UFC Veteran Marcus Davis Signs with Bellator; Debut in March

Marcus Davis may have flown under the radar over the last two years since his release from the UFC; however, after winning four of his last five fights on the regional circuit, the popular welterweight will once again be fighting on our television screens.

On Friday afternoon, Davis tweeted that he has signed on with Bellator Fighting Championships and that he will compete with the organization on March 21.

Davis was once considered a top contender for the UFC welterweight championship after winning six straight fights inside the Octagon. After returning to the UFC in 2006, Davis won eight of his first nine contests, with the sole loss coming to Mike Swick in a razor-thin decision.

"The Irish Hand Grenade" was known for his incredible resilience. In his first 21 fights as a professional, the former boxer was never knocked out or submitted. However, in his final three losses inside the Octagon, he was knocked out twice and choked out via guillotine.

The final UFC loss came in a lightweight debut against Jeremy Stephens. After dominating "Lil Heathen" for two-and-a-half rounds, Davis was caught by an enormous punch that left him limp on the canvas in one of 2011's biggest finishes.

Davis has notable wins over Chris Lytle, Paul Taylor and Shonie Carter. 

No opponent has been named for his promotional debut, although a potential rematch with Ben Saunders lies in the promotion. Perhaps a slugfest with Bryan Baker could be in the works.