Vinny Magalhaes (9-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) is back with the UFC.
Following a series of suggestive tweets from "The Ultimate Fighter 8" runner-up and recent M-1 champ, MMAjunkie.com (
UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) confirmed the long-expected signing with sources close to the promotion.
Tatame first reporting the deal, though a reported September fight date hasn't been confirmed.
UFC officials haven't formally confirmed the light heavyweight's signing.
Since a 0-2 stint in the UFC, which included a loss to Ryan Bader in the "TUF 8" tournament final and a subsequent defeat to Eliot Marshall, Magalhaes has racked up a 7-1 record. Half the jiu-jitsu specialist's fights came in M-1, where he won the organization's 205-pound title before a strained relationship with company officials.
Magalhaes told MMAjunkie.com the relationship soured during an October title defense over Mikhail Zayats. Magalhaes, who won the belt from Viktor Nemkov in his previous bout, and representative Steve Pacitti said an M-1 official, Evgeni Kogan, was openly rooting for and coaching Zayats during the bout. Magalhaes has been on the sidelines ever since while he waited for his M-1 contract's matching period to fully expire.
Back in March, Magalhaes said he was in negotiations with multiple organizations, including the UFC.
"Being in the UFC would be a preference," Magalhaes said at the time. "But who knows. It's whoever gives the best offer, and it's not just about the money. It's about the best deal offer overall. (With the UFC), it's not just the money; it's the recognition. ... You can carry that for your life and open your gym and advertise yourself as a former UFC fighter. Just overall, it's good for your career. The name just weighs that much more.
"Tell me one fighter who doesn't want to be in the UFC. If he doesn't want to be in the UFC, then he probably just doesn't want to fight."
