Former UFC vet Jordan Mein, returning to action this Friday for the first time since 2018, still has plenty to prove.
Jordan Mein has fought professionally 43 times, and at only age 30 he still has plenty to offer his new promotion of Bellator MMA. A former UFC fighter, who exited that company on a two-fight win streak, Mein has also taken two years off from his previous victory in the UFC cage against Alex Moreno.
“I had meniscus surgery, blew it out in a grappling tournament and had to re-start all of that” Mein explained ahead of his return at Bellator 242. There, he’s the co-main event, against Jason Jackson. “During the third surgery they actually took out the meniscus fully. I could train with it but it would lock up. And then they ended up taking that out. But now I’m 100%.” Now, he’s back to training full time, and feeling good.
Mein was coming off of two straight UFC victories but did no re-sign with the promotion once his contract was up. The injury obviously has taken time away from his professional career but Mein made the decision to move over to the UFC’s rival in Bellator.
“Opportunity brings me here. We were negotiating and its taken some time but now I’m here,” he stated. “It was just mainly a big opportunity that I jumped on.”
Mein had strung together a winning record in Strikeforce and held an overall record of 5-4 while under contract with the UFC. Currently at 31-12 as a professional, Mein has been around for what seems like forever, but at only 30, he still has plenty to prove.
“I’ve definitely have lots prove” Mein told the media at Wednesday’s Bellator 242 media day. “New organization, I’ve got to go out there and prove something, for sure. I can’t just go out there and win, that’s not enough. You can’t just win, there has to be something impressive and big for everybody to watch.”
Mein is welcomed to the Bellator ranks by Jason Jackson, who is coming off a decision victory over Kiichi Kunimoto at Bellator 236. Mein feels blessed to be in the co-main event spot in his debut fight with the promotion.
“I see this fight being exciting, being tactical and entertaining,” he predicted.
Bellator 242 takes place with no crowd at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT on Friday July 24. The main card airs live on Paramount Network and DAZN.
