UFC Light Heavyweight Phil Davis Signs with Bellator MMA (Updated)

Phil Davis could soon find out if the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.

The free-agent light heavyweight contender is reportedly “very close” to signing a new multifight deal with Bellator MMA.

MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani broke the news Wednesday, stating an official announcement could soon follow: "According to sources close to the situation, Davis, 30, is very close to inking a new multifight contract with the promotion, and the deal could be officially announced as soon as Wednesday." 

UPDATE: Wednesday, April 15 at 2:40 p.m. ET

Phil Davis has signed with Bellator MMA. It was confirmed by the organization via its Twitter page: 

Davis said, via a Bellator MMA press release, that he can’t wait to be fighting in Bellator and wreck shop on everyone. “I am the absolute best and most dominant grappler to ever fight in MMA and I'm excited to get in there and compete at my new home.”

 ---End of Update---

Davis, a former UFC fighter, has been mulling over his options after his UFC contract expired in January. He is 1-2 in his last three fights, with his most recent defeat coming at the hands of Ryan Bader at UFC on Fox 14.

An NCAA Division I wrestling title and a 9-0 professional MMA record put Davis in the limelight as a UFC title contender, but things never elevated past that point. His undefeated campaign was eventually snuffed out by Rashad Evans in January 2012, putting a serious damper on all of the hype and prospective praise.

Despite his world-class wrestling pedigree, Davis struggled to catch on in the striking department and was often one-dimensional against other contenders.

He managed to pick up significant wins over Lyoto Machida, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Alexander Gustafsson and Tim Boetsch during his UFC tenure, but he could never string together enough victories to warrant a title shot.

Bellator desperately needs fresh talent, and Davis would be an instant upgrade to a light heavyweight division headed by Liam McGeary, Emanuel Newton and Muhammed Lawal.

There has been no word as of yet on a debut date or possible opponent.

Jordy McElroy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA writer for FanRag Sports and co-founder of The MMA Bros.