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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Nolan King

Bellator signs Cage Warriors champ, ex-UFC fighter Mads Burnell

Former UFC fighter Mads Burnell is back in the international spotlight.

The current Cage Warriors featherweight champion, Burnell (13-3 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has signed with Bellator. The terms of his deal are not known at this time.

A Bellator official confirmed the signing to MMA Junkie on Tuesday following an initial report from TSN reporter Aaron Bronsteter.

No timeline or opponent has been revealed for Burnell’s promotional debut.

Admittedly, Mads Burnell thinks his first UFC stint came too soon. That said, he believes his pink slip was premature, as well. His lone UFC win against Mike Santiago was bookended by losses to Arnold Allen and Michel Prazeres, which were enough for the UFC brass to cut him.

Since his departure, Burnell hasn’t lost. Now a Cage Warriors champion, Burnell has submitted Lukasz Rajewski, Ahmed Vila, and Dean Trueman leading up to November title defense against Steve Aimable, who he defeated by unanimous decision.

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