Former UFC lightweight prospect Andre Winner (11-6-1) has signed an exclusive multi-fight contract with the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts (BAMMA), according to reports. Winner is scheduled to make his promotional debut at BAMMA 7, where he will take on former RFC lightweight champion Jason Ball.
Winner entered into the public conscious with his run to "The Ultimate Fighter Season 8" finals, where he lost to English countryman Ross Pearson via unanimous decision. Despite the setback, the 29-year-old quickly managed to make a name for himself inside the Octagon, reeling off two straight victories, including a first round knockout of Rolando Delgado.
Winner's momentum would be short lived, however, as the Team Rough House representative dropped his next three bouts -- losing to Nik Lentz, Dennis Siver, Anthony Njokuani -- and was promptly cut from the UFC.
Ball is a 27-year-old Englishman that heads into the event having dropped two of his last three fights, including a decision loss to Leonardo Santos at BAMMA 6. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt made his pro debut at welterweight, and now trains with Manvers Fight Factory. Throughout his career Ball has held the RFC lightweight title and Ultimate Force welterweight title.
Also added to BAMMA 7's card, Pindi Madahar (0-0) vs. Danny Compton (1-1), Eugene Fadiora (9-1) vs. Robert Devanne (1-0), Tim Newman (8-2) vs. Shan Omer (7-0), Dale Hardiman (4-2) vs. Scott Jansen (7-9), Lee Taylor (2-1-1) vs. Tom Breese (1-0), Richard Walker (0-4) vs. Shah Hussein (2-4), and Fraser Opie (7-5) vs. Robert Krecicki (6-1).
BAMMA 7 will be held September 10th at The National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England. The event is headlined by a middleweight bout between Jim Wallhead (21-6) and Frank Trigg (21-8).