Bellator Signs Unbeaten Brazilian Middleweight Bruno ‘Carioca’

Bruno Santos could soon hunt for another oversized check. | Photo: Gleidson Venga

Sherdog.com confirmed Sunday with a source close to the situation that the deal between Bellator and Santos has been finalized. MMAJunkie.com first reported on Sept. 3 that the parties had reached a verbal agreement.

No date or opponent has been set for Santos’ North American debut. He will not be part of the promotion’s fifth-season middleweight tournament, the opening round of which takes place this Saturday in Hollywood, Fla.

The former 185-pound champion of Brazil’s Win Fight and Entertainment promotion, 24-year-old Santos has topped 12 consecutive opponents since beginning his career in December 2007. The stocky ground-and-pound specialist from Bahia has recorded his last eight victories by way of unanimous decisions, including a trio of grinding wins in Bitetti Combat’s one-night middleweight tournament on June 18.