CHICAGO, Ill. (February 17, 2011) — Ronnie Mann is coming back to America. Bellator Fighting Championships today announced the acquisition of the top featherweight Brit to its burgeoning roster of 145 pounders. Mann, who has spent the bulk of his 21 fight career in Japan and England, made his U.S. debut last September where he won the Shark Fights Featherweight Championship. Mann will not compete in the upcoming Bellator Season 4 Featherweight Tournament but will make his Bellator debut in the fourth season with an opportunity to take part in a future tournament. Bellator Season 4 begins in March and will air LIVE on MTV2.
“Ronnie Mann is a great talent at 145. We’ve been putting this alliance together for months and we’re very pleased that we Ronnie will be fighting at Bellator on MTV2” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Ronnie is at the top of his game right now and he will have impact on our deep featherweight division.”
A Sengoku veteran and former Cage Gladiators Welterweight Champion, Mann brings a very impressive 18-2-1 professional record to the Bellator cage, which included a 12-fight undefeated streak spanning the first three years of his career. Fighting out of Cheltenham, England, Mann became a well rounded martial artist at a young age, getting his start in Muay Thai at 11 before subsequently competing in kickboxing and jiu-jitsu tournaments at 13-years-old. Wasting no time making the jump to MMA, Mann took his first amateur fight at 16 before turning pro at just 17-years-old.
Now seven years later with a pair of championship belts and 21 professional fights on his resume, Mann will take the next step of his career with Bellator Fighting Championships LIVE on MTV2.
“Signing with Bellator is like a dream come true for me. I am more than excited for the opportunity to show fans what I’m capable of here in the United States,” said Mann. “Even more exciting than that is the fact that I’ll be getting to show what I’m capable of against some of the best fighters in the world, which Bellator provides. Honestly, I can’t wait to put my skills on display. 2011 is my time to shine.”
“Trying to capture the Bellator World Featherweight Championship is absolutely my main goal. I don’t care how long it takes, that’s what I’m here to do,” said Mann.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator