Bellator MMA have added two stellar featherweight bouts to their 160 main card destined for the Honda Centre in Anaheim, California on August 26th. Headlined by the lightweight title eliminator between Benson Henderson and Patricio Freire, the card is shaping up to be another hit for the Spike TV promotion.
Undefeated Californian AJ McKee will be aiming for his fifth consecutive first round finish when he takes on Henry Corrales. Despite having just four pro fights on his fight resume, McKee has set the MMA world on fire with his devastating array of finishes. After displaying his jiu-jitsu tekkers on his Bellator debut, slapping on a rear naked choke against Marcos Banilla, he’s smashed out a trio of knockouts thanks to his exciting striking game.
Similar to 170lb talent Michael Page, featherweight McKee has been labelled a true product of the Bellator system, who with appropriate matchmaking are billing the 21-year-old as a huge star of the future.
Current featherweight champion, Daniel Straus will no doubt be keeping a close eye on this talented prospect as he seems to be working his way up the ranks very quickly and a title shot could be coming his way sooner rather than later.
Corrales. Meanwhile, will be looking to get back to winning ways after hitting a three-fight losing streak, although all his losses thus far in Bellator have come against tough competition in Freire, Straus and Emmanuel Sanchez.
It hasn’t been an easy ride for the King of the Cage veteran but for a fighter who rarely goes to decision and has a slick BJJ game, with the majority of his wins coming by way of submission, the fellow Cali resident will be hoping his experience (three times as many fights) proves to be too much for the young McKee.
Technically a European – having been born in Frankfurt, Germany – Bubba Jenkins, the former NCAA national champion wrestler out of Arizona State University, will be looking for his fourth win on the trot as he takes on MMA veteran Georgi Karakhanyan (24-6-1) in a rematch from Bellator 132 in January 2015.
Based in Coconut Creek, Florida, with American Top Team Jenkins is part of the next generation of ATT stars hoping to follow in the footsteps of some of the gym’s most celebrated fighters.
Although coming off back to back defeats to Daniel Weichel and Pat Curran, Karakhanyan should be heading into this rematch with a ton of confidence as he was able to defeat Jenkins with ease, when the two featherweights first squared off in the Bellator cage, getting the technical submission victory by way of a guillotine choke in the first round.
At the top of the bill, and with a shot at lightweight champion Michael Chandler on the line for the winner, Henderson vs. Freire promises fireworks. Whilst Kimbo Slice’s son ‘Baby Slice’ evin Ferguson Jnr also features on the show.
