Antrim’s Norman Parke has officially signed a deal with Bellator after a 32-fight career that saw him compete in a number of elite promotions.

Norman Parke is a name well-known to the Irish MMA fanbase. A former Ultimate Fighter winner, Parke enjoyed a nine-fight run in the UFC – going (5-3-1) before his eventual release.

His time in the world’s premier mixed martial arts organisation wasn’t as patchy as his record would suggest, though.

Two split decisions out of his three UFC shortcomings could well have seen things turn out very differently had the judges called it in his favour but nevertheless, in facing the likes of Francisco Trinaldo, Leonardo Santos, Gleison Tibau, and Rustam Khabilov – he gained valuable experience going against some of the division’s top veterans.

According to his official Twitter account, Parke has now been given a well-deserved opportunity to put that experience to the test in Bellator MMA.