Heavyweight Matt “Meathead” Mitrione has announced that after testing free agency, he has signed a six figure deal with UFC rival promotion Bellator MMA. The signing of Mitrione seems to have become a new pattern for Bellator, signing bigger name athletes that seek to free agency believing they deserve more money then the UFC has offered, and giving them an amount that they believe they are worth.

Mitrione fought out the last fight of his UFC contract back in January against fellow ranked fight Travis Browne. Although the fight was very controversial due to illegal eye pokes, Mitrione ended up losing the bout and went into free agency on a two fight losing skid.

Bellator clearly saw a lot of potential for Mitrione by giving him an offer at the age of 37, and Mitrione will be a great addition to the company’s heavyweight division. Mitrione was originally an NFL player and got his start on a season of The Ultimate Fighter. His first career mixed martial arts bout was actually under the UFC promotion, dating back to 2009.

Mitrione had success, going 9-5 with eight of his wins being KO/TKO’s. Bellator has not announced a date or opponent for the newly signed heavyweight fighter, but I’m sure Mitrione will be a headliner or at least at the top of the event with all eyes on him.

 

Stay tuned for the latest news and updates revolving around Bellator and the signing of Mitrione.

About The Author

Jake Schneider
Staff Writer

Jake Schneider is a student at the University of Rhode Island who is currently looking to pursue a double major in Communications and Journalism. He is an MMA fanatic who has been following the sport for years. He began to share his wealth of knowledge and opinions on the sport to many of his family members and friends as well as various MMA forums online. His love and passion for the sport has been able to make many people that are a part of his life fans of mixed martial arts as well. His insight of the sport both inside and outside of the cage is what makes his analysis on fights and individual fighters so well informed.