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TUF alum and RFA featherweight champion Justin Lawrence signs exclusive, multi-fight deal with Bellator

Jason Floyd

Ultimate Fighter 15 alum and current RFA featherweight champion Justin Lawrence will be joining Bellator as he has signed an exclusive, multi-fight contract with the California based promotion.

Photo via Bellator Press Release
Photo via Bellator Press Release

The signing was announced by Bellator on Friday afternoon in a press release.

Lawrence (7-2) has won three in a row since his exit from the UFC and is coming off a successful RFA featherweight title defense against Sam Toomer one week ago. During his current winning streak, two of the three wins came by decision and he defeated Toomer by TKO in the first round.

“Its been a big week for Bellator, with Gleristone Santos, Phil Davis and now Justin Lawrence joining the ranks,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “We remain committed to not just signing proven stars, but also recruiting top prospects from regional promotions, evidenced by our recent signing of RFA featherweight champion and top young up and coming fighter Justin Lawrence. I said it before and I will continue to say it, we will build them from ground up and hit it from the top down.”

Lawrence is expected to make his Bellator debut later this year.

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34 Responses

  1. I think his first fight should be vs Bubba Jenkins on the prelims of 138 in St. Louis. Hbu?

  2. https://twitter.com/AmericanKiddMMA

    Check out his twitter page. His profile on there is a pic of the UFC title. I think he better change that now that he’s with Bellator. Hbu? Also needs to update his profile. It says he’s still fighting in the UFC lol.

      1. I don’t get it I thought he really wanted back in the UFC? It had to be all about the money right?

  3. I really hope Bellator also signs Cody East. Dude’s a big time prospect IMO. And Chidi Njokuani aka “Chidi Bang Bang” Pretty sure UFC will sign them real soon tho.

  4. If you were a top ranked fighter would you rather fight the best and make good money as well. Or fight lower competition and make the most money? I would rather fight lower competition and make most money. I say that bc I have a really good chance of being champion and I get paid a ton. It’s a win/win.

    1. I think just like most people, I want to make the most money. However, it comes down to the contract. What is the language of the deal and does one deal give you a better chance to make more than your guaranteed salary.

  5. Can you ask Bellator about these fighters and when they’ll fight for them again: Dmitriy Sosnovskiy/ Augusto Sakai/ Javy Ayala/ Zayats/ Diego Marlon / Marshall?

    1. Have you heard about these guys next fights? If not can you ask Bellator when they’ll fight again for them?

      1. No exact booking or dates, but I’ll see what I can find out. I know they wanted Marshall on the Fresno card in February, but he was injured.

        2. Not positive on all of them. Dmitriy Sosnovskiy has a fight booked outside of the promotion.

        3. He’s a big time undefeated prospect. If they release him they should just give up on MMA.

        4. Look at this way: European fighters have sat on the sidelines to get out of the deal. Not saying that is happening here, but just something to consider.

        5. So what you’re saying is Bellator wants to keep top fighters, but the fighters don’t wanna be with them? Then why would they sign the deal in the first place lol?

  6. Do you think if Chandler loses to Campos that Bellator will cut him? It’d be his 4th lose in a row. I wouldn’t release him if I was them.

    1. Chandler would need to restructure his contract. Otherwise, his job security at Bellator is in trouble with a lost to Campos.

  7. I think Pitbull will either fight Primus or Anderson next. We shall see. I really hope Held gets next title shot, not Awad. Held earned it twice.

    1. Held will be next. Look for Awad to get a number one contender type fight next.

  8. Last night they showed a promo commercial for Kimbo vs Shamrock, but they didn’t show the featherweight title fight. Instead they showed Chandler vs Campos. Was that bc they made that promo before the title fight was added?

    1. Are you in Missouri? If so, that is a local ad, not a national ad. Chandler in the commercial because of his Missouri background.

      1. So the ad that you saw was with Pitbull/ Karakhanyan? Yes I am. I will not go to this event bc I will fall asleep if I do. I can never stay up and it pisses me off so bad. Also it’s crazy over here if you didn’t already know lol.

        1. I have not seen any TV ads. You saw that because Bellator has bought advertising in the state of Missouri. Commercial you saw was as ad sold by your local television stations.

        2. Do you think 138 attendance and gate will be their highest ever? Also how do you predict the TV ratings? I predict 1.2/1.4 million viewers and peak of 1.8 mil. I think attendance/ gate will be their highest ever.

  9. That’s smart for them to show the promo for 138 during UFC on Fox main card over here.

  10. I wonder if Phil Davis got a car too like Rampage did. I doubt it tho. His deal is already amazing.

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