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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Over the weekend it was reported that Matt Riddle was shifting from Legacy FC to Bellator MMA following his release from the UFC earlier this year, and on Monday the organization announced the signing. Riddle will join the Bellator welterweight field, and hopes to move through their tournament format.
"I had so many options after I left the UFC, but knowing that I was able to compete in a tournament against guys like Paul Daley, Ben Saunders, and Douglas Lima, signing with Bellator was an easy decision," Riddle said. "This division is just so stacked, and being able to fight in a tournament makes it even better. Bellator is doing a lot of great things right now, and I want to be a part of it."
"No questions asked, I want to win the next Bellator Welterweight Tournament, get my shot at the title and take my beautiful wife to the MTV Awards and meet Snoop Dogg. I've seen all the pictures of Bellator guys walking red carpets and it's something I want to earn and be able to do. What could be better than that?”
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney also commented on the signing, and pushed aside concerns over Riddle's recent drug test failures.
"Matt's got all the tools to be a force in our welterweight division," Rebney said. "When I saw Matt get released from the UFC coming off four straight wins including his dominant win over [Che] Mills in February, we took notice. We both realize that Matt will have a target on his back for his past indiscretions. But having discussed it with him, I'm comfortable that he's in the right place to enter the Bellator cage this fall in what will be the most loaded Bellator Welterweight Tournament in the promotions history."
Penick's Analysis: Bellator hasn't shied away from working with fighters who bring a lot of outside-the-cage baggage with them. Indeed, the fall tournament's going to likely feature War Machine if he wins next month, and they've also featured Brett Rogers and others in the past. So it's not surprising from that respect that they'd give Riddle a look. But again, it will be interesting to see if they respond to questions about a lack of drug testing, or if Riddle goes through three fights in a tournament quickly without being tested.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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