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Bellator MMA

In the main event of Thursday's Bellator 253 card, one man will punch his ticket to the finals of the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix tournament as AJ McKee and Darrion Caldwell will meet in the semifinal bout from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut (7 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network).

McKee (16-0) has fought his entire professional career in the Bellator cage, brought along slowly before being matched up with higher-level opposition. He has thrived at every level to this point in his career, including picking up an eight-second, opening-round knockout win in the tournament against Georgi Karakhanyan. That victory was followed up with a third-round submission of Derek Campos to secure his spot in the semifinals.

Caldwell (15-3) is a former NCAA champion wrestler who started his professional career perfect at 9-0 before suffering his first setback with a July 2016 submission loss to Joe Taimanglo. He rebounded from that loss by beating Taimanglo in the rematch, and one fight later defeated Eduardo Dantas to win the Bellator bantamweight championship. He entered the Grand Prix after back-to-back losses to Kyoji Horiguchi, the second costing him the bantamweight title, but decisioned Henry Corrales in the opening round before submitting Adam Borics in the quarterfinals.

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The co-main event sees another fun bout at 170 pounds as former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson returns against top prospect Jason Jackson. Henderson is coming off a TKO loss to Michael Chandler in August -- just the second time in his professional career that he's been knocked out. Before that, Henderson had settled in well with Bellator MMA, amassing a four-fight win streak in 2018 and 2019. Jackson, meanwhile, has won five of his last six bouts with the lone loss coming by split decision against Ed Ruth.

Odds below provided via William Hill Sportsbook.

Bellator 253 fight card, odds

 AJ McKee -330 vs. Darrion Caldwell +260, featherweight Grand Prix
Jason Jackson -180 vs. Benson Henderson +155, welterweights 
Joey Davis -490 vs. Bobby Lee +370, welterweights 
Raufeon Stots -220 vs. Keith Lee +180, bantamweights 
Matt Bessette vs. Jeremy Kennedy, featherweights 
Baby Slice vs. Kaheem Murray, lightweights
Mark Lemminger vs. Jaleel Willis, welterweights 
Sergio de Bari vs. Jay Jay Wilson, featherweights 
Sullivan Cauley vs. Jason Markland, light heavyweights

Prediction

McKee has generally looked outstanding through his professional career. Caldwell is a very stiff test for the 25-year-old, and maybe the toughest of his career. McKee has six wins by knockout, five by submission and five by decision, which speaks to his ability to win a fight no matter where it goes. Both men rely on pushing the pace of a fight. McKee can be a little more aggressive in going for earlier finishes and put himself a bit at risk trying to force himself to take a fight over, but Caldwell has similar issues in being so determined in going for takedowns that he has stuck his head into guillotine chokes that have accounted for two of his three career losses. Only one of the two men has had their flaws exploited and turned into losses, and it's easy to see that happening once again. Though if Caldwell can survive some early aggression by McKee, he may be able to wear him down and win the later rounds. Pick: AJ McKee via third-round submission