Jiu-Jitsu whiz Dillon Danis signs with Bellator MMA

Dillon Danis is taking his talents on the mat to the Bellator cage.

The 23-year-old jiu-jitsu expert has signed with the California-based promotion, an official confirmed to MMAjunkie's Mike Bohn following a Monday report from Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports. Danis - who has yet to compete in an MMA bout - intends to debut at welterweight later this year before moving down to 155 pounds.

The New Jersey native's stock soared last summer when he was enlisted by UFC lightweight king Conor McGregor in preparation for the Irishman's rematch with Nate Diaz at UFC 202. The training camp marked the beginning of a blossoming friendship between McGregor and Danis, who's since taken a page out of his brash bosom buddy's book and challenged former light heavyweight champ Jon Jones to a submission grappling match.

Danis honed his jiu-jitsu chops under Marcelo Garcia, and has won a bevy of grappling tournaments as both a brown and black belt, including the Pan American and Abu Dhabi championships.