Bellator bossman Bjorn Rebney announced that the promotion has signed UFC veteran Maiquel Falcao yesterday during the Bellator 54 preliminary fights stream on Spike.com. Falcao is best known for a one fight stint with the UFC that saw him beat Gerald Harris at UFC 123.
That bout was shrouded in controversy. Not only did a time keeper's error likely prevent Falcao from getting a rear naked choke tapout win over Harris at the end of the second round, but neither fighter ever returned to the UFC. Harris was cut after the fight, despite a 3-1 record with the organization. Falcao was cut after legal issues in his native Brazil prevented his return at UFC 134.
Falcao, a middleweight, is 2-1 since leaving the UFC with two TKO wins and one submission loss to Jiu-Jitsu world champion Antonio Braga Neto. He'll be an exciting addition to Bellator's middleweight division and will likely enter their next middleweight tournament as a favorite. Beyond that, he's a fighter who could give Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard a serious run for his money.