Former WWE Heavyweight Champion CM Punk isn’t the only big name wrestler to make the jump to professional MMA because Jack Swagger (Real Name: Jake Hager) has signed a multi-fight deal with the promotion.
It was Hager who made the announcement during an appearance on The MMA Hour. Hager also recent appeared on The List & Ya Boy, which you can watch exclusively on Fightful, where he stated that he is taking the venture into MMA seriously.
Hager has no amateur MMA experience to speak off and when he makes his Bellator MMA debut in 2018, the wrestling standout will also be making his professional MMA debut.
While Hager has no MMA experience, the former WWE star was a standout amateur wrestler at the University Of Oklahoma. During his time as a collegiate wrestler, the former WWE star broke the University Of Oklahoma single season pin record with 30 and he was also an All-American in 2006.
The newly signed Bellator MMA star will compete in the heavyweight division, which is the same division he competed at as an amateur wrestler.
While in the WWE, the soon to be pro MMA fighter held the ECW Title, WWE World Heavyweight Title, WWE United States Title and won the Money In The Bank Briefcase in 2010. Hager also held the FCW Florida Heavyweight Title and FCW Southern Heavyweight Title during his time in WWE developmental.
There is no word yet when Hager will make his debut and who he will fight at that time.