Larkin signs with Bellator MMA

Welterweight Lorenz ‘The Monsoon’ Larkin has signed with Bellator MMA, after allowing his UFC contract to run out and testing free agency. The fighter took a big risk, and won.

Larkin had three fights in the UFC in 2014, and lost them all. He bounced back with two fights in 2015, winning both.

Larkin had three fights in 2016. The first was at UFC 196, a loss to Albert Tumenov, in which he earned just $36,000. The second fight was a win over Jorge Masvidal at UFC Fight Night 88; as UFC contracts typically only escalate with a win, Larkin made $72,000. UFC contracts are often for three fights, and a new one is offered with one fight left on the card; that is what happened here.

However, Larking termed the UFC offer “ridiculous.” He could have taken it, but instead took a risk and fought out the contract. If he had lost, he would be looking for a new contract with a record of
2014: 0-3
2015: 2-0
2016: 1-2

That’s not a strong negotiating position. However, in his last fight he knocked out Neil Magny at UFC 202, making $78,000. So he went from going 1-4 in the UFC to going 4-1.

He then reportedly fielded offers from RIZIN, the UFC, and Bellator MMA. Bellator boss Scott Coker made his choice official.

https://twitter.com/ScottCoker/status/842434193464344576

Lorenz Larkin fought for Coker under the Strikeforce banner going 4-1 with one NC. That run was capped with a win over now former-UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler. Larkin will now have another opportunity to fight for Coker, in a division that includes Rory MacDonald, Andrey Koreshov, Douglas Lima, Semtex Daley, and Venom Page.

There are a lot of great fights for him.