Terrance McKinney

Terrance Kitarius 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).

Background 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).

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. 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.

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. 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 202, 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 203, 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 40. 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 on ESPN 49 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 51. 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. McKinney won the fight via technical knockout just twenty seconds into the bout.

McKinney faced Esteban Ribovics on May 11, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 56. He lost the fight early in the first round by knockout via a head kick.

McKinney was scheduled to face an opponent to-be-announced on October 12, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 244. However, his name was removed from the card for unknown reasons.

McKinney faced Damir Hadžović on February 1, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 250. He won the fight by technical knockout via ground-and-pound in the first round.

McKinney faced Viacheslav Borshchev on June 28, 2025 at UFC 317. He won the fight via a guillotine choke submission within the first minute of the first round.

McKinney faced Chris Duncan on December 6, 2025, at UFC 323. He lost the fight via an anaconda choke submission in the first round.

McKinney faced Kyle Nelson on March 28, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 271. He won the fight via technical knockout 24 seconds into the first round.

McKinney faced King Green on July 11, 2026 at UFC 329. He lost the fight by technical knockout with one second remaining in the first round.

Professional grappling career McKinney competed against Sidney Outlaw in a grappling match at ADXC 2 on January 19, 2024. He lost the match by submission in the first round.

Championships and accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championship Fastest finish in UFC Lightweight division history (0:07 ) Fastest knockout in UFC Lightweight division history (0:07 ) Tied (Vitor Belfort) for second most sub-minute finishes in UFC history (4) Highest striking differential in UFC Lightweight division history (3.19) Third shortest average fight time in UFC history (2:28) UFC Honors Awards 2021: Fan's Choice Debut of the Year Nominee UFC.com Awards 2021: Ranked #7 Newcomer of the Year Ranked #7 Knockout of the Year & Ranked #4 Upset of the Year

Front Street Fights FSF Lightweight Championship (one time) Sherdog 2022 Round of the Year MMA Fighting 2022 Second Team MMA All-Star

Mixed martial arts record Loss

King Green TKO (punches) UFC 329

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Kyle Nelson TKO (head kick and punches) UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer

Seattle, Washington, United States Loss

Chris Duncan Submission (anaconda choke) UFC 323

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Viacheslav Borshchev Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 317

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Damir Hadžović TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Loss

Esteban Ribovics KO (head kick) UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Nascimento

St. Louis, Missouri, United States Win

Brendan Marotte TKO (knee and punches) UFC Fight Night: Yusuff vs. Barboza

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Mike Breeden TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. dos Anjos

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Nazim Sadykhov Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on ESPN: Holm vs. Bueno Silva

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Ismael Bonfim KO (flying knee) UFC 283

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Win

Erick Gonzalez Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Drew Dober TKO (knee and punches) UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Ankalaev

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Farès Ziam Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs. Green

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Matt Frevola KO (punches) UFC 263

Glendale, Arizona, United States Win

Michael Irizarry Ortiz KO (punches) LFA 109

Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States Win

Toninho Gavinho KO (head kick) LFA 106

Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States Win

Dedrek Sanders TKO (punches) Strike Hard Productions 59

Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States Loss

Darrick Minner Submission (triangle choke) Midwest CF 18

North Platte, Nebraska, United States Loss

Sean Woodson KO (flying knee) Dana White's Contender Series 21

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Charon Spain Submission (rear-naked choke) ExciteFight: Conquest of the Cage 31

Airway Heights, Washington, United States Win

Bobby McIntyre Submission (rear-naked choke) Front Street Fights 19

Boise, Idaho, United States Win

Jeff Coleman TKO (punches) ExciteFight: Conquest of the Cage 30

Airway Heights, Washington, United States Loss

Tyrone Henderson TKO (leg injury) CageSport 52

Tacoma, Washington, United States Win

Brandon Todd Submission (kneebar) CageSport 50

Tacoma, Washington, United States Win

Tyrone Henderson Submission (armbar) CageSport 49

Tacoma, Washington, United States Win

Armando Best Submission (rear-naked choke) CageSport 48

Tacoma, Washington, United States Win

Armando Best Submission (rear-naked choke) CageSport 47

Tacoma, Washington, United States