Bellator inks veteran UFC heavyweight Matt Mitrione

For the first time in his professional MMA career, Matt Mitrione will fight for an organization other than the UFC.

Mitrione (9-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC), who first joined the UFC in 2009 after a quarterfinal-round finish on “The Ultimate Fighter 10,” has signed an exclusive four-fight contract with Bellator. Officials today confirmed the signing after Mitrione first announced it on “The MMA Hour.”

A date hasn’t been set for his promotional debut, and financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. However, his deal will reportedly include commentary for the newly announced Bellator Kickboxing.

Mitrione, who’s No. 15 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA heavyweight rankings, was riding a three-fight winning streak before recent losses to Ben Rothwell and Travis Browne, the latter coming in controversial fashion. The 37-year-old former collegiate football and NFL player  said the time was right for a change.

“There comes a time in every athlete’s life, where the scenarios change and the landscape has eroded from what made you fall in love with it initially,” Mitrione stated. “It has become that time for me. After a mutually beneficial free-agency period, I’ve decided to move my career to Bellator.

“I’ve enjoyed almost every second of my career and unlike most that switch organizations due to being cut or no longer being able to perform at the sports highest levels, I am bringing a body and skillset that are only getting better, and I cannot wait to test my abilities against the best Bellator has to offer.”

For more on the Bellator’s upcoming schedule, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.