Former Bellator lightweight contender Marcin Held signs with the UFC

Another Bellator talent has joined the UFC, and this time it’s season 10 lightweight tournament winner and Polish MMA grappling phenom Marcin Held.

The 24-year-old fighter had previously been released from the promotion earlier this year after a win over fellow former Bellator fighter Dave Jansen, and has amassed a very respectable record, including 12 submission wins. Held has had some of the most dynamic submission finishes in Bellator history and should be a very tough matchup for anyone in the lightweight division due to his grappling ability and nonstop pace of attack. Ever since making his professional debut at age 16, he has made steady improvements in his overall MMA game, including his striking and wrestling. He also expressed an interest in fighting at featherweight early on in his career, but has never fought at that weight class.

He made the signing official as of this morning via Twitter.

Held has an overall MMA record of 22-4, with a 10-3 mark in Bellator. His only losses in that organization came at the hands of the aforementioned Dave Jansen in their first fight in 2013, former lightweight champion Will Brooks in a bid for the title last November, and a technical submission loss to current champion Michael Chandler in 2011. No opponent or fight date has been announced as of yet for Held’s Octagon debut.