Bellator Signs Reddinger for Bantamweight Tournament

Bellator Fighting Championships on Monday announced it had acquired the services of Travis Reddinger to compete in its forthcoming bantamweight tournament. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Based in St. Paul, Minn., Reddinger joins once-beaten Tachi Palace Fights veteran Ulysses Gomez, Grudge Training Center standout Nick Mamalis and Danny Tims in the eight-man draw, which will be featured as part of Bellator’s third season.

“Travis is a great competitor and someone to keep an eye on in our bantamweight tournament,” Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney said in a release. “I know that he is planning on making the most of this opportunity, and he definitely has the skills to make a major impact.”

The 28-year-old Reddinger trains under Sergio Cunha, a man who has honed the skills of fighters like reigning UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, current UFC light heavyweight kingpin Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and former two-division UFC titleholder B.J. Penn. He will carry a four-fight winning streak into his promotional debut and has secured 12 of his 14 career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission. Reddinger bares a “BELLATOR” tattoo unrelated to the promotion across his mid-section.

“For me, it just symbolizes perseverance and the never-say-die mentality that I strive for,” he said. “I know that Bellator stands for the warrior mentality, as well, so it’s a great honor for me to be a part of the organization. The tournament concept suits me really well, and I love the exposure of being on national TV. It’s all pretty surreal still. I don’t think the gravity of it all has really hit me yet.”