THE ULTIMATE INSIDER: Tommy ‘Gun’ McMillen announced himself on MMA’s biggest stage with a thumping debut win in the Octagon and is ready to make some noise in the featherweight division
Tommy McMillen appears more rock than UFC star. From his Tommy Lee-esque appearance, with his hair long and messy – like he’s waiting for Manchester United to win five games in a row – to his nonchalant manner, sunglasses worn indoors, and massive Scarface tattoo.
The Montana native even runs with his own ‘Motley Crue’ in colourful former bantamweight champion ‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley and ex-fighter and current trainer Tim ‘Red Hawk’ Welch.
However, it is gold, gold, gold (not girls, girls, girls) that the 28-year-old featherweight craves the most after putting the division and champion Alexander Volkanovski on notice after his spectacular debut in Las Vegas.
Having extended his unblemished record to 10-0 with a first-round TKO win over Manolo Zecchini at the Apex, ‘Gun’ said: “I told everyone I was going to go out and dominate this kid in a violent fashion, and that’s exactly what I did.
“I was here to prove a point and you know every time I fight that I’m chasing bonus money. You can expect that in all my fights.
“They’re gonna have to kill me if they want to get me out of there. It’s never going to be an easy fight with me. No matter how good you are, I’m literally willing to die about it.
“I truly have what it takes to become one of the most dominant, entertaining fighters at 145lbs.
“I have a big following behind me that believes in me and I am just excited to keep this thing going and get in there again. I truly love to fight. This was the funniest week of my f****** life.”
Having the opening act of his UFC career at the Apex, McMillen, who was signed after winning on Dana White’s Contender Series, is hoping to quickly graduate to Sin City’s main stage, The T-Mobile Arena, as he eyes a rapid rise up the featherweight ranks.
However, he is happy to throw down anytime anywhere, adding: “I’ll fight a mother ****** in a Taco Bell parking lot for a beefy five-layer burrito. I really don’t give a f***. I like to fight.
“But, as you guys saw, the fans… I don’t think they’ve ever been that loud in the Apex when I walked out. People love to come watch me fight.
“I’m blessed to come up under Sean and Tim and have that authentic fanbase that I’ve built by being myself.
“I literally fight to give people pure entertainment. I’m a modern-day gladiator and I enjoy this s***.
“But I would love to fight in the T-Mobile Arena. I love Vegas. I’m a gambler – I’m going to go hit the blackjack tables, eat some pizza, hit the clubs, pop some bottles. This is where I was meant to fight.”