Terrance McKinney isn’t quite sure he should be languishing on Fight Night cards inside the UFC Apex, but thinks he knows why.

McKinney (13-5 MMA, 3-2 UFC) returns to action next month in a lightweight bout against Nazim Sadykhov (8-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC). Their placement on the UFC’s July 15 Fight Night card in Las Vegas isn’t finalized yet, but McKinney said there’s a reason he’ll be in the building.

“I’m thinking it’s because this card needs a little excitement,” McKinney recently told MMA Junkie Radio. “This is a good chance to win (a $50,000 bonus). So I’m actually happy I’m on this card, and I just have a little bit more flavor. When I’m in the Apex, I do a lot better. The cage is small and it just plays in my favor, so I’m not too mad about it.

“But the fans know, everyone knows, you know: I’m entertaining inside and outside the cage, so eventually they’re just going to have to start putting me on the right pay-per-view cards like I deserve. … I do belong on a pay-per-view and I’m going to look to show that come July 15.”

McKinney came up short against Sean Woodson in a 2019 Dana White’s Contender Series fight in his bid to get to the UFC. But after three straight wins, including two for LFA, the UFC brought him on board and he took out Matt Frevola in seven seconds in his promotional debut.

That’s not a typo: seven seconds.

After a win over Fares Ziam, McKinney took a short-notice follow-up and was put away by Drew Dober. And after a bounce-back first-round submission win over Erick Gonzalez in August 2022, he was knocked out by Ismael Bonfim in January.

So it’s been an up-and-down road for McKinney in the UFC, and a rebound against Sadykhov is of the utmost importance – especially given the 28-year-old’s ultimate goal.

“I always just live by: Why do it if you’re not going to be the best at it? Don’t waste your time. Don’t be lukewarm …,” McKinney said. “If you half-ass it, you’re going to get half-ass results. I’m looking for the belt and I’m just going to enjoy the journey and love the process. But the goal is to be ranked and then just start strategically picking my battles and get my way to the title.”