James Haskell has signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator MMA, the promotion have announced.
The former England and British Lions star brought the curtain down on his rugby career in May at the age of 34.
And the avid MMA fan has opted to test the waters in the Bellator cage early next year.
“Leading mixed martial arts promotion Bellator MMA is excited to announce the signing of international rugby star James Haskell to its elite roster of athletes,” an excerpt of a Bellator press release read.
“Haskell will compete in the Bellator heavyweight division and is expected to make his professional MMA debut for the global promotion in 2020.”
The two-time Heineken Cup winner has been sporadically training in mixed martial for the last few years, undertaking classes at London Shootfighters.
A date for Haskell’s debut in Bellator’s heavyweight debut has not been set, though it’s likely he’ll feature on the promotion’s annual visit to London – which normally takes place at the SSE Wembley Arena in May.
Bellator are understood to be heading back to the capital later year, with a November date in the works.
That event, however, will come too soon for Haskell to compete on.
Haskell’s decision to test himself in the cage comes as no surprise as he’s long been a fan of the sport of mixed martial arts.
Seven years ago, he told JOE: I’ve been interested in mixed martial arts for around three years.
“I have the same physio as the guys at Shootfighters and he got me into it.
“It’s a fantastic form of training, it builds strength and endurance and has helped me to manipulate and move people on the rugby pitch. It has definitely benefitted my game.
“For me, Ju-Jitsu is the best aspect of MMA. The skill level is just incredible.
“It teaches you how to control and move your opponent, which is obviously key for me.
“I regret not doing boxing as a kid because the footwork and movement you learn is so important, being able to rotate your body correctly is vital for every sport.”
He added: “A lot of the England boys are big fans of the UFC. Matt Stevens became a National Wrestling Champion during his two years away from rugby and has trained with the Gracie’s.
“Wrestling was a big part of training at the World Cup, we even set up a dojo at our camp, it is fantastic exercise for conditioning.
“When we were out in New Zealand, UFC 135 was on, Jon Jones vs. “Rampage” Jackson and we all huddled round to watch it.”
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