High-flying American fighter A.J. McKee is delighted to fight in Japan on December 31 at Saitama Super Arena, as it means he can finally soccer kick someone in the head.

Such a maneuver is illegal in the US, where the Long Beach, California-based athlete tends to compete under the Bellator MMA banner.

Logic says a trilogy fight is in order, but it seems as if everything is working against the two talented fighters to run it back a third time. But according to McKee, it’s all on Pitbull who, according to “The Mercenary,” is doing everything possible to avoid the fight.

The mixed martial arts rule set, however, is different at Rizin Fighting Federation, and McKee can't wait to fight in the landmark event, which will pit Bellator's fighters against Rizin's roster.

McKee then said that ever since he was a kid, growing up watching Pride — which utilized a similar ruleset — he's dreamed about doing the types of things that are outlawed in American arenas.

A.J. McKee is a long and rangy fighter who manages distance effectively with a 73.5 inch reach. He has excellent grappling and scrambling abilities, having won seven of his bouts via submission.

However, Usman Nurmagomedov is a different kind of monster, and it's not surprising that he had a stellar rise towards the lightweight championship.

But there will be no such restriction on McKee Saturday, when he comes to blows with Roberto de Souza in the main event of the Bellator vs. Rizin show.