Author: Matt Erickson [matt-erickson]

Bantamweight Rafael “Morcego” Silva will bring a nine-fight winning streak Stateside after signing with Bellator.

The promotion on Thursday announced the acquisition of Silva for its 135-pound division. The seven-year pro trains with the Renovacao Fight Team in Brazil that includes fellow Bellator fighters Maiquel Falcao, Luis Nogueira, Genair da Silva and Ricardo Tirloni.

“Signing with Bellator is by far the best thing that ever happened to me,” Silva stated.

Bantamweight Rafael “Morcego” Silva will bring a nine-fight winning streak Stateside after signing with Bellator.

The promotion on Thursday announced the acquisition of Silva for its 135-pound division. The seven-year pro trains with the Renovacao Fight Team in Brazil that includes fellow Bellator fighters Maiquel Falcao, Luis Nogueira, Genair da Silva and Ricardo Tirloni.

“Signing with Bellator is by far the best thing that ever happened to me,” Silva stated.

He’ll have been on the sidelines for a year next month, but Shane Carwin says he’s ready to return. 

Carwin, a former UFC heavyweight title challenger, has been out since a loss this past June to current champion Junior Dos Santos. But on Wednesday, Carwin took to his official website, shane-carwin.com, to say he’d like to be back in the octagon by the fall – when he’ll look to snap a two-fight skid. 

“I informed UFC matchmaker (Joe Silva) that I would like to fight in early fall 2012,” Carwin stated.