Bellator Signs UFC and Strikeforce Veteran Joe “Diesel” Riggs

Joe Riggs

Bellator Fighting Championships on Monday announced the signing one of its most experienced fighters ever. Joe Riggs is a former WEC middleweight champion and a veteran of the UFC, Strikeforce, King of the Cage, and too many other promotions to count.

Debuting professionally in 2001, the 28-year-old Riggs has averaged four to five fights per year over the course of his career, racking up a record of 34-11.

Having defeated the likes of Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz, “Ultimate Fighter Season 3? winner Kendall Grove, Phil Baroni, Chris Lytle, and others, Riggs is a strong addition to Bellator’s roster. He joins fighters such as middleweight champion Hector Lombard, Bryan Baker, and Eric Schambari.

“Bellator has a lot of well-rounded, talented guys in their middleweight division,” said Riggs. “There are some really good middleweights for me to test myself against, and it was one of the reasons I came to Bellator.”

Riggs, following a loss to Jay Hieron on a Strikeforce card, comes to Bellator after back-to-back victories in his last two bouts.