Bellator Signs Top Ten Featherweight and Former Sengoku Champion Marlon Sandro to 145 lbs Roster

CHICAGO, Ill. (February 23, 2011) — World number six-ranked[1] featherweight and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Marlon Sandro will make his U.S debut under the Bellator Fighting Championships banner, officials announced today. The Sengoku, Pancrase, and Shooto veteran will not participate in the upcoming Season 4 Featherweight Tournament which airs LIVE beginning in March, but will make his debut in 2011.

“Marlon Sandro is a phenomenal talent at 145,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Our Featherweight division is absolutely stacked and Sandro pushes that talent pool to an even higher level, I’m thrilled to have him on board.”

The former Sengoku Featherweight Champion and reigning Featherweight King of Pancrase brings an extremely impressive 17-2 professional record to Bellator, which includes seven TKO or KOs and three submission victories. Taking his first professional MMA fight in 2004, Sandro maintained a 5 year, 14 fight win-streak prior to his first career loss – a must-decide split decision to Michihiro Omigawa in the Sengoku Featherweight Grand Prix Semifinals.

Recently compiling a string of devastating knockouts, Sandro’s last four victories have come via TKO or KO, - all in the first round - with a total fight time of just 3:39.

Residing and fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sandro currently trains along side UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo with Team Nova Uniao