Former professional basketball player and current MMA fighter for the XFC in Australia, has been called personally by Dana White to debut in UFC New Zealand later this year. McDaniel who has the XFC record for the quickest knockout in the organisations history, received a call last Thursday evening from the outspoken president.
” I was originally told by my scouts about McDaniel due to a video that went viral with him and a another fighter at an XFC event so I thought I’d watch and see what is what. Turns out McDaniel passed out in the cage and I thought my scouts were playing a prank on me. But turns out the scout gave me the wrong link and soon gave me the right footage to see this guy McDaniel fight. To be 47 and be able to transition the way he has from one sport to this and then break not only records but also the stereotype for age is something that the UFC can use to put butts in seats. And particularly we like the fact that McDaniel ends fights with brutal knockouts. Most fighters end there careers way before 47 and he’s just getting started. Stranger things have happened and we will see what happens but for now he has impressed me enough to get a preliminary fight on the New Zealand card.” White said.
McDaniel says, “I was thinking this is being filmed and I’m on some reality show with my friends trying to prank me so at first I hung up on Dana White. He then left a message with a number in the US to call and I did. I was gobsmacked!!! It was Dana White!! He told me congratulations and please don’t pass out in this fight! I want the KO artist that owns the XFC record for quickest knockouts. I’m going to give him that.”
McDaniel has not been matched but he will have to go through the UFC drug and physical testing. Pending those results he will be matched up.
McDaniel is scheduled to fight May 20 for the XFC at Logan Metro Centre in Queensland Australia against a fighter from integrated. Integrated are known for their fighters getting into the UFC so this will be a good moment to shine for the 47yr old who has turned the head and caught the eye of the most important person in the MMA scene which is Dana White.