Former Shooto Champ Ueda Signed for Bellator Bantamweight Tourney

Sherdog.com is the first to confirm Ueda’s participation in the tournament. MMAJunkie.com initially reported Ueda’s signing on Wednesday morning, and Sherdog.com verified the bantamweight’s tournament status with a source close to the fighter shortly thereafter.

Ueda joins Marcos Galvao in the 135-pound draw, which will feature six more to-be-announced bantamweights. Bellator’s sixth season is expected to kick off in March and will feature a total of five eight-man tournaments. In addition to the bantamweight bracket, tournaments will be held in the featherweight, lightweight, welterweight and middleweight divisions.

Currently ranked No. 10 in the world by Sherdog.com, Ueda has won four straight fights since losing his Shooto featherweight title to Shuichiro Katsumura in March 2010. After rebounding with a submission win over Akitoshi Tamura to finish 2010, Ueda rattled off three wins in 2011, finishing Ralph Acosta and Rumina Sato before moving up to lightweight to outpoint a retiring Royler Gracie on Sept. 14 in Brazil.