough
predicament.
"He's putting a lot of pressure on himself to change a successful
style. That could open holes which someone like Azevedo can expose,"
said Schiavello. "To his credit, he did win his last fight in March
by first round submission, albeit on a small promotion, but once
Azevedo starts to apply pressure and land some strikes, I wonder if
Antonio won't resort to what he knows best and that's getting the
top position and doing the old lay 'n' pray."
"Antonio must be losing it," said HDNet Fights CEO Andrew Simon.
"First he calls out Bas Rutten and Guy Mezger. Then he says he will
retire if he can't finish the only man to defeat Jose Aldo? Antonio
has been promising HDNet exciting fights for years - truthfully I
think it's up to his opponent to make him change his style - but I
am excited to see the outcome of this unique stipulation Antonio has
put on himself."
The night's co-main event promises to deliver a finish when Canada's
Ryan Ford, who boasts 11 finishes in 12 career wins, takes on
Douglas Lima, who brings in a 57% submission ratio.
"There's no way this one goes the distance," says Schiavello. "Ford
is on an absolute tear, having finished his last four opponents
collectively in just over seven minutes! For those watching live on
HDNet trust me when I say this is not the fight you want to be
taking a bathroom break!"
Also on the card for HDNet's LIVE broadcast are Mike Nickels vs.
Dwayne Lewis (11-5), Tom Watson (12-3) vs. Jesse Taylor (15-6),
David Heath (15-6) vs. Solomon Hutcherson (11-6), and Richie
Hightower (8-4) vs. Curtis Demarce (8-7).
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