Long-time Bellator fighter Marcin Held has announced today that he’s signed for the UFC.
There’s differing accounts as to why the Polish lightweight left his previous employer, with Bellator claiming that they had released him from his contract, while Held says that he ended his deal with them.
Either way, the 24 year-old brings a very respectable 22-4 record to the Octagon, including a five year stint in the Bellator cage in which he produced a 10-3 record.
His achievements include reaching the finals of two Bellator lightweight tournaments, losing the first by unanimous decision to Dave Jansen, but winning the second after defeating Patricky ‘Pitbull’ Freire.
After winning the season 10 tournament, Held went on to fight Will Brooks for the title in November of last year, but lost out by unanimous decision. He’s since got back to winning ways in the cage back in May, avenging his previous loss to Jansen.
Held is a worthwhile signing for the UFC given his blend of youth and experience, and he’ll be hoping to follow in the footsteps of former Bellator 155lb champion Eddie Alvarez, who is currently ruling the roost in the UFC’s lightweight division, and another previous Bellator title holder Will Brooks, who also recently made a successful switch to the sports leading promotion.
The UFC aren’t getting it all there own way however, with popular fighters like Ben Henderson and Rory MacDonald having gone in the opposite direction in recent months.
