Bellator Signs Middleweight Jiu-Jitsu Ace Vianna

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Bellator Fighting Championships has signed Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Vitor Vianna to its middleweight roster, the promotion announced Wednesday. A decorated grappler, Vianna is currently employed as the jiu-jitsu coach at for Wanderlei Silva’s Wand Fight Team in Las Vegas.

“Wanderlei had seen me fight in Brazil, and when he opened his school in Las Vegas, he wanted me to become an instructor with Wand Fight Team,” Vianna stated in a release. “I train every day with Wanderlei. I also train a lot with Michael Costa, and sometimes Forrest Griffin. I spar with Wanderlei three times a week, every week, and we go 100 percent. I don’t think anyone I fight is going to have the same power and technique that Wanderlei has. I feel confident that I can stand up with anyone at 185 pounds.”

Once-beaten in over six years as a professional, Vianna will ride a three-fight win streak into his to-be-announced Bellator debut. The only loss of Vianna’s career came in 2006, when he suffered a fight-ending arm injury against Thiago Silva. Though he is known for his ground prowess, Vianna has earned four knockouts in his career, matching his number of submission victories.

“I have been watching Bellator for a long time,” said Vianna. “[It is] one of the best promotions in the world and [it has] great fighters. I’m just really excited to fight in the big show against big fighters, and to have the opportunity to show the world who I am.”