Lloyd McKinney embraces challenge of Santo Curatolo at CFFC 110: 'These are the fights that I want'
With former CFFC flyweight champion Santo Curatolo returning to the promotion after a brief stop on Dana White's Contender Series, not a lot of fighters were volunteering to welcome him back to the promotion.
Lloyd McKinney jumped at the chance. It's what he's been doing for the last 16 years.
"I started fighting right around 2005," McKinney recalled. "I was training, and I debuted in '06. There wasn't a commission in Wisconsin at the time, but I fought in a bar in Wisconsin – Mac Daddy's in Somerset. I had a good little run and took some losses and then went back to college, wrestled for a few years, and then got to do a couple of exhibition bouts while in college. I knew the whole time I was just going to get tougher, stronger and build on getting back into it eventually, so yeah, it's been a ride."
McKinney (15-8) fought locally for much of his early run but as of late has had brief stops with promotions such as Bellator, Combate Global and LFA. At Thursday's CFFC 110, he'll get his biggest opportunity to date, competing in the main event for an interim flyweight title against Curatolo (6-2) in a bout that streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from Florida's Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa.
It's a tough assignment against a blue chip prospect, to be sure, but McKinney knows at 35 years old, if he's going to really make a push for a spot on the sport's biggest stage, these are exactly the type of fights he has to take.
"There's no easy fights at this point in the game, and I embrace that," McKinney said.
Curatolo suffered a disappointing decision loss in his Contender Series appearance but has made physical and mental adjustments in his game since and his vowing to return to the form that fueled him to six stoppage wins under the CFFC banner before getting the call.
McKinney appreciates that challenge and thinks the victory will prove all that more meaningful coming against such a talented opponent.
"I really respect him, and I think he's somebody that gets me up and gets me motivated to train every day," McKinney said. "He's got power. I think if I can get him tired, I think I can level the playing field there a little bit. I know he's been developed through the CFFC, and he was their champ at one time before he got the Contender Series fight, but these are the fights that I want.
"I want fights that are going to force me to bring the best out of myself and force me to elevate my game regardless of the outcome. I think I've got what it takes to beat him. I know it's going to be a tough fight, but I think at the end of it, I get my hand raised."
Should he pull off the upset, McKinney will certainly get the attention of the sport's biggest promotions. He knows he doesn't have the flashiest record but thinks his roots in the game have given him a strong foundation for success.
McKinney has fought as high as 155 pounds during his run. He attended an open tryout for "The Ultimate Fighter" back when Joe Silva was still a matchmaker (though McKinney regretfully admits he did so after a full week of partying). He's fought for promotions big and small, in venues ranging from modern arenas to glorified barnyards.
It's all prepared him for this moment, and McKinney is ready to make one final run.
"I just want to stay active," McKinney said. "I think as long as I stay active and stay on the path, whatever's supposed to happen will happen. Going forward, the goal is always to be at the highest level. I want to be in the UFC. That's the pinnacle of the sport, and if I don't get there, I accept that, but I feel like I'm on the path. If I can just keep chipping away at these quality wins, I can get there.
"Meanwhile, I want to thank everybody at Iridium, everybody at Ironworks Training Center, and all my sponsors. Tune in on Thursday on Fight Pass, and I'm going to put on the best fight I can."
