Gleristone Santos, quite possibly the best MMA prospect in all of Brazil, has signed a contract with the Bellator promotion.
The report came Tuesday from Guilherme Cruz of MMAFighting.com.
The 26-year-old Toninho Furia is a featherweight with a 27-4 professional fighting record. After competing for years in various leagues mainly around Brazil, Santos moved in 2014 to the U.S.-based Titan Fighting Championship. He went 2-0 under that banner, defeating UFC and Bellator veteran Alvin Robinson by knockout and then taking a split decision over Robert Washington.
Santos has not lost a fight in his last nine contests. His last defeat came in 2011 when he was submitted by UFC alum Carlo Prater.
Bellator makes it official, Gleristone “Toninho Furia” Santos has signed a multi-fight deal with the promotion
— Jason Floyd (@Jason_Floyd) April 14, 2015
In its annual list of the year’s top up-and-coming fighters, Bleacher Report named Santos the No. 5 overall prospect and the best among those competing in the 145-pound division.
A natural athlete, Santos has been on hardcore fans’ radars for some time now. He is known as a high-caliber striker, landing sharp kicks and punches and knocking opponents out with seemingly little effort. Toninho Furia has nine pro wins by knockout.
But he’s a well-rounded fighter with an improving grappling game. He has also notched six wins by way of submission. Two of his losses came by submission, with one each coming by knockout and decision.
It’s unknown when Santos will make his debut in the organization, though it is easy to imagine the still-young but seasoned veteran going directly to the top end of Bellator‘s featherweight division.
The division’s current champion is another Brazilian standout in Patricio “Pitbull” Freire. Other standouts in Bellator‘s 145-pound stable include Daniel Straus, Pat Curran, Darrion Caldwell and Georgi Karakhanyan.
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