Light heavyweight Jared Hamman has signed a four-fight deal with the UFC, his management confirmed to Sherdog.com Thursday.

Hamman, who appeared in three Pro Elite events on Showtime, expects to make his Octagon debut before the end of the year.

A student under recent UFC returnee Vladimir Matyushenko, Hamman avenged his only blemish to Poai Suganuma with a conclusive first-round technical knockout for ShoXC in August 2008. Suganuma had won their first match by a controversial 15-second flying-knee knockout four months earlier.

Hamman was scheduled to face Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante in a featured light heavyweight bout for Strikeforce “Lawler vs. Shields” on June 6 in St. Louis, but withdrew due to injury.

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said that Hamman was released from his contract with the promotion.