Pancrase featherweight champion Isao
Kobayashi has signed with Bellator MMA, the promotion announced
on Monday.
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A date for Kobayashi’s debut is currently unknown. It will be the
34-year-old Osaka, Japan, native’s second stint with the
California-based promotion. He went 0-2 with Bellator from 2015 to
2016, falling to Goiti
Yamauchi and Justin
Lawrence in back-to-back outings. All Bellator events featuring
Kobayashi will be streamed live in Japan via U-Next.
“Even prior to our successful New Year’s Eve event in Japan, we’ve
been signing the top available talent in the region and that has
led us to this reunion with Isao
Kobayashi,” Bellator president Scott Coker said in a
release.
“Since his last stint with Bellator, Kobayashi has been tearing
through competition culminating in a Pancrase championship win now
and we’re looking forward to seeing him back in the Bellator
cage.”
Kobayashi will return to Bellator riding the momentum of a six-bout
winning streak. In his last outing, he defended the featherweight
belt with a five-round verdict against Taichi
Nakajima at Pancrase 321. He has compiled a 27-5-2 mark over
the course of a career that began in 2008.
“This will be my second contract with Bellator, and I didn’t get
the results I wanted last time, so I’ll be there to show I am a new
fighter and string the wins together,” Kobayashi said. “I’m out to
give everything and make a championship run in Bellator.
“I’ve fought in Pancrase for the majority of my career. I’m
grateful to Pancrase for my two championship runs and also for
allowing me to spread my wings.