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Rhys McKee will return to the UFC octagon in a welterweight contest against French newcomer Axel Sola at Accor Arena in Paris on 6 September.
The Ballymena native lost his first four fights in the UFC before registering his first victory in the organisation in April with an impressive stoppage win over Romania’s Daniel Frunza.
In the aftermath of the win, the 29-year-old said he was targeting three fights in 2025 and his second will come on the undercard in the UFC Fight Night Paris.
“I’m super excited, we’ve been preparing for Paris for quite a while now we’ve had an idea we’ll be on the card. We obviously struggled with opponents,” McKee said.
“This is our third opponent, but we kept the head down and stayed ready the whole time.
“This has been a different fight preparation because it kind of went relatively unknown that I’d be on the card, so it’s been a nice silent process. I’ve just been able to get to work without the distractions or noise of social media or a fight schedule.”
McKee suffered defeat in his previous fight at the Accor Arena in 2023, losing by decision against Swiss fighter Ange Loosa.
Sola, 27, will make his UFC debut against McKee and the Nice-born fighter is unbeaten in his 11 professional fights, winning 10 and drawing one.
“Axel is highly related. He’s unbeaten, he’s a French champion. The pressure will be on him. It’s his big debut in France, he’s had to come in the short notice,” McKee added.
“I’m sure he’ll be prepared, but I feel the level competition that I’ve fought my whole career it’s much more stellar to be honest.
“Next Saturday we get to see what the difference is between me and Axel, and I believe, I’ll show the world what I can do.”
