Sources: Warren to Enter Bellator Season 5 Bantamweight Draw

Bellator Fighting Championships featherweight king Joe Warren (Pictured) announced Saturday at Bellator 37 that he will enter the promotion's Season 5 bantamweight tournament. Sherdog.com confirmed the announcement with Bellator officials shortly after Warren's statement on the MTV2 broadcast.

Before he enters the upcoming 135-pound draw, however, Warren must first square off with Brazilian Marcoes Galvao in a 137-pound catchweight contest in April and then defend his featherweight belt against the winner of the ongoing Season 4 tournament. The promotion has not yet made any official announcements regarding the Season 5 bantamweight draw.

A Greco-Roman specialist, Warren is known for his determination and grappling prowess. The fighter, who has espoused numerous times his desire to compete in the 2012 Olympics, won Bellator's second-season featherweight tournament by earning wins over Eric Marriott, Georgi Karakhanyan and Patricio Freire in 2010. Warren then earned the 145-pound strap by besting reigning king Joe Soto with a come-from-behind knockout in the second round of their Bellator 27 title fight.