Someone just got a hero’s welcome.
Following a burgeoning trend that has seen big MMA promotions snap up competitors with more name value than experience, the World Series of Fighting announced Wednesday it had signed Phoenix Jones, who has earned notoriety for literally donning a mask and fighting criminals in the streets of Seattle.
The news was first reported by John Morgan of MMAJunkie.com.
Jones—real name Ben Fodor—apparently triggered a bit of a bidding war after ESPN aired a documentary Sunday about his exploits as a fighter both in cages and on the streets. The 26-year-old Jones is 5-0-1 as a professional in the welterweight division. Most recently, he competed in his native Washington state for Super Fight League, a promotion based in India.
I LITERALLY HAVE CONTRACTS FROM EVERY FIGHT ORGANIZATION I CAN THINK OF IN MY HANDS RIGHT NOW #bigdecisions pic.twitter.com/UDaAyocbGw
— Phoenix Jones (@ThePhoenixJones) March 10, 2015
It is not currently known which other promotions offered Jones a contract. Either way, WSOF is moving faster than a speeding bullet to get Jones into action; he will reportedly debut for the company April 10 in Connecticut, facing an as-yet-unnamed opponent.
Why WSOF? Jones said in a tweet that the promotion “won’t ask [fighters] to stop being who [they] are.”
That’s a clear reference to his self-created role as a crime fighter in the neighborhoods of Seattle. Jones has fostered a bit of a love-hate relationship with residents and law enforcement for stepping in to break up unlawful activities. He is the leader of the Rain City Superhero Movement, a group of costumed activists dedicated to fighting crime.
Though it’s not a new phenomenon, this is the latest in a recent string of big-league MMA signings seemingly designed to make a splash more in the public sphere than hardcore fan circles.
In late 2014, former pro wrestling champion CM Punk (nee Phil Brooks) signed with the UFC. Last month, Bellator announced that Ken Shamrock and Kimbo Slice (combined age: 92 years old) would face off in June.
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