Clash between Bellator featherweights A.J. McKee and Emmanuel Sanchez set for Dec. 2

The Bellator cage is heading back to Thackerville, Oklahoma this winter. And this time features one of the promotion's fastest rising talents.

Fresh off his win over Cody Walker at Bellator 160 in August, A.J. McKee will return to action against Emmanuel Sanchez on Dec. 2, the promotion announced on Friday during a call to introduce its newest roster member, Chael Sonnen. The fight will take place at the WinStar World Casino and Resort, a familiar destination for the Bellator brand.

The hot prospect McKee (5-0) has fought all of his professional bouts in Bellator, ringing up first round victories in all but one of them. That was Walker, who lasted into the second round before succumbing to a guillotine choke. A.J. is the son of longtime MMA veteran Antonio McKee, whom he trains with in Long Beach at Body Shop Fitness.

He will be facing the toughest challenge of his career in Sanchez, a seven-time Bellator veteran who has stood in against former champ Pat Curran and Justin Lawrence, the latter whom he defeated at Bellator 145. In Sanchez's last outing in July he dropped a narrow split decision against Germany's Daniel Weichel.

Each of Sanchez's last four fights have been decided by a split decision, with three of them going in his favor.

No other fights have been announced for the Thackerville card at this time.