Bellator signs 24 fighters across U.K. and Ireland

Bellator has confirmed the signings of 24 fighters across the U.K. and Ireland and announced its plans to launch an exclusive fight series across the U.K., Ireland and Western Europe.

ESPN initially reported the majority of the signings on Friday. On the same day, The Telegraphreported that Bellator would launch a “newly-created, localized six-event series in the UK and Ireland, in the twelve months from October/November 2018.”

Find the list of newly signed fighters from the Bellator press release below:

Lightweight:

• 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 way of Moldova)
• Luka Jelcic (10-3; fighting out of Ireland by way of Croatia)
• Charlie Leary (15-9-1; fighting out of England)
• Lewis Long (16-5; fighting out of Wales)
• Norman Parke (25-6-1, 1 NC; fighting out of Northern Ireland)
• Myles Price (10-7, fighting out of Ireland)
• Paul Redmond (14-8; 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)

Welterweight:

• 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)

Featherweight:

• Dylan Logan (2-3; fighting out of Ireland)
• Nathan Rose (6-1; fighting out of England)

Middleweight:

• Claudio Conti (7-5-2; fighting out of Ireland by way of Italy)
• John Redmond (7-13; fighting out of Ireland)

Women’s Flyweight:

• Antonela Orlic – (pro debut; fighting out of Ireland by way of Croatia)

According to the release, Bellator and Scott Coker have made the region its “top priority.”

“Growing the Bellator organization throughout U.K. and Ireland has been a top priority for us for quite some time,” said Bellator President Scott Coker.

“Adding up-and-coming, as well as established, talent from the region to our roster plays a crucial role in us being able to take the next steps in this market. Our fans in the U.K. and Ireland can anticipate a much stronger Bellator presence and can look forward to seeing some of western Europe’s best MMA fighters inside the Bellator cage in the near future.”

Despite the mass signings in the area, Bellator still has not announced a live broadcast partner in the region. However, in a tweet that corresponded with his article in The Telegraph on Friday, Gareth A Davies claimed that the newly-founded series would be “locally televised.”

Former UFC fighters Norman Parke, Paul Redmond and Jim Wallhead are among the most notable fighters on the list that also includes two-weight BAMMA champion Terry Brazier.