In order to grow the "bellator" Scott Coker has not refused to sign fighters who have had a past debut in the WWE. As they have done before by signing the likes of Fedor Emelianenko, Chael Sonnen, Rory MacDonald, Benson Henderson or Ryan Bader, and now with Jake Hager.
Late last year it became known that Jake Hager, better known in the world of professional wrestling as Jack Swagger, had signed with the MMA company Bellator, after his 12-year working relationship with WWE ended.
Although it has already been a year since he signed with that company, and he has not yet debuted, he told Submission Radio that it is presumed that he expects to debut before the end of 2018:
"Yes, I absolutely believe I'm going to fight in 2018. It's too late now to fight twice in 2018. I got too busy with pro wrestling doing Lucha Underground at the beginning of the year. I was allowed to do that to continue to make a name for myself outside of the cage. You know, it seriously means a lot when they make it easy for you and make you feel like you're wanted there."
Hager will compete in the Heavyweight division.
One of the great benefits of debuting for Bellator is that they allow you to do activities outside of MMA. In the case of Jake Hager, allowing him to continue to perform as a professional fighter while under contract with the promotion.
