Terrance McKinney

Terrance McKinney (born September 15, 1994) is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2017, McKinney also competed for Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA).

McKinney was born to and raised by his mother Kitara Johnson, a former gang member. McKinney and his family moved to a military base in Germany, where he was picked on due to being small, and after relocating to Davenport, Washington once his mother joined the US Army, he was picked on for being black. McKinney eventually ended up at Spokane, Washington in 2007, where he took up wrestling.

During his high school years, McKinney was a standout high school wrestler, becoming a two-time WIAA state champion out of Shadle Park High School and a Fargo All-American in freestyle. The sixth-ranked senior recruit in the country, McKinney considered skipping college wrestling to jump into MMA, a sport he had decided to pursue as a freshman, but went on to wrestle at North Idaho College, where he went 31–11 and was the top-ranked athlete during his first year in junior college ('13–'14). After a quick stint at NIC, he transferred to Chadron State College and redshirted during '14–'15.

During the summer of 2015, McKinney was extremely intoxicated after abusing LSD, psilocybin mushrooms and alcohol, and the friends he was partying with called the police and left the scene. Once police found him covered in blood (after cutting his neck with glass) and experiencing excited delirium, McKinney was transported to the hospital. In the ambulance, his heart beat stopped and died twice, though he was resuscitated twice as well. In return to the police officers who saved his life, McKinney served as a leader for the Youth Police Initiative. Referring to the incident years later, McKinney expressed:

“I was so embarrassed, to be honest, I was really disappointed in myself. Just seeing my mom’s face in tears. She could have lost me forever, and I’m her first born. That was a huge game changer for me. Seeing my family members crying and sad. Just seeing that inspired me to make a change. I tried to be around them every day, and I still feel they’re hurt. That pushes me to be the man I am today.”

McKinney was not kicked off the wrestling team and went on to be ranked as high as second in the nation in the NCAA Division II level during the 2015–16 season, before transferring to Notre Dame College and dropping out after one semester in order to pursue mixed martial arts.

Early career

After ending his college wrestling career, McKinney made his amateur mixed martial arts debut in August 2016, winning by knockout fifteen seconds into the first round. A year later, he would turn professional, and went on to compile a 7–1 record before appearing on Dana White's Contender Series 21 in July 2019, losing by knockout to Sean Woodson. After also losing his next fight to Darrick Minner, McKinney took time off and came back in early 2021 in the lightweight division, racking up three knockouts in a row (two in the LFA) with a combined octagon time of less than two minutes in a span of four months, before signing with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Eight days after a first round knockout win in the headliner of LFA 109, McKinney made his promotional debut against Matt Frevola on June 12, 2021, at UFC 263, replacing an injured Frank Camacho. He won the fight by knockout seven seconds into the first round, setting the record for the fastest finish in UFC lightweight history. After the event, UFC president Dana White announced that even though McKinney did not receive an official Performance of the Night bonus, he would receive an unofficial one.

On February 26, 2022, McKinney faced Farès Ziam at UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs. Green, earning a victory via rear-naked choke in the first.

In a fourteen-day turnaround, McKinney stepped in short notice to take on Drew Dober on March 12, at UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Ankalaev, replacing an injured Ricky Glenn. McKinney knocked down Dober twice within the opening minute, but ultimately lost the fight via technical knockout in round one.

McKinney faced Erick Gonzalez on August 6, 2022, at UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill. He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in round one.

McKinney faced Ismael Bonfim on January 21, 2023, at UFC 283. He lost the fight via a flying knee knockout in the second round.

McKinney next faced Nazim Sadykhov at UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Bueno Silva on July 15, 2023, losing the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the second round.

Replacing Lando Vannata, McKinney took a short notice fight with Mike Breeden on August 12, 2023, at UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. dos Anjos. He won the fight via technical knockout in round one.

McKinney was scheduled to face Chris Duncan on October 14, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 230. However, Duncan withdrew due to visa issues, and was replaced by promotional newcomer Brendon Marotte. He won the fight via technical knockout just twenty seconds into the bout.

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • Fastest finish in UFC Lightweight division history (0:07 vs. Matt Frevola)
  • Fastest knockout in UFC Lightweight division history (0:07 vs. Matt Frevola)
• Front Street Fights
  • FSF Lightweight Championship (one time)
• Sherdog
  • 2022 Round of the Year vs. Drew Dober