Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut hosts Bellator 253. The nine-fight card is headlined by a featherweight grand prix semifinal pitting Darrion “The Wolf” Caldwell against AJ “The Mercenary” McKee.
Darrion Caldwell is a former champion at bantamweight, who beat Henry Corrales by decision & submitted Adam Borics to advance to the featherweight grand prix semifinal. Unbeaten Aj McKee knocked out Georgi Karakhanyan is eight seconds in the opening round. And in the quarterfinals “The Mercenary” submitted Derek Campos with a triangle armbar combination.
In the co-main event former WEC & UFC Lightweight champion “Smooth” Benson Henderson jumps up to welterweight to face former VFC, Titan FC, & LFA champion Jason “The Ass Kicking MAchine” Jackson. The featured fight has unbeaten Joey “Black Ice” Davis squaring off with Minnesota’s Bobby Lee. A bantamweight fight opens the card as former VFC champion Raufeon “Supa” Stots faces “Killa” Keith Lee.
Main Event
- Featherweight Bout: AJ McKee Jr. (17-0) def. Darrion Caldwell (14-4) submission (neck crank) 2:11 R1
- Welterweight Bout: Jason Jackson (13-4) def. Benson Henderson (28-10) by (30-27 x3) unanimous decision
- Welterweight Bout: Joey Davis (8-0) def. Bobby Lee (12-4) by (30-26, 30-27 x2) unanimous decision
- Bantamweight Bout: Raufreon Stots (15-1) def. Keith Lee (7-4) by (30-27 x3) unanimous decision
Prelim
- Featherweight Bout: Jeremy Kennedy (16-2) def. Matt Bessette (24-10) by (30-27, 30-26 x2) unanimous decision
- Welterweight Bout: Jaleel Willis (7-2) vs. Mark Lemminger (11-3) by (29-28 x3) unanimous decision
- Featherweight Bout: Jay Jay Wilson (7-0) def. Sergio Deban (6-1) by KO (right rook plus ground & pound) 0:20 R1
- Lightweight Bout: Kaheem Murray (4-3) def. Baby Slice (3-3) by (30-27 x3) unanimous decision
- Light-heavyweight Bout: Sullivan Cauley (1-0) def. Jason Markland (0-1) by TKO (right straight plus ground & pound) 0:28 R1
