Bellator in talks with former WWE star Alberto Del Rio

http://www.mmafighting.com/2014/12/23/7438867/bellator-in-talks-with-former-wwe-star-alberto-del-rio


The UFC has signed CM Punk, and Bellator MMA might be on the verge of signing its own former WWE star.

Bellator president Scott Coker told MMA Fighting on Monday that his organization has been in negotiations with former WWE standout Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio, whose real name is Jose Rodriguez, fought in MMA for nine years, including a pair of bouts with PRIDE.

"I think that we did reach out," Coker said. "I'm not sure where that is and by no means is it in the 11th hour, but I know there's some dialogue going on."

Rodriguez, who competed in MMA under the name Dos Caras, Jr., has a notable head kick knockout loss to Mirko Cro Cop at PRIDE Bushido 1 in 2003 on his record. Rodriguez trained under Marcos Ruas and went 9-5 in his mixed martial arts career between 2001 and 2010. Seven of his nine career victories came via submission.

Rodriguez, 37, is 6-foot-5 and more than 230 pounds, so he would likely compete in either the heavyweight or light heavyweight division.

In pro wrestling, Rodriguez was a popular former WWE champion and also competed for Mexican organizations AAA and CMLL. He was fired by WWE in August after slapping an employee. Rodriguez has said the man, a web producer, made a racist joke about him, prompting the physical altercation.

learn something new everyday.

I liked him as a pro wrestler and you could sort of tell his MMA background in the way he did some of his moves.