That was absolutely brutal…
Kicking off a packed weekend of MMA action, Bellator 178 hit the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Looking like a stacked card on paper, Bellator delivered once again with a solid card.
Headlining their Friday night offering was the featherweight title fight between Patricio Freire and Daniel Straus. In their fourth meeting, and perhaps their most exciting, Freire would take back the title by submission.
That was not the only talking point of the evening, though.
AJ McKee
This is 22-year old undefeated prospect AJ McKee, and he likes to knock people out. Facing Dominic Mazzotta in his eighth professional bout, McKee scored a great contender for knockout of the year.
Improving to 8-0 with the win, McKee emerges as one of the brighter young prospects under the BMMA banner. Thus far, he’s fought all his career under the Bellator flag.
Watch as McKee starches Mazzotta for the brutal knockout win, courtesy of ESPN.com:
Bellator 178 Full Results List
Elsewhere on the card, Ed Ruth also stayed undefeated with a second round TKO against David Mundell. Ilma-Lei Macfarlane submitted Jessica Middleton with an armbar, and Saad Awad defeated Ryan Quinn by unanimous decision.
Stay with SD over this weekend, as we bring you all the updates and video replays of the upcoming UFC event tonight, and beyond!
Complete Bellator 178: Straus vs. ‘Pitbull’ 4 Main Card:
Patricio Freire def. Daniel Straus via submission (guillotine) – Round 2, 0:37
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane def. Jessica Middleton via submission (arm-bar)(Round 1, 2:15)
Saad Awad def. Ryan Quinn via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3, 5:00
A.J. McKee def. Dominic Mazzotta via KO (Head Kick) R1, 1:15
Bellator.com-Streamed Preliminary Card:
Kastriot Xhema def. Nick Alley via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 3:19
Blair Tugman def. Tom English via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 4:54
Jordan Young def. Tim Caron via submission (D’Arce choke) – Round 1, 3:55
Ed Ruth def. David Mundell via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 3:13
Tyrell Fortune def. Branko Busick via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
