It would appear that there is a new welterweight division prospect coming to Bellator MMA because MMA Fighting is reporting that the promotion has signed Richard Kiely to a multi-fight contract.
The newly signed fighter holds a 2-1-0 record as a professional MMA competitor, defeating the duo of Keith McCabe and Daniel Olejniczak, while suffering a single defeat to Alex Lohore. Kiely didn’t fare much better as an amateur MMA competitor, losing his lone amateur bout to Nicholas Lwellyn in November of 2015.
It has been almost a year since Kiely had last competed, which was the aforementioned loss to Alex Lohore at BAMMA 32. Kiely had announced his retirement from MMA competition this past May, but obviously has changed course and will now fight in Bellator.
Kiely will join a welterweight division that is currently ruled by Rory MacDonald, who is scheduled to fight Gegard Mouasasi for the Bellator Middleweight Title this September at Bellator 206. Kiely also trains out of SBG Ireland, which is the home of former two division UFC champion Conor McGregor.
There is no word at this time as to when Kiely is expected to make his promotional debut or whom that bout would come against.
