‘The Child Prodigy’ skipping senior trip for MMA fight in New Orleans

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — “The Child Prodigy,” Aidan McDaniel, 17, is continuing his MMA journey on Friday, July 18, at the Alario Center as part of the Fury Fighting Championship card in New Orleans.

According to Aidan’s mom, Shannon McDaniel, Fury FC is a regional promotion. McDaniel will fight the night before Louisiana’s own Dustin Poirier takes on Max Holloway in his retirement fight.

He is set to take on Brett “El Leprechaun” Kelley, who has a record of 4-1.

Shannon said Kelley “fights out of Main St. Boxing & Muay Thai in Houston, Texas, but is originally from Livingston, La., too.”

Aidan hails from Livingston Parish, and he comes into this fight with an amateur record of 2-1. He will turn 18 two days before the fight in New Orleans.

The Livingston Parish native said, “Fighting for Fury FC is a big step up for me and Brett Kelley will be my toughest opponent yet, but it’s a great opportunity to prove myself and get my name out there.”

He won his first fight as a 16-year-old junior at Doyle High School. His second fight did not go as planned, as he lost by submission.

After that loss, McDaniel eagerly prepared for his third fight, which he won by rear naked choke in the second round, Shannon said.

If you are interested in attending the card that Aidan is on, tickets are available here. All you have to do is select Aidan McDaniel under fighter selection.

Aidan said, “Prelims will air live on Fury FC Facebook page, and the main card will be available live on UFC Fight Pass.”

This fight follows Aidan’s recent graduation from high school.

His mother said Aidan graduated Magna Cum Laude from Doyle High School on Saturday, May 17.

Aidan’s opponent also graduated from the same high school in 2016, Shannon said.

She said Kelley also grew up on the same street we now live on.

McDaniel is missing his senior trip to fight on this card. He said the trip was a cruise that was supposed to go to Belize, Costa Maya, and Cozumel.

The Louisiana native looks forward to fighting on the Fury FC card.

He said, “I’m ecstatic to get a big opportunity like this while I’m still so young. When I heard the news of a potential fight for Fury, I knew I had to skip my Senior trip to take the fight.”

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