IFL’s Jerry Milani introduces the Sabres’ new welterweight star, Antonio McKee, and I ask him if he’s ready now to answer some questions. “All right, let’s kick it,” says McKee. Already the mood Antonio sets has a feel more like the Rolling Stones’ Voodoo Lounge setting than an MMA pre-fight conference. This is going to be a lot of fun.

And although internet stats say he was born in Las Vegas, Antonio disputes this: “No, no, man; I was born in the jungle – this is Mandingo Warrior you’re talking to. I fell out of a tree and I was raised by the environment.”

According to Antonio, he has since been reformed from his jungle ways and runs the Lakewood Bodyshop Center with his wife in Lakewood California, where his MMA gym is also located. “We fix bodies over there, we break bodies and change body parts.”

The Mandingo Warrior also clarifies that he didn’t take up a fighting art, but rather, the art took him up: “I’ve been fighting just because… I didn’t even know what it was, I just did it because I could. That’s how my cultures ran – that’s how we get down.”

In an earlier interview with Ken Yasuda at knucklepit.com, Ken said to watch out for the new Sabres team he was going to come back with in 2007, warning that they would be a force to be reckoned with. Antonio agrees: “Oh, man, we’re full of whip-ass… We put it all together – there’s a science to this. This is no regular stuff you’re dealing with… You’re dealing with ‘blacktacular’ stuff; you’re dealing with native warriors. We’ve got this all locked up, baby, we’re going to show you something…

“On Friday night, at about 10.15, I’m going to show you something. I’m going to start it out and lead the pack – the Mandingo Warrior is going to handle some business. This is what I do; this is what you pay me to do what I do, because I’m good at it.”

Antonio, with guys in your team like John Marsh, Vladimir Matyushenko and yourself, it seems a bit like the Magnificent Seven movie, where they recruited all the top guns to get the job done. Is it like that with the Sabres?

“Well everyone out there got their own perception of a hero, star or tough fighter, but I tell you what, you look at our lineup for what it really is, you have it all right here, and you determine which one you want to roll with because we all get down. We put the beat-down on the get-down.”

You’ve trained with Dan Hendersen, Heath Sims – who you had a victory over, and John Smith; how did you come to train with them?

“I was kinda like the hidden weapon – nobody really knew about me, but everybody talked about me. I trained Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz, Vitor Belfort, Mirko Cro-Cop… I’ve trained some of the best fighters in the world. And after about a year of training these brilliant fighters, I had to wonder something: Why are they coming to me? What is it that I have at 160 pounds that a 215- or 230-pound guy would be interested in?

“And I realized that God gave me a gift – an ability to teach. Not only to teach, but to be able to perform these different types of martial arts moves – regardless of their weight, regardless on their height. So at that point I realized I might be a little better than what I think I am.

“I wrestled John Smith, the two-time Olympian coming out of college, and I beat him in an exhibition match. But to me it was nothing – it was just like a day of practice. And I realize the accomplishment that I have accomplished. Then as you get a little bit older, as they say, ‘If you knew yesterday what you know today, how great you could be…’ Fortunately, God has given me this gift to be pushing forty years old and be in the shape that I am, and the natural athletic ability that I have. I can’t take it for granted – I just take advantage.”

There are so many amazing MMA fighters out there, such as yourself, with a great wealth of experience; do you think with the number of teams the IFL has competing that it has now given a lot of great fighters an opportunity to show their skills to the world?

“Oh, absolutely. I think that the IFL has been put together by an ingenious group of men who sit back and evaluate the sport, and see other people do the dos and woo the woos, and I think they came up with something that actually takes away a barbaric mentality for a fighter and brings a team structure, which, in my opinion, shows the sport is not a satanic or demonic sport. And I believe this is the best thing that could ever happen for the mixed martial art world.” 

What are your main weapons in a fight?

“I would say my main weapon is confidence: Before I even get in there I already know I’ve won – I just haven’t figured out how I’ve won. The main weapon is mental: There isn’t a physical thing on this earth that can move a powerful mind that is determined to do what it is determined to do. It’s just a matter of time. With time, comes a lot of pressure, and with pressure is a release, and time takes its toll.”

Do you prefer the stand-up to the ground in your fights?

“I specialize on the ground. Unfortunately that takes a lot of work, man, and at this point in my career I wouldn’t mind standing up and getting hit a little bit, because I’m not one of these fighters who’s taken a lot of hits and damage to the head. So I think I’ll be ready to be standing now – especially to please the crowd. They don’t want to see people rolling around on the ground.”

You’re fighting the Scorpions on February 2nd; what do you know about Gabe Rivas?

“You know, I’m not one of those guys who studies and researches his opponent. I know when I get in the ring I’m going to do what I have to do to win. And that’s all there is. I don’t know much about him, but I do respect him because he is a fighter, but unfortunately for him, I do have to take care of business.”

Antonio, is there anything you’d like to add?

“I just want to support this IFL thing because they’re putting it down and they’re doing it, and any man who gets in the ring, you’ve got to give them respect because this ain’t no joke: This is real. And it takes a special type of person to get up there and put it all on the line – this getting knocked out and beat up – there’s some personal stuff there, but people still get in there and test their will.”

Sponsors?

“I’d like to thank my chiropractor in Cerritos, California, because he keep me young. I’m an old busted-up man, but he keeps me young. I call him Dr Feelgood.

“Say, where are you ringing from…jail?”

No, Tweed Heads, Australia.

“Oh, Australia…Do you think I’d fit in there?”

I think you’d fit in perfectly, Antonio.