Pro wrestling’s Jake Hager (formerly Jack Swagger of WWE fame) will return to the Bellator cage later this month.
Hager (2-0, 1NC), an NCAA Division I All-American wrestler at the University of Oklahoma, will face Brandon Calton (2-0) at Bellator 250 on October 29. MMA Junkie was first to report the news.
Hager began his MMA journey in 2017, following his exit from the WWE. He signed on with Bellator MMA, but did not debut until 2019, earning wins in his first two fights, against J.W. Kiser and T.J. Jones. Neither fighters offered much in the way of competition, and Hager submitted both via arm-triangle choke.
In his third outing, a somewhat more experienced Anthony Garrett offered Hager a bigger challenge. However, a pair of knees landing to the groin of Garrett saw the fight end in a No Contest.
For Brandon “Bone Crusher” Calton, MMA has been something of a late calling. The 40-year old has competed in the amateurs since at least 2013, but did not turn pro until earlier this year. Both his professional wins, under the Showcase MMA banner, have come via stoppage.
When he’s not moonlighting in MMA, Hager remains active in the pro wrestling world, where he is a key member of “The Inner Circle,” Chris Jericho’s heel faction in All-Elite Wrestling (AEW). The promotion, which recently celebrated the first anniversary of it’s TNT show, Dynamite, has consistently given the WWE a run for its money on Wednesday nights, where it competes against NXT in the ratings.
Bellator 250, which takes place on October 29 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT, is headlined by a middleweight title fight between Gegard Mousasi and Douglas Lima. The main card will air on CBS Sports Network after online prelims. Hager vs. Calton is expected to be part of the evening’s preliminary card.
