Lyoto Machida signs multi-fight deal with Bellator

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida has verbally agreed to sign a multi-fight contract with Bellator MMA, the promotion announced Friday in a statement via MMA Fighting.

"Bellator is pleased to announce the signing of former world champion Lyoto Machida to an exclusive, multi-fight agreement. We look forward to seeing 'The Dragon' compete inside the Bellator cage in the near future."

The 40-year-old becomes the latest to switch from UFC to Bellator, joining current Bellator champions Rory MacDonald, Gegard Mousasi, and Ryan Bader, among others.

Machida's deal with the UFC expired after his May 12 bout with fellow Brazilian MMA great Vitor Belfort, whom he defeated by second-round knockout. Machida (24-8) is on a two-fight win streak after dropping three straight for the first time in his career between April 2015 and October 2017.

"The Dragon" fought 24 times in the UFC after joining the promotion in 2007 and defeated the likes of Tito Ortiz, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Randy Couture, Dan Henderson, and Rashad Evans, who he won the light heavyweight title off of in 2009.

Machida has been competing at middleweight since 2013 and has wins over current Bellator 185-lb champ Mousasi and 205-lb champ Bader. He is expected to fight again before the end of 2018, but does not have his next opponent set.