Cat Zingano, a title challenger opposite Ronda Rousey in the UFC, has joined the featherweight ranks in Bellator MMA.
‘Alpha’ Cat Zingano has a new fighting home. After parting ways with the UFC earlier this year, Zingano has signed on with Bellator MMA. The news was announced Tuesday by none other than Bellator CEO Scott Coker.
I'd like to officially welcome @CatZingano to @BellatorMMA's featherweight division.
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) October 29, 2019
Zingano (10–4), 37-years old, last fought at UFC 232 in December 2018, in a fight that ended early after a Megan Anderson toe poke off a kick. While officially a TKO loss, it was widely debated, and a rematch was expected at some point. Earlier in 2019, Zingano told Cageside Press she expected to be back in the octagon by the end of the year.
Instead, the UFC cut Zingano, something she said was mutual, after a scheduling conflict. “I had a project that was very, very important to me, and to the MMA community and fans, and I needed to put me, my son, my training and that first before I had anything to give to the UFC,” she would tell ESPN.
Zingano holds notable wins over Amanda Nunes, Miesha Tate, and Raquel Pennington. Her most recent win came in July 2018, when she defeated Marion Reneau at UFC Boise. While she has historically competed at bantamweight, her last fight came at featherweight, where she’ll compete in Bellator.
Bellator holds the bulk of the 145lb division in MMA on the women’s side, having Cris Cyborg, Julia Budd (their current champion), and a number of other fighters on their roster.
Oh helloooo @bellatormma ladies, shall we dine or dance? #Bellator #mma #catzingano #featherweight #yearofthealphacat #meow pic.twitter.com/Pw0OSMgzZP
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) October 29, 2019
