Bellator 301 has added former champion AJ McKee to the lineup. McKee will take on fellow top contender Sidney Outlaw in a key featherweight contest on the November event.
Bellator 301: AJ McKee-Sidney Outlaw Among Additions
Former champion AJ McKee will take on Sidney Outlaw in one of the newest fights added to the Bellator 301 event.
Set for Friday, November 17 from Chicago and Wintrust Arena, the card features Yaroslav Amosov defending his welterweight title against Jason Jackson. Also, Sergio Pettis and Patchy Mix meet to unify the bantamweight championships and Patricky Pitbull takes on Alexander Shabily in the semifinals of the Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix.
Other new fights announced include former women’s flyweight champion Juliana Velasquez taking on Paula Cristina, Keri Taylor Melendez facing Sabriye Sengul, Archie Colgan battling Pieter Buist and Matheus Mattos squaring off with Richard Palenica.
AJ McKee (#6, 20-1) vs. Sidney Outlaw (#5, 17-5) – Lightweight Main Card Bout
AJ McKee reached the pinnacle of the sport early in his career when he won the coveted $1,000,000 Featherweight World Grand Prix. Shortly after, McKee decided to take his business to lightweight in an attempt to capture another World Championship. After a medical issue forced him to withdraw from the Lightweight World Grand Prix, McKee now returns to the BELLATOR cage for the first time in 2023 in a marquee matchup at BELLATOR 301.
Also originally scheduled to compete in the Lightweight World Grand Prix, No. 5-ranked Sidney Outlaw returns to action following his impressive victory over Russia’s Islam Mamedov at the BELLATOR 298 event this past August. Having won twelve of his last fourteen bouts, the Kill Cliff FC standout now finds himself in a high-stakes lightweight tilt against his toughest test to date in McKee.
Juliana Velasquez (#1, 12-2) vs. Paula Cristina (6-2) – Flyweight Bout
BELLATOR 301 will see the return of former BELLATOR Flyweight World Champion Juliana Velasquez when she takes on dangerous striker Paula Cristina. Sporting a perfect run in her first twelve outings, Velasquez looks to return to form in her first appearance of 2023.
28-year-old Cristina stands in Velasquez’s way on her path back to the title. Out of her six victories, Cristina boasts an impressive four knockouts to her name, proving to be a stylistic challenge for anyone in the division.
Keri Taylor Melendez (5-0) vs. Sabriye Sengul (3-3) – Flyweight Bout
In her long-awaited return to the BELLATOR cage, undefeated Keri Taylor Melendez will face off against Turkey’s Sabriye Sengul in her first outing since 2020. The wife of former STRIKEFORCE Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez, Keri has proven to be a well-rounded athlete who belongs at the upper echelon of the BELLATOR flyweight division. Meticulously putting together her dynamic striking and dangerous grappling skills, Melendez has created her own legacy within BELLATOR and looks to continue to add to her perfect record at BELLATOR 301. Competing in BELLATOR for the first time since 2019, Sengul has the opportunity to take Melendez’s spotlight in the promotion’s return to Chicago, Ill.
Archie Colgan (#10, 8-0) vs. Pieter Buist (17-7) – Lightweight Bout
Archie Colgan will grace the BELLATOR cage for the third time in 2023 when he returns to the Windy City to defend his top ten ranking against the rangy Pieter Buist in a lightweight clash. The active Colorado native has recently scored a first-round knockout against Justin Montalvo at BELLATOR 293 and overpowered grizzled veteran in Emmanuel Sanchez at BELLATOR 297. Although a highly credentialed wrestler from the renowned University of Wyoming’s wrestling program, five of Colgan’s victories have come by way of knockout. Making his promotional debut at BELLATOR 297, Buist plans to capitalize on his prominent height advantage against the surging prospect and pick up his first victory under the BELLATOR banner.
Matheus Mattos (13-2-1) vs. Richard Palencia (10-1) – Bantamweight Bout
In an exciting preliminary matchup, Brazil’s Matheus Mattos will face former LFA bantamweight champion Richard Palencia at BELLATOR 301. Training at the world-famous Pitbull Brother’s gym, Mattos will return to action on the strength of defeating Cee Jay Hamilton via second round TKO at BELLATOR 262. Due to a leg injury occurring in his promotional debut at BELLATOR 286, Arizona’s Palencia will step into the BELLATOR cage for the second time, this time hoping to prove he belongs in the talent-stacked bantamweight division.
Bellator 301 Fight Card
BELLATOR 301 Main Card:
Friday, November 17 – Live on SHOWTIME
Wintrust Arena in Chicago
9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
Welterweight World Title Bout: C-Yaroslav Amosov (27-0) vs. #2-Jason Jackson (16-4)
Bantamweight World Title Unification Main Event: C-Sergio Pettis (23-5) vs. IC-Patchy Mix (18-1)
Bantamweight Main Card Bout: #2-Raufeon Stots (19-2) vs. #6-Danny Sabatello (14-3)
Lightweight Main Card Bout: #6-AJ McKee (20-1) vs. #5-Sidney Outlaw (17-5)
Lightweight World Grand Prix Semi-Final: #1-Patricky Pitbull (25-11) vs. #2-Alexander Shabliy (23-3)
BELLATOR 301 Preliminary Card:
BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel | Pluto TV
5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT
Heavyweight Bout: #5-Daniel James (15-7-1) vs. Ali Isaev (9-0-1)
Heavyweight Bout: #6-Tyrell Fortune (13-3) vs. #8-Marcelo Golm (10-4)
Featherweight Bout: #6-Timur Khizriev (13-0) vs. #7-Justin Gonzales (14-2)
Lightweight Bout: #10-Archie Colgan (8-0) vs. Pieter Buist (17-7)
Flyweight Bout: #1-Juliana Velasquez (12-2) vs. Paula Cristina (6-2)
Flyweight Bout: Keri Taylor Melendez (5-0) vs. Sabriye Sengul (3-3)
Bantamweight Bout: Matheus Mattos (13-2-1) vs. Richard Palencia (10-1)
Lightweight Bout: Mike Hamel (11-5) vs. Tim Wilde (16-4-1)
Flyweight Bout: #6-Denise Kielholtz (7-5) vs. #5-Sumiko Inaba (6-0)
160-Pound Contract Weight Bout: Islam Mamedov (22-3-1) vs. Killys Mota (15-3
