Rising featherweight star A.J. McKee is set to take on Blair Tugman at Bellator 182, the promotion announced today.

Bellator 182 takes place Aug. 25 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y. The event’s main card, which will feature McKee (8-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) against Tugman (10-6 MMA, 5-2 BMMA), airs live on Spike following prelims on MMAjunkie.com.

The booking gives McKee the chance to extend his unbeaten streak to nine after a head-kick knockout of Dominic Mazzotta in April at Bellator 178. Notably, it also keeps the 22-year-old prospect on a parallel track with budding rival James Gallagher.

McKee and Gallagher seemed destined to meet with dueling post-fight callouts earlier this year. Gallagher in February called McKee a crass name for the female anatomy, and McKee mocked Gallagher after his April win.

Yet Gallagher was booked opposite Chinzo Machida in May at Bellator 180, and McKee is now booked against Tubman.

It appears Bellator’s intention is to build the featherweight prospects until there’s no other option but to pair them in a must-see fight. Just how long it takes to reach that point is anyone’s guess.

One thing is certain: Tugman can play spoiler if he’s able to beat McKee. With three recent wins to his credit, he is 5-2 in the Bellator cage.

With the addition, the current Bellator 182 lineup includes:

Andrey Koreshkov vs. Chidi Njokuani

Fernando Gonzalez vs. Brennan Ward

A.J. McKee vs. Blair Tugman

Gabby Holloway vs. Talita Nogueira

For more on Bellator 182, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.