[autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] is staying with Bellator.
The former Bellator featherweight champion recently signed an exclusive, multifight, multiyear deal with the promotion. MMA Junkie confirmed the news with a promotion official following a report Tuesday by Sports Illustrated.
In addition, McKee is expected to be one of the eight participants of the lightweight grand prix. The winner will be the Bellator lightweight champion and win $1 million. No date has been announced for the tournament, but it’s expected to begin sometime in 2023.
McKee (20-1) is one of Bellator’s biggest names. He’s also a home-grown talent, as he’s been with the company since his professional MMA debut and is often used as an example of Bellator’s talent crafting prowess by promotion president Scott Coker
“The Mercenary” was long undefeated, with the height of his perfect run coming in the summer of 2021 when he won the Bellator featherweight grand prix and the $1 million prize with a dethrone of Patricio Freire to become champion. McKee lost a decision in an immediate rematch against “Pitbull” at Bellator 277 in April.
Since, McKee moved up to lightweight and picked up two consecutive unanimous decision wins, with the most recent one coming against Rizin FF champion Roberto de Souza in New Year’s Eve part of a co-promoted event – Rizin FF 40: Bellator vs. Rizin.
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