PRE-FIGHT INTERVIEW: ALISTAIR MCKAY

NEW YORK CITY — Earlier today during the official weigh-ins for Everest // NYC, I got a moment to speak with the undefeated Everest MMA Featherweight Champion Alistair McKay a few questions. Here's the transcript:

ISAAC COHEN

Ladies and gentlemen, with me now is the one and only undefeated, undisputed Everest MMA Featherweight Champion, “Artillery” Alistair McKay. Ali, first off I gotta ask, how does it feel to finally get the official acceptance into Real Killas?

ALISTAIR McKAY

It feels pretty fucking good, Isaac. Being with the Killas is something that I've wanted since I started looking to go pro, but let's not get it twisted here, ya boy isn’t chasing anyone’s acceptance. If it wasn’t with the Killas it woulda been somewhere else because that’s how much I wanted to go pro and fight with the best fighters in the world. I’m happy to be there, and despite how others see them their staff is tough notch and they treat me well so ultimately i’m honoured to hang my hat there.

ISAAC COHEN

You’re the first Aussie to win gold in either Everest or Union GP. With you becoming an official member of Real Killas, have you made the permanent move to the States, or do you take the flight when it’s time to start training for a fight?

ALISTAIR McKAY

I do love it here in the States, but I don’t think I could ever permanently move here. Like I’ve got my own place here, and while I’ve got an upcoming fight like I do now I'm living stateside so I can have the best training camp in preparation for a fight, especially if that fight is defending my championship. When I don’t have a fight coming up though I usually go back home and spend time with the family and just chill out. My family is a small one but a close one, and having a barbecue and beer with them is sometimes just as rewarding as stepping in that cage. I could never leave behind the land down under fully, its a part of who I am mate.

ISAAC COHEN

I think it’s safe to say that domination has been the keyword in your pro career thus far, with three first round KOs to your name. Do you plan on staying in eMMA much longer? Many people believe you’re ready-made for UGP.

ALISTAIR McKAY

Well as I've shown to others, it only takes a second to turn someone’s lights out so I could easily be on that other end, but I do my best to make sure it doesn’t happen. And well I’ve had a few thoughts on the matter going back and forth in terms of staying or moving up, but I’m afraid for now I’ll have to give you the boring answer of I’ll have to see how my next fight goes. What result I get is gonna solidify my choice I think, so after that as soon as I know, everyone is gonna know.

ISAAC COHEN

Aside from the obvious Championship aspirations, is there anyone in Everest or Union that you have circled and want to face at some point in the future?

ALISTAIR McKAY

In terms of Everest I wanna fight anyone that’ll step up. I’ve stated it time and time again that if you can earn the shot then I welcome the challenge. As for Union, well when I do decide to move up i’ll be stepping into the lightweight division because I don’t wanna have to cut more weight, cause i’m a lazy fuck. So, Delaney is obviously the most obvious choice, but also at the top of my list are in my opinion the two best fighters in the division that aren’t the champ: Natalie King and Bellamy DeSilva. Both have very different styles and would require very different approaches from me. And I just think they’d be fucking good fights.

ISAAC COHEN

You’ve got a big name opponent this weekend for your first title defense. What do you expect to see against Fran von Licht and how are you preparing?

ALISTAIR McKAY

Well from what I've seen Fran’s style is very similar to mine, she wants to stand and trade hands and drop bombs. If that’s what she wants then I’m more than happy to oblige. Its gonna end early, and its gonna be explosive. The only question is who is gonna be standing.

ISAAC COHEN

Are there any last words you’d like to say before I let you go?

ALISTAIR McKAY

I just have a message for anyone that follows me in any way shape or form. I Just wanna say that me being here is not because of connections. Its not because of money, or fame. I’m from a working class family, my dad is a tradesman and my mum works part time at a clothes store. Where I am now is all based on hard work and pushing as hard as you possibly can. So to anyone out there that thinks they can’t get anywhere because of where they currently are in life I say fuck that. You grit your teeth and you fight and eventually you can get wherever you wanna be. You can even be the champ. Thanks for the interview mate.

ISAAC COHEN

Thank you for your time, Alistair. It was a pleasure, and good luck this weekend in your fight.