Ex-Bellator Champ Zach Makovsky Signs with CFFC, Debuts May 11 Against Claudio Ledesma

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Former Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky has signed a deal with the New Jersey-based Cage Fury Fighting Championships and will debut for the promotion on May 11 in a flyweight showdown with Claudio Ledesma.

Sherdog.com confirmed the news on Friday with Arias Garcia, CFFC general manager and matchmaker, who revealed that the May 11 show will also see Sean Santella defend his flyweight title against Dave Morgan. The winner of that bout will then put the strap on the line against the Makovsky-Ledesma victor on a later date. The event is expected to serve as CFFC 24 and takes place at the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, N.J.

“When the opportunity came to sign a former champion like Zach, it was a no-brainer. He brings excitement to an already stacked division. I think he will shine in his natural weight class of 125 pounds,” Garcia told Sherdog.com. “We are also excited to have Claudio back, as he plans on winning this fight and taking on our champion. It’s going to be a great fight and event.”

Makovsky, 30, won 14 of his first 16 bouts en route to capturing Bellator’s Season 3 tournament crown and the promotion’s bantamweight title. “Fun Size” then picked up a pair of non-title wins over Chad Robichaux and Ryan Roberts before defending his belt against Season 5 victor Eduardo Dantas, who choked Makovsky unconscious with an arm-triangle last April. The former champion then received his Bellator release after falling in a split decision to Anthony Leone on Dec. 7.

Ledesma, meanwhile, rides back-to-back wins into his CFFC return, as the New Jersey resident picked up unanimous decision victories over Kenny Foster and David Harris in the Bellator cage to close out last year. Ledesma owns five of his eight wins by decision and has never been finished in more than three years as a pro.