Bellator 171: AJ McKee and Jarod Trice, among others, join Jan. 27 line up

Bellator 171 "Guillard vs. Njokani" comes to Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane, Kans. on Jan. 27, 2017. It's a night of fights headlined by "The Young Assassin" Melvin Guillard and Chidi Njokuani having a catchweight bout at 175 pounds.

Bellator has announced some exciting new bouts for the card. featherweight standout McKee (6-0) will make a quick return following his Bellator 166 bout in December, despite his initial belief that he broke his thumb fighting Ray Wood.

Maybe it was just sore from the lopsided beating he dished out.

McKee will take on a slightly more experienced opponent in Brandon Phillips, a 6-2 Featherweight with more total fights if not more wins. Don't take Phillips lightly though -- Chuka Willis already made that mistake.

Meanwhile Wichita, Kans. based fighter Jessica Middleton looks to follow up on her successful Bellator 159 debut by facing the much more experienced Alice Yauger (4-4) in a featured flyweight fight.

Yauger brings a two fight win streak into the cage and is a known grinder who picks up 75% of her wins by decision, so the young Middleton (28) will have her hands full against the 38-year-old.

To finalize the card Bellator has announced bouts for three up-and-coming fighters, including two of their "blue chip" prospects and one who will look to redeem herself from a loss at the same venue to Middleton.

Following a successful pro debut in Thackerville, collegiate wrestling stud Jarod Trice (1-0) will look to once again showcase why he's a heavyweight to be reckoned with. Kevin Woltkamp (1-2) will look to score the upset.

He'll be joined in Mulvane by another rising star of the division in Tyrell Fortune (1-0), who proved his mettle in Uncasville last November and can do it again by facing Will Johnson in his first MMA fight.

Last but not least Bruna Ellen (2-1) returns after suffering a surprising defeat in her last trip to Kansas Star Casino, but she too faces a newcomer to MMA on Jan. 27 in Carmella James.

The finalized Bellator 171 line up for Mulvane is below.

Bellator 171 "Guillard vs. Njokuani" Card (Spike TV):

175 lbs.: Melvin Guillard (32-16-2, 3 NC) vs. Chidi Njokuani (16-4, 1 NC)
Lightweight: Dave Rickels (17-4, 2 NC) vs. Aaron Derrow (14-8)
Featherweight: A.J. McKee (6-0) vs. Brandon Phillips (6-2)
Flyweight: Jessica Middleton (1-0) vs. Alice Yauger (4-4)

Bellator 171 "Prelims" Card (Spike.com):

Middleweight: Chris Harris (7-0) vs. Jordan Young (5-0)
Featherweight: Gaston Reyno (6-1, 2 NC) vs. Justin Overton (3-2)
Weltereweight: Will Lavine (Debut) vs. Domo Garcia (Debut)
Welterweight: Chance Rencountre (8-2) vs. Jake Lindsay (11-5)
Bantamweight: Johnny Marigo (2-0) vs. Joe Fulk (4-4)
Welterweight: Manny Meraz (8-3) vs. Scott Heston (4-1)
Lightweight: Craig Farley (Debut) vs. Mike Breeden (Debut)
Heavyweight: Jarod Trice (1-0) vs. Kevin Woltkamp (1-2)
Heavyweight: Tyrell Fortune (1-0) vs. Will Johnson (Debut)
Flyweight: Bruna Ellen (2-1) vs. Carmella James (Debut)

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