Bellator signs “Killa B” Ben Saunders

The Ultimate Fighter season six and UFC veteran Ben “Killa B” Saunders (9-3-2) has signed on with Bellator Fighting Championships and will make his debut in April.

According to a press release issued by the company Thursday, Saunders has been added to Bellator’s welterweight division, but will not be part of their upcoming season four tournament which starts in March and will air LIVE on MTV2.

Saunders commented on the signing:

“I’m here to test myself against anyone that they throw against me. I want to be the best. I want to be a champion, and that’s my goal. I’m here to kick some ass, make some money, and take a belt along the way.”

Saunders, now 27, entered the UFC in 2007 after representing Team Serra as a contestant on “The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra.” While on the reality show, Saunders defeated Dan Barrera in the first round but lost a unanimous decision to Tommy Speer in the quarterfinals.

Saunders went on to put together a 4-3 career in the UFC with his most notable win coming against Marcus Davis at UFC 106 in 2009.

Saunders was released from the UFC last year after back-to-back unanimous decision losses to Jon Fitch and Dennis Hallman.

In his first and only fight since being released from the UFC Saunders scored a first round submission-due-to-strikes victory over Elijah Harshbarger (5-2) in the World Extreme Fighting main event on Nov. 6, 2010, in Kissimmee, Fla.