Carlo Pedersoli Jr. Released by UFC, Signs with Bellator MMA
Carlo
Pedersoli Jr.’s experience in the Ultimate Fighting Championship didn’t last
long, as the 26-year-old Italian announced on his Instagram that
the promotion was not going to let him complete the fourth and
final fight on his contract. In the same post, however, “Semento”
announced that he has signed a new deal with Bellator MMA, where he now expects to make his debut
in the welterweight division soon.
“After three matches in the UFC, all on short notice, I thought I had given enough to the company to get another chance in the last match of my contract,” Pedersoli wrote. “That was not the case and in the meantime I received two proposals from other organizations. One of the two was impossible to refuse, and so with great enthusiasm I announce my signing with Bellator MMA. The treatment I was given, from every point of view, has gone beyond my expectations, and I truly feel appreciated as never before in my career. There are great things in store and I'm really excited to start this new adventure.”
Pedersoli (11-3) earned his UFC contract after defeating Nicolas Dalby via split decision in the main event of Cage Warriors 93. The Gloria Fight Center representative made his UFC debut on short notice against Bradley Scott at UFC Fight Night 130, defeating his opponent via split decision.
Riding an eight-bout winning streak, Pedersoli agreed to face Alex Oliveira in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 137, once again on short notice. The Brazilian “Cowboy” put a sudden end to Pedersoli’s momentum, defeating him via knockout just 39 seconds into the opening stanza. Pedersoli’s last match under the UFC banner was in February, at UFC Fight Night 145 in Prague. There, he locked horns with Dwight Grant, who caught Pedersoli and finished him with one second left in a wild first round that the Italian had likely been winning.
“After three matches in the UFC, all on short notice, I thought I had given enough to the company to get another chance in the last match of my contract,” Pedersoli wrote. “That was not the case and in the meantime I received two proposals from other organizations. One of the two was impossible to refuse, and so with great enthusiasm I announce my signing with Bellator MMA. The treatment I was given, from every point of view, has gone beyond my expectations, and I truly feel appreciated as never before in my career. There are great things in store and I'm really excited to start this new adventure.”
Pedersoli (11-3) earned his UFC contract after defeating Nicolas Dalby via split decision in the main event of Cage Warriors 93. The Gloria Fight Center representative made his UFC debut on short notice against Bradley Scott at UFC Fight Night 130, defeating his opponent via split decision.
Riding an eight-bout winning streak, Pedersoli agreed to face Alex Oliveira in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 137, once again on short notice. The Brazilian “Cowboy” put a sudden end to Pedersoli’s momentum, defeating him via knockout just 39 seconds into the opening stanza. Pedersoli’s last match under the UFC banner was in February, at UFC Fight Night 145 in Prague. There, he locked horns with Dwight Grant, who caught Pedersoli and finished him with one second left in a wild first round that the Italian had likely been winning.
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