Report: Former WSOF champ Blagoy Ivanov signs with UFC

A new player has emerged in the UFC's heavyweight landscape.

Former World Series of Fighting champion Blagoy Ivanov has inked a deal with the world's top fight factory and is expected to make his first walk to the Octagon this summer, MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani reported Wednesday, citing sources.

Ivanov last competed for WSOF and its new incarnation, the Professional Fighters League. The 31-year-old claimed the outfit's heavyweight crown with a third-round submission of Smealinho Rama in June 2015 and defended it three times before extending his win streak to five with a unanimous decision over Caio Alencar in his sole appearance under the PFL banner this past November.

Both parties reportedly parted ways amicably.

The Bulgarian's sole loss in 17 pro contests came in May 2014, when he suffered a second-round submission at the hands of current UFC heavyweight Alexander Volkov in the finals of a Bellator tournament.