Imada Returns to Bellator

The man who authored the most memorable moment in the brief history of Bellator Fighting Championships will return for its second season.

The promotion on Monday announced it had signed the well-traveled Toby Imada to compete in its eight-man lightweight tournament, which begins on April 8 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla. Imada joins Ferrid Kheder, Mike Ricci, Carey Vanier, Janne Tulirinta and Chad Hinton in the 155-pound draw.

Imada defeated American Top Team’s Jorge Masvidal in the 2009 Bellator lightweight tournament semi-finals with a standing inverted triangle choke. It became an overnight YouTube sensation, and more than 650,000 people have viewed it online. Imada went on to face Eddie Alvarez in the final, where he succumbed to a rear-naked choke.

“Toby has meant a great deal to our company,” Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “Toby Imada epitomizes the heart and soul of our tournament format, where winning is what matters and where fighters can truly control their own destiny.”

Imada, 31, has posted nine wins in 10 fights. He last appeared in January, when he knocked out Daisuke Hanazawa at King of the Cage “Toryumon” in Japan.

“It’s a great thing for me to return to Bellator,” Imada said. “I can’t promise that I’ll give the fans another inverted triangle, but I can promise that I’m gonna be fighting my heart out and looking to take home that belt.”