Bellator Signs Sokoudjou, DeBlass, Merad, Sosnovskiy, Garcia to Multi-Fight Deals

Bellator has signed Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou to a mult-fight deal. | Marcelo Alonso/Sherdog.com

Promotion officials announced the signings Thursday and additionally revealed that Frenchman Malik Merad has signed to fight in Bellator’s 205-pound division, while undefeated Russian talent Dmitriy Sosnovskiy will compete at heavyweight. Also of note, American prospect Steve Garcia has signed a multi-fight bantamweight deal on the strength of a 3-0 start to his pro career.

A UFC and Pride Fighting Championships alum, Sokoudjou made major waves seven years ago with knockouts of Ricardo Arona and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira but has yet to find consistency as an elite light heavyweight. The 30-year-old will ride back-to-back defeats into his Bellator debut, most recently suffering a first-round knockout this past December in Moscow.

DeBlass, 32, temporarily retired after receiving his UFC release in 2012 but returned to competition last year, posting stoppage victories over Carlos Brooks and Jason Lambert to begin his Bellator run a perfect 2-0.