Michael McDonald Signs With Bellator

Former UFC interim bantamweight title challenger Michael McDonald has signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator MMA.

Bellator officials informed ESPN of the signing Friday. A date has not yet been set for McDonald's promotional debut.

The signing comes one week after the 26-year-old McDonald parted ways with the UFC. HIs departure was unique in that he still had multiple fights on his deal, but both sides agreed to terminate the contract.

McDonald (17-4) told ESPN in a recent interview that he does not hold any ill will towards the UFC, whom he fought for since 2011 but had become frustrated over recent business negotiations.

Fighting out of Modesto, California, McDonald debuted with the UFC in 2011 as a 20-year-old prospect. He fought Renan Barao for the interim 135-pound championship in 2013, losing via submission.

Hand and wrist injuries sidelined McDonald during all of 2014 and 2015. He fought twice in 2016, and is coming off a loss to John Lineker in July.

McDonald joins a Bellator bantamweight division that features current titleholder Eduardo Dantas (19-4), Joe Warren (14-6) and Darrion Caldwell (10-1).

http://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/...contender-michael-mcdonald-signs-bellator-mma
 
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Good for him, hope he can actually get fights in that division
 
I like what Bellator is doing lately. Signing Leandro Higo and now Mayday. Coker is obviously trying to build a respectable roster.
 
Good signing, BW div needs it. I'm sure Joe Warren being a company man is ready and waiting to have his head bounced off the canvas.
 
great pick up, sadly hes been out of action too much these past few years. Hope he fights more now
 
If anything, Bellator should try and swallow WSOF to acquire more talent.

That might not be necessary. It looks like Branch, Gaethje and Moraes have/are going to leave WSOF. If Bellator can sign Gaethje and or Moraes that will be a big deal in itself.
 
Listening to his interview with ESPN UFC could have kept him by giving him more time.

He basically was saying he was going into debut during camps and Shelby said he'd try and help him in a few days but it took a month. then some things went down and UFC said they'd up his contract 10k more to show and 10k more to win but he'd have to fight in two months. he wasnt training at all and couldnt be ready and UFC said ok we'll give you more time but at same pay you get now then.

If UFC was gonna up his contract then why not just give him extra time to get ready and then you'd have him on the roster. Instead now you just gave Bellator a top 10 BW.

WME really making dumb moves. Credit to Bellator for paying these guys.
 
Damn good signing. Bantamweight and Middleweight need these types of signings badly.
 
Really the only place that made sense. Bellator really needed some depth at 135. But now with Caldwell, Michael, Dantas. They got a pretty solid line up.
 
That might not be necessary. It looks like Branch, Gaethje and Moraes have/are going to leave WSOF. If Bellator can sign Gaethje and or Moraes that will be a big deal in itself.

Pretty sure Gaethje is going to the UFC.
 
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