MMA Fighting confirmed with people with knowledge of the news that former UFC fighter Brett Johns has joined Bellator, following an initial report by ESPN. The signing is not official yet, but Johns and the promotion have agreed to terms.
In seven appearances for the UFC, Johns (17-2) showed hints of being a future title contender. He won his first three UFC fights to improve his pro start to 15-0 before dropping consecutive decisions to top-ranked bantamweights Aljamain Sterling and Pedro Munhoz. The 28-year-old Welshman closed out his previous contract with wins over Montel Jackson and Tony Gravely.
Johns’ contract with Bellator is reportedly a multi-year deal.
On Instagram, Johns thanked the UFC and Dana White for giving him an opportunity and explained why he chose to part ways with the organization. He did not formally announce a Bellator signing.
View this post on Instagram
Right where do I start, firstly I would like to thank the @ufc and all the staff for the last 4 years in the organisation from the @ufcpi team to the fight week staff always taking care of me and my team. Thanks to @danawhite for the opportunity memories that will last a lifetime. I have decided to take a different road in my career, as fighters our health is put on the line every time we sign on the dotted line and I’m okay with that. But I’m here to get paid what I believe Is fair. My last bout was the final on my 2nd contact with the ufc. I accepted a bout for November 7th in Las Vegas against a tough (15-1) opponent, If you’ve followed my career you’ll know I’ll fight any man on the planet. But we couldn’t agree on a figure that was right for both parties on the new contract. 7 fights, 5 wins and 2 losses to the top guys in the division, once ranked 13th, 2nd calf slicer in the ufcs history and currently on a 2 fight win streak to up and coming prospects is valued differently between us. And that’s just business nothing personal it’s never personal in my eyes, I wish the @ufc all the best in the future. A different offer was made an offer that I couldn’t turn down an one I believe I deserve. I’m grateful that it was made and I’m excited to put my skills on show for another worldwide organisation. That’s that for now still training the same way, still aims of adding another world championship to the CV with the welsh flag over my shoulders. I’ll always be in the history books first welsh fighter to fight in the UFC. Over and out The Pikey
A post shared by Brett Johns (@brettjohnsmma) on Oct 2, 2020 at 10:13am PDT
“My last bout was the final on my second contract with the UFC. I accepted a bout for November 7 in Las Vegas against a tough (15-1) opponent. If you’ve followed my career you’ll know I’ll fight any man on the planet. But we couldn’t agree on a figure that was right for both parties on the new contract. Seven fights, five wins and two losses to the top guys in the division, once ranked 13th, second calf slicer in the UFC’s history and currently on a two-fight win streak to up-and-coming prospects is valued differently between us.
“And that’s just business nothing personal it’s never personal in my eyes, I wish the UFC all the best in the future.”
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