McKee Re-Signs, Defends MFC Title Against Cobb Oct. 14

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Antonio McKee has re-signed with Canadian promotion Maximum Fighting Championship and will defend his lightweight title against Brian Cobb at MFC 31 on Oct. 14, the promotion announced Thursday.

McKee's lightweight title was vacated after he suffered a knee injury earlier this year, but it now appears that he is once again considered the reigning MFC lightweight champion.

“Antonio is back, but he’s walking right into the fire against Brian Cobb. He talked his way into this, and now he’s going to have to back it up,” said MFC owner Mark Pavelich in a statement. “Antonio needs to show that he still has a burning desire to compete. That’s been called into question by many people. That’s why for a time he was no longer considered our champion, because there was this doubt that he was still interested in competing. Now he has the shot to prove everyone wrong.”

McKee had racked up 14 victories without a loss before making his UFC debut on Jan. 1 of this year. The 41-year-old fell to Jacob Volkmann by split decision at UFC 125 and was cut by the promotion shortly thereafter. McKee won the MFC lightweight title in 2009, besting Derrick Noble in a unanimous verdict. He has defended his title only once since, knocking out Luciano Azevedo at MFC 26 this past September.

Cobb earned his status as No. 1 contender when he defeated Drew Fickett at MFC 30 on June 10. After Fickett took the fight to the floor and threatened to finish the bout with a rear-naked choke, Cobb managed to escape to top position and pound Fickett out to earn the first-round TKO victory. The UFC veteran currently rides a four-fight winning streak heading into his title shot against McKee. Known as “The Bandit,” Cobb holds 12 of his 19 career wins by submission.

A venue and location for MFC 31 has not yet been announced. The event will air live on HDNet.