Another big name of UFC lore has joined up with Bellator MMA, as Lyoto Machida has agreed to a deal with the organization.
In a report from ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, the former UFC light heavyweight champion has verbally agreed to an exclusive mutlifight deal with Bellator.
Machida walks away from the UFC, where he spent 11 years as a member of the roster, facing the likes of Tito Ortiz, Rahad Evans, Randy Couture, current Bellator light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader, among others.
Machida’s final UFC fight in the UFC was a TKO win over fellow UFC star Vitor Belfort at UFC 224 in May.
This comes off the heels of a major announcement set for Tuesday in New York City featuring Bellator President Scott Coker.