Former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida has signed an exclusive, multi-fight deal with Bellator, sources confirmed with MMA Fighting following an initial report by ESPN. The deal was signed Friday.
Machida leaves the UFC following an 11-year career with the promotion. Machida holds a 2-0 record thus far in 2018, having picked up a split decision victory over middleweight Eryk Anders and then knocked out Vitor Belfort with a second-round front kick at UFC 224. The matchup against Belfort was the final fight on Machida’s UFC contract.
“Bellator is pleased to announce the signing of former world champion Lyoto Machida to an exclusive, multi-fight agreement,” Bellator officials said in a statement. “We look forward to seeing ‘The Dragon’ compete inside the Bellator cage in the near future.”