Sandro Inks Bellator Deal, Debuts in Upcoming Season

Marlon Sandro (right) has joined Bellator’s featherweight roster. | Daniel Herbertson/Sherdog.com

Bellator today announced that it has signed former Sengoku champion and current featherweight “King of Pancrase” Marlon Sandro to a deal, the terms of which were not disclosed. The world-ranked Brazilian will make his debut in a non-tournament bout during the promotion’s upcoming season, which begins March 5 and airs live on MTV2.

“Marlon Sandro is a phenomenal talent at 145,” Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney stated in a release. “Our featherweight division is absolutely stacked and Sandro pushes that talent pool to an even higher level. I’m thrilled to have him on board.”

A product of Rio de Janeiro’s famed Nova Uniao academy and training partner of UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, Sandro (17-2) has spent the last three years of his career fighting in Japan. There, the 33-year-old captured gold in Pancrase before moving to the larger stage of Sengoku’s 2009 featherweight grand prix. After running off 14 straight wins to begin his career, Sandro was dealt his first loss in a highly controversial split decision with current UFC signee Michihiro Omigawa in the tournament semifinals.

Following his bout with Omigawa, Sandro embarked on a reign of terror, dispatching of Yuji Hoshino and Tomonari Kanomata with brutal first-round knockouts before vying for Sengoku’s featherweight belt against Masanori Kanehara. Sandro needed just 38 seconds to flatten Kanehara and take his title in their June 2010 meeting.

In his last outing, Sandro tasted defeat for the second time and lost his Sengoku strap, as he was outworked over five rounds and nearly finished by Shooto 143-pound champion Hatsu Hioki at “Soul of Fight” on Dec. 30.

No opponent or date was specified for Sandro’s forthcoming Bellator debut, which will also mark his first time fighting in the United States.