Joe Riggs, welcome to Bellator

UFC veteran Joe Riggs has found a new home.

Recently under contract with the San Jose based mixed martial arts promotion, Strikeforce, it looks like Riggs has fufilled his contractual obligations with the organization and will now venture into new territory as he now joins the Bellator Fighting Championships.

To date, Bellator has done a great job and acquiring some big names in the sport, including the likes of Roger Huerta, Eddie Alvarez, Megumi Fuji, Jay Hieron, and now Joe will be an ample name to add to their bolstering stock of fighters.

Bellator recently announced the signing of the middleweight-sometimes-welterweight fighter, who was last seen in action in King of the Cage last November, when he defeated Trent Thorne by TKO inside of the first round in a match contested in the 185-pound division. It was Riggs’ 16th career knockout win and his 34th victory overall.

In his time with Strikeforce, Joe rattled off a record of 4-3 inside the cage, with notable losses to Kazuo Misaki and the aforementioned Jay Hieron.

Hot and cold throughout most of his career, “Diesel” is currently riding a two-fight win streak (both by some form of knockout) and has won 6 of his last 7 fights.

While his debut in Bellator has not yet been revealed, it appears that Riggs will be stepping into the organization’s middleweight field, possibly in time for an unannounced tournament run in the organization’s fourth season. Current champion Hector Lombard has long relished the idea of a high-profile fight against a worthy opponent, and he might yet get that with Riggs, who will not shy away from standing up with the Judoka-turned-knockout artist.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the Riggs signing? If Joe should move into the middleweight tournament, who do you think he will fair against some of the competitors in the division? Sound off in the comment section below.