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	<title>A.J. McKee Archives - Cageside Press</title>
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	<title>A.J. McKee Archives - Cageside Press</title>
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	<item>
		<title>Former Bellator Champ A.J. McKee Re-Signs with PFL</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2025/11/13/former-bellator-champ-a-j-mckee-re-signs-with-pfl/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jay Anderson]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 05:21:07 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[MMA News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[A.J. McKee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AJ McKee]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=217472</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>A.J. McKee is known as &#8220;The Mercenary,&#8221; and it seems he&#8217;s secured a payday to remain under contract with the PFL. Professional Fighters League CEO John Martin announced on Wednesday that McKee (23-2), a former Bellator MMA featherweight champion, had signed a new contract to remain with the promotion. McKee was one of the big [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2025/11/13/former-bellator-champ-a-j-mckee-re-signs-with-pfl/" data-wpel-link="internal">Former Bellator Champ A.J. McKee Re-Signs with PFL</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A.J. McKee is known as &#8220;The Mercenary,&#8221; and it seems he&#8217;s secured a payday to remain under contract with the PFL.</p>
<p>Professional Fighters League CEO John Martin<a href="https://x.com/JohnMartinPFL/status/1988627131555832051" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer"> announced on Wednesday</a> that McKee (23-2), a former Bellator MMA featherweight champion, had signed a new contract to remain with the promotion. McKee was one of the big names to come over from Bellator when the PFL absorbed the rival MMA promotion after acquiring it over a year ago.</p>
<p>In 25 fights, McKee has just two losses, to former Bellator double-champ<a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2025/07/20/patricio-pitbull-ufc-318-pico-fight/" data-wpel-link="internal"> Patricio Pitbull</a>, and PFL lightweight contender Paul Hughes. He&#8217;s never been finished, with both fights going to the judges.</p>
<p>The 30-year old, son of lightweight pioneer Antonio McKee, claimed featherweight gold under the Bellator banner with a win over Pitbull, capping off an 18-0 start to his professional mixed martial arts career. He&#8217;d lose the title back to the Brazilian in his next fight, and eventually make the move up to lightweight.</p>
<p>McKee holds notable wins over Pitbull, RIZIN champ Roberto &#8220;Satoshi&#8221; de Silva, UFC vet and PFL finalist Clay Collard, and former Bellator champs Darrion Caldwell and Pat Curran, among others.</p>
<p>A.J. McKee was most recently seen earning a unanimous decision victory over Akhmed Magomedov at the PFL Champions Series 2 card in July.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2025/11/13/former-bellator-champ-a-j-mckee-re-signs-with-pfl/" data-wpel-link="internal">Former Bellator Champ A.J. McKee Re-Signs with PFL</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Bellator Stars Anderson, McKee Victorious at PFL Cape Town</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2025/07/19/bellator-stars-anderson-mckee-victorious-at-pfl-cape-town/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jay Anderson]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jul 2025 19:54:20 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Results & Recaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[A.J. McKee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Akhmed Magomedov]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Corey Anderson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Denis Goltsov]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFL Cape Town]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFL Champions Series 2]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=211423</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>It was a solid night for Team Bellator MMA early on the PFL Cape Town card on Saturday. A pair of Bellator alums in Corey Anderson and A.J. McKee each came away with big wins at the event, with both seeing their first action in 2025. Anderson, coming into the event with pal Ben Askren [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2025/07/19/bellator-stars-anderson-mckee-victorious-at-pfl-cape-town/" data-wpel-link="internal">Bellator Stars Anderson, McKee Victorious at PFL Cape Town</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It was a solid night for Team Bellator MMA early on the PFL Cape Town card on Saturday.</p>
<p>A pair of <a href="http://bellator.com" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Bellator</a> alums in Corey Anderson and A.J. McKee each came away with big wins at the event, with both seeing their first action in 2025.</p>
<p>Anderson, coming into the event with pal <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2025/07/09/ben-askren-releases-video-statement-following-double-lung-transplant/" data-wpel-link="internal">Ben Askren undergoing a double lung transplant</a>, made his heavyweight debut for the promotion in a fight against PFL Global heavyweight champion Denis Goltsov. Anderson, still the reigning Bellator MMA light heavyweight champion (announced as such), didn&#8217;t give up much in height or weight, already a massive 205&#8217;er who had fought at heavyweight early in his career. That might have been key, as &#8220;Overtime&#8221; was able to hold his own against the veteran heavyweight, controlling the action up against the cage.</p>
<p>In the second round, Anderson found his opening, putting away Goltsov for a TKO victory.</p>
<p>Anderson (19-6, 1NC) has now won three straight, and should probably defend his light heavyweight title next, which will presumably transfer over to the PFL Champions Series with Bellator having been mothballed.</p>
<p>The return of former Bellator featherweight champ A.J. McKee was up next, with McKee looking to bounce back from a split decision loss against <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2025/05/10/paul-hughes-blasts-through-bruno-miranda-at-pfl-belfast/" data-wpel-link="internal">Paul Hughes</a> when he took on Dagestan&#8217;s Akhmed Magomedov, with Khabib Nurmagomedov in his corner.</p>
<p>Akhmed Magomedov dumped McKee early in the opening round on Saturday, off a caught kick, but that allowed McKee to throw up a triangle attempt. The Dagestani would have to be careful even on top, given McKee&#8217;s ability to pull off dazzling submissions from his back, but after readjusting, Magomedov was able to settle in, heavy on top. While that might have been bad news for many fighters, McKee was able to roll to one side, get an underhook, and threaten to sweep, ultimately getting to his feet and going straight into his own takedown before they moved back to center.</p>
<p>There, A.J. began finding his range, tagging Magomedov a couple of times and wobbling him once. Yet Magomedov managed to connect on McKee against the fence once himself, before McKee reversed, finishing a competitive first round with a body kick.</p>
<p>The tone had been set in the opening frame; to start round two, Magomedov immediately went into takedown mode, but struggled to get McKee down, eventually finding himself reversed. When they did go down, it was off a big slam, with McKee taking the back. Hooks in, McKee began slowly working towards a possible rear-naked choke, mixing in a few punches to create an opening.</p>
<p>Eventually Magomedov would escape up, but McKee stayed on him, and Magomedov was warned for grabbing the fence. McKee would land another body shot at the end of the frame, forcing Magomedov in on a takedown attempt he couldn&#8217;t land.</p>
<p>Ahead of round three, Magomedov was told he&#8217;d see a point deducted if he grabbed the fence again. The Dagestani came out hot, throwing hands then moving in on a takedown that saw McKee defend for a good thirty seconds before Magomedov finally finished and got on top. McKee then used the fence to roll, fired upkicks, and caught Magomedov in a triangle, though he was able to pull his head out. Still, a reminder that McKee was always, always dangerous off his back, even late in a fight. McKee then lifted a knee and was able to sweep, getting in on a guillotine and using it to transition to the back.</p>
<p>A.J. got hooks in with a minute left on the clock, and got a body triangle in place while seated. Not enough time was left, however, to find a finish. They&#8217;d go the distance, with McKee earning the unanimous decision victory and improving to 23-2 overall.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2025/07/19/bellator-stars-anderson-mckee-victorious-at-pfl-cape-town/" data-wpel-link="internal">Bellator Stars Anderson, McKee Victorious at PFL Cape Town</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions Main Card Staff Picks</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2024/02/24/pfl-champions-vs-bellator-champions-main-card-staff-picks/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 24 Feb 2024 11:00:01 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Bellator MMA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[A.J. McKee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Impa Kasanganay]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Johnny Eblen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Renan Ferreira]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ryan Bader]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=183363</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The PFL vs. Bellator head-to-head showdown was set to unfold on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the league finally ready to showcase the depth of its roster following its acquisition of rival Bellator MMA late last year. With the league intending to run both promotions separately for the time being, the head-to-head format was [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2024/02/24/pfl-champions-vs-bellator-champions-main-card-staff-picks/" data-wpel-link="internal">PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions Main Card Staff Picks</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The PFL vs. Bellator head-to-head showdown was set to unfold on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the league finally ready to showcase the depth of its roster following its acquisition of rival Bellator MMA late last year.</p>
<p>With the league intending to run both promotions separately for the time being, the head-to-head format was mostly about bragging rights. Though for main event heavyweights Ryan Bader and Renan Ferreira, something more was on the line. As of Thursday, <a href="http://pflmma.com" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">PFL</a> officials had revealed that the winner of Bader vs. Ferreira would be the next man to face Francis Ngannou in MMA, after <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2024/01/05/francis-ngannou-vs-anthony-joshua-reportedly-a-done-deal-for-2024/" data-wpel-link="internal">&#8220;The Predator&#8221; competes against Anthony Joshua</a> in a high-profile boxing match next month.</p>
<p>While the champ versus champ format was the selling point of Saturday&#8217;s PFL vs. Bellator card, in reality the format had taken some hits early on, with only two true champ vs. champ fights remaining. In addition to Bader vs. Ferreira, the other was Impa Kasanganay vs. Johnny Eblen, with 205lb PFL champ Impa moving back down to middleweight to face Eblen (the PFL does not feature a middleweight division).</p>
<p>Our picks are in for the PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions main card! See who we feels comes out on top in Riyadh on Saturday!</p>

<table id="tablepress-440" class="tablepress tablepress-id-440">
<thead>
<tr class="row-1">
	<th class="column-1">Writer / Fight</th><th class="column-2">Collard vs. McKee</th><th class="column-3">Santos vs. Romero</th><th class="column-4">Cappelozza vs. Nemkov</th><th class="column-5">Cooper III vs. Jackson</th><th class="column-6">Kasanganay vs. Eblen</th><th class="column-7">Ferreira vs. Bader</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody class="row-striping row-hover">
<tr class="row-2">
	<td class="column-1">Alex Behunin (17-9)</td><td class="column-2"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/aj-mckee-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/aj-mckee-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-61517" /></a></td><td class="column-3"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Yoel-Romero.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Yoel-Romero.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167212" /></a></td><td class="column-4"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/vadim-nemkov-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/vadim-nemkov-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-78603" /></a></td><td class="column-5"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jason-jackson-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jason-jackson-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-99046" /></a></td><td class="column-6"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/eblen2-bg.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/eblen2-bg.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-183369" /></a></td><td class="column-7"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Renan-bg.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Renan-bg.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-183372" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-3">
	<td class="column-1">Jay Anderson (16-10)</td><td class="column-2"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/aj-mckee-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/aj-mckee-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-61517" /></a></td><td class="column-3"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Yoel-Romero.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Yoel-Romero.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167212" /></a></td><td class="column-4"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/vadim-nemkov-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/vadim-nemkov-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-78603" /></a></td><td class="column-5"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jason-jackson-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jason-jackson-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-99046" /></a></td><td class="column-6"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/eblen2-bg.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/eblen2-bg.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-183369" /></a></td><td class="column-7"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Renan-bg.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Renan-bg.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-183372" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-4">
	<td class="column-1">Chris Prawdzik (15-11)</td><td class="column-2"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/aj-mckee-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/aj-mckee-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-61517" /></a></td><td class="column-3"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Yoel-Romero.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Yoel-Romero.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167212" /></a></td><td class="column-4"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/vadim-nemkov-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/vadim-nemkov-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-78603" /></a></td><td class="column-5"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jason-jackson-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jason-jackson-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-99046" /></a></td><td class="column-6"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/eblen2-bg.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/eblen2-bg.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-183369" /></a></td><td class="column-7"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ryan-bader-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ryan-bader-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-78604" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-5">
	<td class="column-1">Cade Morehouse (11-9)</td><td class="column-2"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/aj-mckee-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/aj-mckee-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-61517" /></a></td><td class="column-3"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Yoel-Romero.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Yoel-Romero.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167212" /></a></td><td class="column-4"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/vadim-nemkov-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/vadim-nemkov-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-78603" /></a></td><td class="column-5"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jason-jackson-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jason-jackson-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-99046" /></a></td><td class="column-6"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/eblen2-bg.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/eblen2-bg.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-183369" /></a></td><td class="column-7"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ryan-bader-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ryan-bader-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-78604" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-6">
	<td class="column-1">Jamie Theodosi (14-12)</td><td class="column-2"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/aj-mckee-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/aj-mckee-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-61517" /></a></td><td class="column-3"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/693552Fprofile-galery2Fprofile-picture2FSANTOS_THIAGO_10-02.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/693552Fprofile-galery2Fprofile-picture2FSANTOS_THIAGO_10-02.png" alt="" width="160" height="100" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-129389" /></a></td><td class="column-4"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/vadim-nemkov-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/vadim-nemkov-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-78603" /></a></td><td class="column-5"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jason-jackson-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jason-jackson-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-99046" /></a></td><td class="column-6"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/eblen2-bg.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/eblen2-bg.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-183369" /></a></td><td class="column-7"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Renan-bg.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Renan-bg.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-183372" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-7">
	<td class="column-1">Eddie Law (13-12)</td><td class="column-2"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/aj-mckee-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/aj-mckee-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-61517" /></a></td><td class="column-3"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Yoel-Romero.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Yoel-Romero.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167212" /></a></td><td class="column-4"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/vadim-nemkov-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/vadim-nemkov-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-78603" /></a></td><td class="column-5"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jason-jackson-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jason-jackson-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-99046" /></a></td><td class="column-6"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/eblen2-bg.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/eblen2-bg.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-183369" /></a></td><td class="column-7"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ryan-bader-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ryan-bader-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-78604" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-8">
	<td class="column-1">Patrick McCorry (11-15)</td><td class="column-2"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/aj-mckee-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/aj-mckee-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-61517" /></a></td><td class="column-3"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Yoel-Romero.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Yoel-Romero.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167212" /></a></td><td class="column-4"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/vadim-nemkov-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/vadim-nemkov-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-78603" /></a></td><td class="column-5"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jason-jackson-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jason-jackson-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-99046" /></a></td><td class="column-6"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/eblen2-bg.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/eblen2-bg.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-183369" /></a></td><td class="column-7"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ryan-bader-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ryan-bader-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-78604" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-9">
	<td class="column-1">Val Dewar (9-11)</td><td class="column-2"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/aj-mckee-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/aj-mckee-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-61517" /></a></td><td class="column-3"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/693552Fprofile-galery2Fprofile-picture2FSANTOS_THIAGO_10-02.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/693552Fprofile-galery2Fprofile-picture2FSANTOS_THIAGO_10-02.png" alt="" width="160" height="100" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-129389" /></a></td><td class="column-4"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/vadim-nemkov-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/vadim-nemkov-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-78603" /></a></td><td class="column-5"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jason-jackson-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jason-jackson-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-99046" /></a></td><td class="column-6"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/eblen2-bg.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/eblen2-bg.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-183369" /></a></td><td class="column-7"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Renan-bg.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Renan-bg.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-183372" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr class="row-10">
	<td class="column-1">Dylan Napoleone (3-2)</td><td class="column-2"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Collardhs-.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Collardhs-.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-183361" /></a></td><td class="column-3"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Yoel-Romero.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Yoel-Romero.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167212" /></a></td><td class="column-4"></td><td class="column-5"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jason-jackson-headshot.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jason-jackson-headshot.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-99046" /></a></td><td class="column-6"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/eblen2-bg.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/eblen2-bg.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-183369" /></a></td><td class="column-7"><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Renan-bg.png" data-wpel-link="internal"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Renan-bg.png" alt="" width="100" height="110" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-183372" /></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<p>Let&#8217;s get the landslides out of the way: Johnny Eblen, Vadlim Nemkov, Jason Jackson, and AJ McKee were all heavy favorites in the eyes of our staff, with either no dissenting votes, or a lone vote in favor of their PFL counterparts. That, despite the massive 2023 experienced by Impa Kasanganay in particular.</p>
<p>The closer contests in our eyes was the main event, with four of nine writers siding with Ryan Bader, while the remaining for have Renan Ferreira punching his ticket to the Ngannou sweepstakes.</p>
<p>Yoel Romero vs. Thiagos Santos was little less than a landslide, with Romero favored by a 7-2 margin.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2024/02/24/pfl-champions-vs-bellator-champions-main-card-staff-picks/" data-wpel-link="internal">PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions Main Card Staff Picks</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
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		<title>Best Fights of the Weekend: UFC Mexico City, PFL vs Bellator, ACA 171, Nakatani/Santiago</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2024/02/23/best-fights-weekend-ufc-mexico-city-pfl-bellator-aca-171-nakatani-santiago/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Val Dewar]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 23 Feb 2024 06:56:25 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[A.J. McKee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brandon Moreno]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brandon Royval]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BRIAN ORTEGA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Junto Nakatani]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yair Rodriguez]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=183215</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Cageside Press analyst Val Dewar enlisted Tapology&#8217;s Russian MMA editor &#8216;@FdrNphw&#8216; and boxing expert Philip Walsh to list the best fights in a stacked week of fighting which includes UFC Mexico City, PFL vs Bellator: CHAMPS, ACA 171, multiple boxing events, KSW Epic, and more! Brandon Moreno vs Brandon Royval 2 The UFC Mexico City [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2024/02/23/best-fights-weekend-ufc-mexico-city-pfl-bellator-aca-171-nakatani-santiago/" data-wpel-link="internal">Best Fights of the Weekend: UFC Mexico City, PFL vs Bellator, ACA 171, Nakatani/Santiago</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Cageside Press analyst Val Dewar enlisted Tapology&#8217;s Russian MMA editor <a href="http://twitter.com/@FdrNphw" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">&#8216;@FdrNphw</a>&#8216; and boxing expert <a href="http://twitter.com/PhilLikesFights" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Philip Walsh</a> to list the best fights in a stacked week of fighting which includes UFC Mexico City, PFL vs Bellator: CHAMPS, ACA 171, multiple boxing events, KSW Epic, and more!</p>
<h3>Brandon Moreno vs Brandon Royval 2</h3>
<p>The <a href="http://ufc.com" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">UFC</a> Mexico City main event is the best fight of the upcoming weekend. This rematch of 2020&#8217;s flyweight top contender fight comes on the heels of both men losing to Alexandre Pantoja in title fights. Of note is the fact that Moreno, who has become a star since his first two fights against <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2024/01/12/deiveson-figueiredo-vs-cody-garbrandt-announced-for-ufc-300/" data-wpel-link="internal">Deiveson Figueiredo</a>, forced the now-champ Pantoja into a war that became 2023&#8217;s &#8216;Fight of the Year.&#8217; Royval had a less impressive showing, but his ability to cause chaos certainly created an interesting fight.</p>
<p>The last matchup was decided by a Royval injury leading to a TKO, albeit one forced by &#8216;The Assassin Baby&#8217; outgrappling him. The fight was heating up at that point, and it being contested over five rounds, in the country which Moreno became the first champion to be born in, makes it all the more enticing. Royval has earned three &#8216;Fight of the Night&#8217; bonuses in his eight UFC fights while Moreno has four in just his last six. Two of those Moreno fights were &#8216;Fight of the Year&#8217;, to boot, against Pantoja and Figueiredo.</p>
<p>https://twitter.com/F______Dolphin/status/1738242730285744135?t=_WVKe94JEhllN6YrAzi2kA&#038;s=19</p>
<p>The mixture of a sharp, technical jab with a brawler&#8217;s rear hand and mentality makes Moreno one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC even before you factor in the thrilling scrambles which are a must for any good flyweight. Meanwhile, &#8216;Rawdog&#8217; Royval brings havoc to the octagon, throwing strikes of all sorts from wacky positions. That enables him to surprise opponents, like when he knocked out Matheus Nicolau. His grappling has much the same energy, as seen in the wild fights which ended in submission victories over ranked flyweight veterans Matt Schnell, Kai-Kara France, and Tim Elliott. Many of these wins come as an underdog, so despite Moreno&#8217;s technical superiority, do not be surprised if Royval&#8217;s imposition of anarchy gets the job done, even against a man who also thrives in the plane of pandemonium.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2024/02/23/best-fights-weekend-ufc-mexico-city-pfl-bellator-aca-171-nakatani-santiago/" data-wpel-link="internal">Best Fights of the Weekend: UFC Mexico City, PFL vs Bellator, ACA 171, Nakatani/Santiago</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
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		<title>Bellator 301: A.J. McKee Does Enough Damage Off His Back to Decision Sidney Outlaw</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2023/11/17/bellator-301-a-j-mckee-does-enough-damage-off-his-back-to-decision-sidney-outlaw/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jay Anderson]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 18 Nov 2023 03:36:58 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Bellator MMA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Results & Recaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[A.J. McKee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bellator 301]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sidney Outlaw]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=178511</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Lightweight standouts A.J. McKee and Sidney Outlaw faced off on the Bellator 301 main card on Friday night — a battle of two fighters who would have been in the Lightweight Grand Prix, had fate not had other plans for them. Outlaw was pulled from the tournament shortly after his quarterfinal fight had been announced, [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2023/11/17/bellator-301-a-j-mckee-does-enough-damage-off-his-back-to-decision-sidney-outlaw/" data-wpel-link="internal">Bellator 301: A.J. McKee Does Enough Damage Off His Back to Decision Sidney Outlaw</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Lightweight standouts A.J. McKee and Sidney Outlaw faced off on the<a href="https://www.bellator.com/event/318" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer"> Bellator 301</a> main card on Friday night — a battle of two fighters who would have been in the Lightweight Grand Prix, had fate not had other plans for them.</p>
<p>Outlaw was pulled from the tournament shortly after his quarterfinal fight had been announced, having failed a drug test. As for McKee, the former featherweight champ saw injury pull him from a fight with <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2023/11/17/bellator-301-shabliy-lights-up-pitbull-lands-spot-in-grand-prix-final/" data-wpel-link="internal">Patricky Pitbull</a>.</p>
<p>The lightweight pair got right to work on Friday, with Outlaw landing an early takedown, which McKee defended with a guillotine. When the guillotine wasn&#8217;t there, however, McKee spent a good stretch of time on his back, seconds ticking away without Outlaw getting much damage in, or really improving position much, though he did try.</p>
<p>McKee would make it to the fence basically, looking to wall-walk up to no avail as Outlaw turned him away from the cage. McKee then fired elbows off his back, while Outlaw worked the body.</p>
<p>By virtue of spending the entire round on top, Outlaw no doubt won the round. But he did very little damage despite sitting in a dominant position throughout almost the entirety of the round.</p>
<p>Round two opened with Outlaw catching an A.J. kick, which nearly had him get the fight down. Instead, McKee managed to fight off the attempt with elbows, getting to his feet and cutting Outlaw with at least one of those blows. Outlaw, bloodied, would get the fight down, only to eat more McKee elbows, who was firing them off his back again.</p>
<p>Again, Sidney Outlaw would ride out the round on top. But there would be a better argument for A.J. McKee winning round two, given the damage he had done early on, and off his back.</p>
<p>A.J. opened round three with a 1-2, and this time it was McKee landing a takedown along the fence. Outlaw would later reverse the position, pulling McKee&#8217;s legs out from under him and getting him flat on his back. With roughly two minutes to go, McKee began elbowing the body off his back, while Outlaw looked to pass guard. He couldn&#8217;t, and for a third straight round A.J. McKee appeared to have the striking advantage despite being on his back. How the judges would see things was another matter, given Sidney Outlaw had dominated in the grappling department.</p>
<p>In something of a surprise result, all three judges scored all three rounds for A.J. McKee despite &#8220;The Mercenary&#8221; working off his back almost the entire fight. Not exactly a controversial result, given the damage A.J. inflicted — but still a rarity given the reluctance of judges to score rounds for fighters on bottom.</p>
<p><em><strong>Official Result: A.J. McKee def. Sidney Outlaw by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)</strong></em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2023/11/17/bellator-301-a-j-mckee-does-enough-damage-off-his-back-to-decision-sidney-outlaw/" data-wpel-link="internal">Bellator 301: A.J. McKee Does Enough Damage Off His Back to Decision Sidney Outlaw</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
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		<title>Bellator 301: A.J. McKee&#8217;s Goal to &#8220;Become World Champion Again&#8221;</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2023/11/16/bellator-301-a-j-mckee-champion/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jay Anderson]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Nov 2023 04:17:48 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Bellator MMA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MMA News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[A.J. McKee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bellator 301]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=178348</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>A.J. McKee will face Sidney Outlaw at Bellator 301 this Friday in Chicago, a non-tournament lightweight bout that amounts to a battle of fighters who were scheduled for this year&#8217;s Lightweight Grand Prix, but couldn&#8217;t make it. Outlaw was yanked due to a failed drug test; in McKee&#8217;s case, it was injury that did him [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2023/11/16/bellator-301-a-j-mckee-champion/" data-wpel-link="internal">Bellator 301: A.J. McKee&#8217;s Goal to &#8220;Become World Champion Again&#8221;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A.J. McKee will face Sidney Outlaw at<a href="https://www.bellator.com/event/318" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer"> Bellator 301</a> this Friday in Chicago, a non-tournament lightweight bout that amounts to a battle of fighters who were scheduled for this year&#8217;s Lightweight Grand Prix, but couldn&#8217;t make it.</p>
<p>Outlaw was yanked due to a failed drug test; in McKee&#8217;s case, it was injury that did him in. But he&#8217;s back and hungry as ever, he revealed during Wednesday&#8217;s Bellator 301 press conference, with Cageside Press on hand.</p>
<p>&#8220;I just say being hungry; it&#8217;s almost literally been a year for the layoff. Fresh division, but just nothing but grinding,&#8221; McKee (20-1) said when asked about his motivation. &#8220;Grinding, staying prayed up, working, working, working.&#8221;</p>
<p>For those wondering if he might steal the show on Friday, Mckee pointed out that &#8220;Last time I was in a tournament I came out with a bag. Like I said before, all finishes, went and did it. Obviously not in this tournament, but being at 155lbs I plan to make a statement to the rest of the division. So it&#8217;s just going in there and doing what I do best.&#8221;</p>
<p>The goal, meanwhile, is for the former featherweight champ to once again claim gold. &#8220;Become world champion again. I don&#8217;t know. Things happen in mysterious ways. I don&#8217;t know if I&#8217;m out of the tournament. No one really knows what&#8217;s going to happen.&#8221;</p>
<p>That&#8217;s one hundred percent correct. Even Bellator officials couldn&#8217;t say what the future would hold for the grand prix this week, with champ<a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2023/11/11/usman-nurmagomedov-fails-drug-test-suspended-6-months/" data-wpel-link="internal"> Usman Nurmagomedov failing a drug test</a> and having his semi-final win over Brent Primus overturned.</p>
<p>&#8220;But if my name&#8217;s on that belt I&#8217;d love to get in there and at least put people to the test, to feel like they deserve a belt with my name on it,&#8221; McKee added.</p>
<p><em>Bellator 301 takes place this Friday, November 17, 2023 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. A.J. McKee faces Sidney Outlaw on the main card.</em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2023/11/16/bellator-301-a-j-mckee-champion/" data-wpel-link="internal">Bellator 301: A.J. McKee&#8217;s Goal to &#8220;Become World Champion Again&#8221;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
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		<title>A.J. McKee vs. Sidney Outlaw Lined Up for Bellator 301 in November</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2023/09/16/j-mckee-vs-sidney-outlaw-lined-bellator-301-november/</link>
					<comments>https://cagesidepress.com/2023/09/16/j-mckee-vs-sidney-outlaw-lined-bellator-301-november/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jay Anderson]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 16 Sep 2023 19:46:44 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Bellator MMA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MMA News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[A.J. McKee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bellator 301]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sidney Outlaw]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=174477</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Former Bellator MMA featherweight champ A.J. McKee returns to action this November. McKee (20-1), now competing as a lightweight, will face Sidney Outlaw (17-5) at Bellator 301 on November 17, 2023 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. A source familiar with the situation confirmed the booking to Cageside Press following an initial report by [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2023/09/16/j-mckee-vs-sidney-outlaw-lined-bellator-301-november/" data-wpel-link="internal">A.J. McKee vs. Sidney Outlaw Lined Up for Bellator 301 in November</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Former Bellator MMA featherweight champ A.J. McKee returns to action this November.</p>
<p>McKee (20-1), now competing as a lightweight, will face Sidney Outlaw (17-5) at Bellator 301 on November 17, 2023 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL.</p>
<p>A source familiar with the situation confirmed the booking to Cageside Press following an <a href="https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/38408267/aj-mckee-face-sidney-outlaw-bellator-return-november" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">initial report by ESPN</a>.</p>
<p>Outlaw returned to action in August, earning a unanimous decision over Dagestani standout Islam Mamedov. The 31-year old known as &#8220;Da Gun&#8221; had been expected to take part in Bellator&#8217;s ongoing Lightweight Grand Prix, but was yanked from the tournament before it launched after testing positive for banned substances earlier this year.</p>
<p>That positive drug test led to a six-month suspension for Outlaw.</p>
<p>McKee has won back-to-back bouts in the lightweight division, getting the better of Spike Carlyle and most recently Roberto &#8220;Satoshi&#8221; Souza as part of the Bellator MMA vs. RIZIN card last December. McKee, like Outlaw, had been expected to compete in the Lightweight Grand Prix, but injury forced him from a fight against Patricky Pitbull.</p>
<p>Bellator 301 is headlined by a pair of title fights, as Yaroslav Amosov defends welterweight gold against Jason Jackson, while Sergio Pettis and Patchy Mix battle it out in a bantamweight title unification bout. The full card currently breaks down as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>Yaroslav Amosov (c) vs. Jason Jackson — <em>for the Bellator MMA welterweight championship</em></li>
<li>Sergio Pettis (c) vs. Patchy Mix (ic) —<em> for the Bellator MMA bantamweight championship / title unification bout</em></li>
<li>Patricky Pitbull vs. Alexandr Shabliy — <em>Lightweight Grand Prix Semifinal</em></li>
<li>Raufeon Stots vs. Danny Sabatello</li>
<li>Daniel James vs. Ali Isaev</li>
<li>Tyrell Fortune vs. Marcelo Golm</li>
<li>Timur Khizriev vs. Justin Gonzales</li>
<li>Mike Hamel vs. Tim Wilde</li>
<li>Denise Kielholtz vs. Sumiko Inaba</li>
<li>Islam Mamedov vs. Killys Mota</li>
<li>A.J. McKee vs. Sidney Outlaw</li>
</ul>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2023/09/16/j-mckee-vs-sidney-outlaw-lined-bellator-301-november/" data-wpel-link="internal">A.J. McKee vs. Sidney Outlaw Lined Up for Bellator 301 in November</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
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		<title>Sunday MMA Quick Hits: McGregor Reacts to Gaethje Win, Wonderboy Issues Statement</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2023/07/30/sunday-mma-quick-hits-mcgregor-wonderboy/</link>
					<comments>https://cagesidepress.com/2023/07/30/sunday-mma-quick-hits-mcgregor-wonderboy/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 30 Jul 2023 12:00:45 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MMA News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[A.J. McKee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[A1 Combat 12]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conor McGregor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Justin Gaethje]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kayla Harrison]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stephen Thompson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC 291]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=170395</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>AJ McKee reveals more info on why he was forced out of Saturday&#8217;s Bellator X RIZIN card, while Conor McGregor had plenty to say about Justin Gaethje&#8217;s UFC 291 win. Plus, Stephen Thompson issues a statement after turning down a catchweight fight with the overweight Michel Pereira. It&#8217;s your Sunday MMA Quick Hits for the [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2023/07/30/sunday-mma-quick-hits-mcgregor-wonderboy/" data-wpel-link="internal">Sunday MMA Quick Hits: McGregor Reacts to Gaethje Win, Wonderboy Issues Statement</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>AJ McKee reveals more info on why he was forced out of Saturday&#8217;s Bellator X RIZIN card, while Conor McGregor had plenty to say about Justin Gaethje&#8217;s UFC 291 win. Plus, Stephen Thompson issues a statement after turning down a catchweight fight with the overweight Michel Pereira. It&#8217;s your Sunday MMA Quick Hits for the final weekend of July 2023!</p>
<h3>A.J. McKee&#8217;s staph infection is not pretty</h3>
<p>A.J. McKee did not get to fight in Japan this weekend as planned, and for good reason. McKee, a former Bellator featherweight champ and one of its biggest stars, was supposed to feature in a lightweight grand prix quarterfinal against Patricky Pitbull. Instead, he had to sit this one out, the result of a nasty staph infection.</p>
<p>The images below are not fun.</p>
<p>https://twitter.com/ajmckee101/status/1684460381090217984</p>
<h3>Karyla Harrison admits her timing in MMA &#8220;pretty brutal&#8221; after missing out on Nunes fight</h3>
<p>Kayla Harrison missed out on fighting Cris Cyborg, at least for now, as Cyborg opted to re-sign with Bellator MMA during a recent free agent period. Harrison also managed to lose to Larissa Pacheco last year, all but ending hope for a fight with Amanda Nunes.</p>
<p>That fight has zero chance of happening now that Nunes, the former UFC women&#8217;s bantamweight and featherweight champion, is retired. &#8220;The Lioness&#8221; called it a career following her win over Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in Vancouver. And Harrison now admits that her time in terms of MMA is&#8230; well not great. Worse than that, in fact.</p>
<p>“My timing in MMA is pretty brutal. Sometimes I’m like, ‘Did I really need a second gold medal? I should have just gone to MMA when I was 22.’ Then I could’ve just been this monster,” Harrison <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-cM_LRXBkU" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">told ESPN recently</a>. “If [Nunes]’s happy, she’s satisfied, she’s accomplished everything she’s wanted to accomplish, I’m sad for me and I’m happy for her. That’s it.”</p>
<h3>Cutwoman goes down</h3>
<p>Oops.</p>
<p>Billy Brand finished Pedro Juarez by knockout at A1 Combat 12, but that&#8217;s not what the fight will be remembered for. Instead, that is more likely to be his knockdown of the cutwoman while celebrating after the fight.</p>
<p>The event, run by Uriah Faber, aired on UFC Fight Pass, and they had the highlight.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dear cutwoman,</p>
<p>Welcome to the Folly of the Year running<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/A1Combat12?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">#A1Combat12</a> <a href="https://t.co/TzpJBTJzNX" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">pic.twitter.com/TzpJBTJzNX</a></p>
<p>&mdash; UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) <a href="https://twitter.com/UFCFightPass/status/1682967546532622336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">July 23, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h3>Stephen Thompson explains decision to turn down catchweight fight with Pereira</h3>
<p>Stephen &#8220;Wondboy&#8221; Thompson has been here before, with an opponent coming in overweight and getting to get with a competitive advantage. And when it happened ahead of UFC 291, the welterweight veteran was having none of it.</p>
<p>It was Michel Pereira clocking in 3lbs heavy for the pair&#8217;s main card fight, and ultimately, Thompson chose not to move forward with a catchweight. He shed some light on that decision after the fact.</p>
<p>&#8220;Unfortunately my fight with Michel Pereira will no longer be going forward. First off, I&#8217;m sorry to all the fans who were looking forward to my fight. I&#8217;m gutted for my coaches, my family and all the people who helped me throughout camp to be ready and prepared to go to battle,&#8221; Thompson <a href="https://twitter.com/WonderboyMMA/status/1685077360977338368" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">wrote on social media</a>. &#8220;I made weight this morning as I have done every fight during my 11+ year UFC career. My opponent did not. This isn&#8217;t the first time I&#8217;ve had an opponent miss weight and given how that played out previously, myself and my team felt that it&#8217;s ultimately not smart for us to move forward with this fight.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;At my age and given what I&#8217;ve accomplished in this sport, I&#8217;m not here to be a gatekeeper, I&#8217;m here to fight for and win a UFC Welterweight Title. This isn&#8217;t a video game and both of us are putting our health and our careers on the line. If I don&#8217;t finish my opponent, I risk losing a decision, even if it&#8217;s a split decision as what happened when I fought Darren Till and almost the same exact scenario played out back then. Fighters who miss weight face far too few consequences and are often allowed to fight with a significant competitive advantage. This appears to be happening more and more these days.&#8221;</p>
<p>Thompson is hoping that by rejecting the Pereira fight, he&#8217;ll prompt move athletes to buckle now and make weight.</p>
<p>&#8220;Hopefully the decision to not move forward with the fight will discourage others from missing weight in the future. I also hope to encourage fighters that face this situation to follow suit and not allow this to happen to them. I&#8217;m healthy and I will look to get back in the Octagon ASAP BUT on a level playing field as I continue to pursue my question of winning the UFC Welterweight title.&#8221;</p>
<p>Thompson was reportedly not paid his show money by the UFC despite making weight, <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeBohn/status/1685435804192276480" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">per MMA Junkie&#8217;s Mike Bohn</a>.</p>
<h3>McGregor reacts to Gaethje&#8217;s BMF title win</h3>
<p>&#8220;Justin, I&#8217;ll slap you around,&#8221; was Conor McGregor&#8217;s immediate response after Justin Gaethje captured the BMF title at UFC 291, care of a head kick KO perfectly landed on Dustin Poirier.</p>
<p>&#8220;<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">I’m the real bmf, he can fight for pennies if he wants but I want spirits, I call the shots, I’m in it to launch shots, fuck Chandler, you want it call for it,&#8221; McGregor said in a second post to his <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1685509085754429445" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">verified Twitter (or is it X now?) account</a>.</span></p>
<p>McGregor, currently seen as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter 31, is supposed to face Michael Chandler at some point in late 2023 or early 2024, though no date has been announced for the fight. Plus, McGregor is not in the USADA testing pool by all accounts, though that does not limit his ability to fight should the UFC grant him an exemption from the six months testing window for returning fighters (McGregor pulled out of the USADA program while healing the leg he broke against Dustin Poirier in 2021).</p>
<p>In any case, &#8220;The Notorious&#8221; is notorious at keeping his name in the news cycle, so don&#8217;t assume he&#8217;s giving up on the Chandler match-up just yet. And Gaethje definitely has his eye on the UFC lightweight championship, which is a prize McGregor cannot offer.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2023/07/30/sunday-mma-quick-hits-mcgregor-wonderboy/" data-wpel-link="internal">Sunday MMA Quick Hits: McGregor Reacts to Gaethje Win, Wonderboy Issues Statement</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
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		<title>A.J. McKee Says There&#8217;s &#8220;Mutual Respect&#8221; with Patricky Pitbull, Despite Rivalry with Brother</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2023/07/25/a-j-mckee-interview-bellator-rizin/</link>
					<comments>https://cagesidepress.com/2023/07/25/a-j-mckee-interview-bellator-rizin/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jay Anderson]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 Jul 2023 20:44:54 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Bellator MMA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Interviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Video]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[A.J. McKee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bellator X RIZIN 2]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=170232</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Bellator star A.J. McKee is headed back to Japan for his second straight fight in the country this weekend, as he kicks off his run in the promotion&#8217;s lightweight grand prix. Fighting in Japan again was an easy sell for McKee (20-1), who is a former featherweight champ, and made his Japanese debut back in [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2023/07/25/a-j-mckee-interview-bellator-rizin/" data-wpel-link="internal">A.J. McKee Says There&#8217;s &#8220;Mutual Respect&#8221; with Patricky Pitbull, Despite Rivalry with Brother</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Bellator star A.J. McKee is headed back to Japan for his second straight fight in the country this weekend, as he kicks off his run in the promotion&#8217;s lightweight grand prix.</p>
<p>Fighting in Japan again was an easy sell for McKee (20-1), who is a former featherweight champ, and made his Japanese debut back in December.</p>
<p>&#8220;Do it. Let&#8217;s do it! That&#8217;s one of the best places to fight, strategically speaking, and just energetically-wise,&#8221; McKee told Cageside Press in a recent exclusive interview, ahead of his fight with Patricky Pitbill. &#8220;The crowds are amazing out there, they don&#8217;t boo, they only cheer when you shoot for submissions or takedowns, it&#8217;s just very respectful. They have a different respect for the sport and the art aspect of the sport.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Coming full circle and taking the grand prix out there, starting it off with Patricky, I couldn&#8217;t think of a better way or a better fight to start off the tournament with.&#8221;</p>
<p>Given McKee&#8217;s history with Patricio Pitbull — they remain tied 1-1 in their career series, with McKee hoping to land the trilogy fight down the line — the booking with Patricky, the elder Pitbull brother, felt like an obvious one. But despite a sometimes heated rivalry with the Brazilians, McKee explained that past animosities have not carried over.</p>
<p>&#8220;No, not at all. At the end of the day he&#8217;s his own man,&#8221; explained McKee. &#8220;They may share similar styles and so forth, but he&#8217;s his own man. He was his own champ, and I can&#8217;t look at him as, he is his brother, nor vice versa. So this is a fight where I&#8217;m just looking forward to going in there, looking at him face-to-face, and putting on a show.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;At the end of the day, we both have mutual respect for each other, and we both know that we&#8217;ve got a job to do.&#8221;</p>
<p>Of course, trash talk may not entirely fall by the wayside. &#8220;Patricky knows that I like to talk my smack, but at the end of the day, when we get in that cage, our hands and our feet are going to do the trash talking,&#8221; McKee later added.</p>
<p>While McKee is treating the Pitbull brothers as separate entities, and deservedly so, in terms of fighting style, there are of course comparisons to be made.</p>
<p>&#8220;Definitely. They&#8217;ve got very similar styles, they&#8217;ve trained together their entire lives. I&#8217;m going to see a lot of similarities, it&#8217;s just being able to make those little adjustments, and make those adjustments mid-fight,&#8221; said McKee. &#8220;Where Patricio is a lot longer, Patricky is a lot more in tight. It&#8217;s being cognitive of those little things.&#8221;</p>
<p>McKee is the one man in the Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix to have gone the distance in a tournament for the promotion previously, having defeated Patricio Pitbull to win the million dollar featherweight grand prix two years ago. As for any edge, McKee downplayed the role it might play.</p>
<p>&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t say it gives you an edge, but it gives you something, to know what to look forward to. The tournament aspect, for me, everybody&#8217;s 0-0. Everybody&#8217;s undefeated right now,&#8221; stated McKee. &#8220;It&#8217;s whoever comes out 3-0. We&#8217;ve got a couple of guys that are 1-0. For me, it&#8217;s going out there and becoming 1-0, 2-0, 3-0 and continuing the hit list. I&#8217;ve got one title that&#8217;s got 16 names on it, so I&#8217;m looking forward to conquering another one with another eight.&#8221;</p>
<p>McKee is that rare fighter to have spent his entire professional career with a single promotion, coming up on 22 fights now. Debuting for Bellator in 2015, he ran up an 18-fight win streak before suffering his only loss, in his second fight with Patricio Pitbull. During that time, he&#8217;s become the face of the promotion, especially with <a href="http://cagesidepress.com/tag/michael-chandler/" data-wpel-link="internal">Michael Chandler</a>&#8216;s move to the UFC.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s a situation that A.J. McKee says is &#8220;awesome.&#8221; McKee never expected to be in this role— &#8220;I didn&#8217;t think I&#8217;d be the face of the company,&#8221; he told us — but having put in the work over the years and set/met his own goals, he&#8217;s happy to see his craft appreciated. As nice as it is to get that recognition, however, &#8220;at the end of the day I&#8217;ve got a job to do, and stepping into this grand prix at 155 pounds, everything else in the past is all voided out. Now coming full circle, this is where it&#8217;s at. This is the pressure, and this is what I like. Diamonds to well under pressure, it&#8217;s how they&#8217;re created. I&#8217;ve got that fire in me, so I&#8217;m ready to go burn some stuff up.&#8221;</p>
<p>Of course, whether Bellator will even be Bellator when this grand prix wraps up is a valid question. The company is up for sale, news confirmed by Bellator CEO Scott Coker. McKee, however, isn&#8217;t paying that too much mind.</p>
<p>&#8220;For me, I&#8217;m going to just do what I do best. Send me a contract, and I&#8217;m going to do what I do. Just don&#8217;t leave me in the wind hanging around, baby. I&#8217;m ready to get active. This is how I support my family, this is how I support my father&#8217;s family and so forth.&#8221; That includes a new baby brother, Halo McKee. &#8220;We&#8217;ve got new additions to the family. I&#8217;m a dog that&#8217;s trying to eat, let me eat!&#8221;</p>
<p><em>Watch our full interview with Bellator x RIZIN star A.J. McKee above.</em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2023/07/25/a-j-mckee-interview-bellator-rizin/" data-wpel-link="internal">A.J. McKee Says There&#8217;s &#8220;Mutual Respect&#8221; with Patricky Pitbull, Despite Rivalry with Brother</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
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		<title>Bellator X RIZIN 2 Announced with Inaugural Flyweight Title Fight, A.J. McKee vs. Patricky Pitbull Headlines</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2023/05/27/bellator-x-rizin-2-announced-july-30-saitama-j-mckee-vs-patricky-pitbull-headlines/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jay Anderson]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 27 May 2023 10:44:44 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Bellator MMA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MMA News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rizin FF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[A.J. McKee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bellator X RIZIN 2]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kana Watanabe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kyoji Horiguchi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Makoto Shinryu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Patricky Pitbull]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Veta Arteaga]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=165588</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The second full-fledged cross-promoted show between Bellator MMA and RIZIN Fighting Federation has been announced. Set to take place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on July 30, 2023, Bellator X RIZIN 2 will see a slight change to the format. Rather than featuring fighters from each promotion going head-to-head, this year&#8217;s card [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2023/05/27/bellator-x-rizin-2-announced-july-30-saitama-j-mckee-vs-patricky-pitbull-headlines/" data-wpel-link="internal">Bellator X RIZIN 2 Announced with Inaugural Flyweight Title Fight, A.J. McKee vs. Patricky Pitbull Headlines</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The second full-fledged cross-promoted show between Bellator MMA and RIZIN Fighting Federation has been announced.</p>
<p>Set to take place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on July 30, 2023, Bellator X RIZIN 2 will see a slight change to the format. Rather than featuring fighters from each promotion going head-to-head, this year&#8217;s card will instead feature some of the best talents from both companies, including A.J. McKee vs. Patricky Pitbull in the main event — a quarterfinal match-up in the promotion&#8217;s ongoing lightweight grand prix.</p>
<p>Bellator officials announced the news via press release on Saturday.</p>
<p>McKee (20-1) last fought in January as part of Bellator MMA vs. RIZIN, defeating Roberto &#8220;Satoshi&#8221; Souza in a non-title bout. Prior to that, in his lightweight debut, McKee had defeated Spike Carlyle. The 28-year old has spent his entire career with Bellator MMA, and is a former featherweight champion and grand prix tournament winner.</p>
<p>Pitbull (24-11) is a former lightweight champion, who lost his 155lb title to Usman Nurmagomedov in his last fight. He&#8217;s the elder brother of Patricio Pitbull, who had a heated rivalry with McKee at featherweight.</p>
<p>Also slated for the Bellator X RIZIN 2 card on July 30, the inaugural title fight in Bellator&#8217;s newly announced flyweight division, previously reported by <a href="https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2023/05/news-bellator-flyweight-division-weight-class-mens" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">MMA Junkie</a>. That fight will see <span lang="EN"> Kyoji Horiguchi (16-9) take on fellow Japanese star Makoto &#8220;Shinryu&#8221; (16-1-1).</span></p>
<p>Horiguchi had been expected to fight Ray Borg earlier this year, only for the fight to be scrapped when Borg missed weight and <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2023/04/22/following-blown-weight-cut-dismissal-promotion-management-firm-ray-borg-retires/" data-wpel-link="internal">subsequently retired</a>. Shinryu enters the bout on the strength of a ten-fight win streak.</p>
<p>Rounding out Saturday&#8217;s announcement, a third match-up will see #3-ranked women&#8217;s flyweight <span lang="EN">Kana Watanabe (11-2-1) face #7-Veta Arteaga (7-5).</span></p>
<p>Bellator stars Juan Archuleta and Tofiq Musayev, who have both competed under the RIZIN banner, will compete on the RIZIN FF portion of the July 30 card. RIZIN&#8217;s fights will take place inside their traditional ring, under the Japanese ruleset. Bellator fights will take place in the cage, under the Unified Rules of MMA.</p>
<p>More fights are expected to be announced shortly.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2023/05/27/bellator-x-rizin-2-announced-july-30-saitama-j-mckee-vs-patricky-pitbull-headlines/" data-wpel-link="internal">Bellator X RIZIN 2 Announced with Inaugural Flyweight Title Fight, A.J. McKee vs. Patricky Pitbull Headlines</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
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