Another big name for the UFC’s biggest rivals.
Matt Mitrione has announced that he is leaving the UFC to sign a four-fight deal with rival promotion Bellator.
The 37-year-old heavyweight confirmed the widely-rumoured switch on the MMA Hour, and becomes the second high-profile fighter in as many months to join Bellator, after the signing of former UFC lightweight champ Benson Henderson.
Mitrione, a former NFL player who had built up a record of 9-5 with the UFC since starting his MMA career in 2009, was out of contract.
He said: “There comes a time in every athlete’s life, where the scenarios change and the landscape has eroded from what made you fall in love with it initially.
“It has become that time for me. After a mutually beneficial free-agency period, I’ve decided to move my career to Bellator.
“I’ve enjoyed almost every second of my career and unlike most that switch organizations due to being cut or no longer being able to perform at the sports highest levels, I am bringing a body and skillset that are only getting better, and I cannot wait to test my abilities against the best Bellator has to offer.”
Mitrione’s use of the term ‘free agency’, a common term used in American pro sports for the period after which contracts expire, is further evidence of the growing willingness of fighters to test the waters and see what their value is with promoters on the open market.
Meanwhile, Rory MacDonald looks set to be the next – and biggest – fighter to test his value after he revealed his fight against Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson is the last of his current UFC deal.
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Bellator also confirmed the move for Mitrione, whose last fight was a controversial defeat by Travis Browne in January, but no date has yet been set for his debut with the promotion.
