Mixed martial arts organization Bellator MMA has upped its game in Europe by signing 22 new fighters to its roster, as it gears up for a newly-created, localised six-event series in the UK and Ireland, in the twelve months from October/November 2018.
Following Bellator’s plan to build a strong presence in the U.K. and western Europe, as well as the announcement of a western Europe-based localised fight series, Bellator has taken the next steps in that initiative and signed over twenty European fighters to bolster their roster for the market.
Most notably, Norman Parke, Terry Brazier and Richard Kiely, and Jim Wallhead are among the signees.
It is understood that the events will also be televised locally, with venues likely to include London's Copper Box, in the 2012 Olympic Park, although there are plans to move the events around the UK and Ireland.
The clutch of new signings is in line with Bellator CEO Scott Coker's pledge to fans after the historic Bellator 200 event in London in May that the growth of the sport on this side of The Pond had not gone unnoticed.
Bellator's recently announced welterweight Grand Prix will include Michael Page and Paul Daley, with the two British standouts expected to face each other, potentially in the UK, either within, or even outside the local series in the coming months.
Bellator are likely to confirm the fighters officially and possible start dates in the coming week.
Bellator's newly-signed fighters .
Lightweights:
Terry Brazier (10-1; fighting out of England)
Pedro Carvalho (8-3; fighting out of Ireland by way of Portugal)
Constantin Gnusariev (1-0; fighting out of Ireland by of Moldova)
Luka Jelcic (10-3; fighting out of Ireland by way of Croatia)
Charlie Leary (15-9-1; fighting out of England)
Norman Parke (25-6-1, 1 NC; fighting out of Northern Ireland)
Myles Price (10-7, fighting out of Ireland)
Daniele Scatizzi (9-4; fighting out Ireland by way of Italy)
Sam Slater (2-0; fighting out of Ireland)
Richie Smullen (3-1-1; fighting out of Ireland)
Tim Wilde (12-3; fighting out of England)
Welterweights:
Ruben Crawford (16-3; fighting out of Ireland by way of Germany)
Kiefer Crosbie (4-0; fighting out of Ireland)
Walter Gahadza (17-3; fighting out of England)
Richard Kiely (2-1; fighting out of Ireland)
Ion Pascu (18-8; fighting out of Ireland by way of Romania)
Jim Wallhead (29-11; fighting out of England)
Featherweights:
Dylan Logan (2-3; fighting out of Ireland)
Nathan Rose (6-1; fighting out of England)
Middleweights:
Claudio Conti (7-5-2; fighting out of Ireland by way of Italy)
John Redmond (7-13; fighting out of Ireland)
Women’s Flyweights:
Antonela Orlic – (pro debut; fighting out of Ireland by way of Croatia)
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Bellator MMA sign 22 new European fighters ahead of localised six-event series in UK and Ireland in 2018/2019
