Bellator has recently added signed Ronny Markes to its heavyweight division.
The media has confirmed with a Bellator official that Markes (19-7 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has signed an exclusive, multi-fight contract with the promotion.
The company has yet to announce a date and opponent for the debut of Markes, who competed as a middleweight in the UFC and a light heavyweight at PFL, but Markes recently took to social media to express interest in a fight against ex-UFC heavyweight champion and recent Bellator signee Josh Barnett.
The Brazilian fighter competed at middleweight in the UFC and at light heavyweight in the Professional Fighters league, where he recently completely a four-fight stint. Markes struggled making weight at 205 pounds during his tenure with PFL. The 31-year-old owns a 19-7 career mark that includes a 3-2 UFC record.
Markes (19-7) last fought in June 2019, beating Sigi Pesaleli in a light heavyweight bout he missed weight for at PFL 3. Markes went 3-2 under the UFC banner between 2011 and 2014, suffering defeats to future title challengers Yoel Romero and Thiago Santos.
Barnett (35-8) left the UFC in June 2018 after a long debacle with USADA and has been active in other sports. The American fighter last MMA bout was in Sept. 2016, chocking out Andrei Arlovski in the main event of UFC Germany and losing his latest UFC win with a record of 3-2.
