The man dubbed as “Meathead” on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights is leaving his long time home of the UFC. Matt Mitrione has signed with Bellator.
Mitrione’s entire 14-fight career has taken place in the hallowed grounds of the UFC octagon. So it is a big change to make for the former NFL lineman. After a TKO loss to Travis Browne (which included earning a broken orbital bone) in January, Mitrione tested the free agent market for the first time in his career. And after fielding offers from different organizations, Mitrione chose to go with the Viacom owned promotion.
Here is Mitirione’s official announcement from today on the MMA Hour:
“After a lovely free agency period, I have decided I am going to go to Bellator. I was really interested in the options that Bellator was offering and I was really interested in the conversation that they were willing to have and I think that they are making the right moves. I think sometimes you get to a spot where the things you fell in love with about one organization aren’t there anymore and greener pastures might be somewhere else. I think you get to a spot that you’re looking for more opportunities and other avenues with professionalism and that is what I got with Bellator and I am excited about it.”
Along with the announcement, Mitrione let it be know that he would be making “six figures” per fight in his deal with Bellator MMA. Surely a major pay raise from the $36,000 base salary he earned in his last fight.
