Seven-Time UFC Veteran Leslie Smith Signs with Bellator MMA

UFC veteran Leslie Smith has signed a contract with Bellator MMA.

The fighter confirmed the deal following an initial report from Yahoo! Sports . A date for Smith’s promotional debut is currently unknown. Smith is expected to compete at featherweight in Bellator.

Smith was supposed to face Aspen Ladd at UFC Fight Night 128, but the April 2018 bout was canceled when her opponent missed weight. The fight was scheduled to be Smith’s final fight in her UFC contract, but the promotion elected instead to pay her show and win money while terminating her deal.

Smith was a controversial figure within the UFC because of her attempt to unionize fighters with her Project Spearhead organization. Smith, who had won three of her last four Octagon appearances, argued that her deal was bought out because of those efforts and threatened legal action against the promotion.

According to the report, Smith’s friendship with UFC fighter Gilbert Melendez and his wife, Keri Melendez, paved the way for her to sign with Bellator. “The Peacemaker” is looking forward to working with her new organization.

“What I’m so excited about signing with Bellator for is that I do not think they do not have that climate of fear that was present in the UFC,” Smith told Yahoo! Sports. “They’re a company that cares. They listen to their fighters. They put their fighters first and they give them the opportunity to have sponsors and there is a lot of expression that can happen inside those deals with the sponsors.”