Another former UFC heavyweight has joined the Bellator fold.
A week after finalizing the addition of Cheick Kongo, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney appeared on the SLO Late Show on Thursday to announce the signing of Lavar Johnson.
Johnson is expected to join Kongo in Bellator’s upcoming four-man heavyweight tournament this fall at Bellator 102, which takes place Oct. 4, 2013 at the Visalia Convention Center in Visalia, California.
“Banger,” Rebney said of Johnson. “He’s fought a lot of times in the UFC. Great stand up game. A lot of fun to watch fight.”
Rebney also said he hopes to stage the semifinals of Bellator’s season nine middleweight tournament at Bellator 102, as well as the sophomore effort of undefeated Englishman Michael “Venom” Page.
Johnson (17-7) fought four times for the UFC following Strikeforce’s buyout. He debuted in 2012 with back-to-back first-round ‘Knockout of the Night’ performances against Joey Beltran and Pat Barry, before falling back to Earth with consecutive losses against Stefan Struve and Brendan Schaub.
Johnson tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone following UFC 157 and was subsequently released from the promotion.