Bellator Signs Undefeated Lightweight Nazare

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Bellator Fighting Championships on Wednesday announced the signing of undefeated Brazilian lightweight Rene Nazare; according to the promotion, the fighter may compete for a spot in its next lightweight tournament.

Included in Nazare’s perfect, 7-0 career record is a first-round stoppage of countryman Luiz Azeredo, which came in his promotional debut at Bellator 39 on April 2.

“The addition of Rene to our lightweight division makes a stacked division that much stronger,” stated Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney in a release. “Rene had a great performance at Bellator 39 and I’m really looking forward to his next step into our cage.”

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Nazare now fights out of Ithaca, N.Y., working as the jiu-jitsu instructor at Team Bombsquad. The lightweight has finished five of his seven career victims by either knockout or submission.

“If you want to become a top MMA fighter, you have to be complete,” Nazare stated. “You have to be dangerous both standing and on the ground. My background is jiu-jitsu and I feel very confident on the ground -- even when I’m in bad situations -- but I feel really dangerous with my striking as well.

“I want to fight the best guys in the world. That’s my goal. I want to fight the Bellator champion. If you want to become the best, you have to fight the best, and I want to fight the best so badly,” added Nazare. “I want Patricky ‘Pitbull’ [Freire]. I want Eddie Alvarez. I want all those guys.”