Bellator Signs Undefeated Former Olympic Medalist Alexis Vila

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

By FCF Staff, photo courtesy Bellator FC

Bellator Fighting Championship has added another accomplished wrestler to its roster as it has announced that it has signed 1996, free style wrestling, Olympic bronze medalist Alexis Vila. The 40 year-old-Cuban fighter will compete in the promotion’s upcoming bantamweight tourney, which will get underway in September.

"With fighters like Joe Warren, Eduardo Dantas, Marcos Galvao, Chase Beebe, Luis, Ed and now Alexis, this bantamweight tournament is absolutely loaded next season.” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Vila is a wrestling Olympian that knocks his opponents out, and that makes him huge problem for anyone he fights.”

Since transitioning into MMA in 2007, Vila has gone undefeated through nine professional bouts, competing primarily in the Florida circuit. Most recently the American Top Team fighter stopped Lewis McKenzie in the second round at a Mixed Fighting Alliance event in February.

“I feel like I'm the best bantamweight in the world right now,” said Vila who is also a two time world freestyle wrestling champ. “I have everything. I have all the training and all the tools. People don't even know. Nobody has the stand-up that I have, the wrestling I have, or the strength that I have.”

"I'm here at Bellator to take the belt. I'm not here to play games. I feel like that belt's already mine, now I just have to fight to get it, and I'm not worried about nobody,” Vila added. “I'm here at Bellator to become a World Champion, and to be recognized as the best bantamweight fighter in the world.”