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

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.