Blue Chipper A.J. McKee to Meet Fellow Prospect Dominic Mazzotta at Bellator 178 in Connecticut

Jordan BreenApr 03, 2017


Bellator MMA has put one of its blue chippers back on the schedule.

According to a report by MMAFighting.com published Monday, undefeated A.J. McKee will return to the cage at Bellator 178, taking on 12-1 fellow prospect Dominic Mazzotta. Bellator 178 takes place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut on April 21.

The 21-year-old McKee is the son of Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Antonio McKee and has posted a 7-0 mark since turning pro in April 2015. “The Mercenary's” entire pro career has come in the Bellator MMA cage, most recently picking up a unanimous decision over Brandon Phillips at Bellator 171 in January.

Mazzotta, 29, has lost just once in his pro career, suffering a knockout at the hands of current UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt in March 2014. Since then, Mazzotta has won nine in a row, winning a five-round unanimous decision over Solon Staley under the Pinnacle Fighting Championships banner in December.

Bellator 178 is headlined by a familiar featherweight affair, as champion Daniel Straus returns to defend against “Pitbull” Patricio Freire in the fourth bout between the two, with the challenger holding two wins over the champion.