Former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Jake Hager, better known as Jack Swagger from his time with the WWE, is preparing for his MMA debut after signing with the Viacom-owned promotion, Bellator MMA, back in November 2017.
On Monday during an interview with ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, Swagger revealed that he’d make his pro-MMA debut against J.W. Kiser at the upcoming Bellator 214 event. Swagger, who as an All-American at the University of Oklahoma, joins the list of pro wrestlers to make the jump to MMA that includes Brock Lesnar, CM Punk and Bobby Lashley.
Swagger is a former WWE World Heavyweight Champion, ECW Champion, and United States Champion who’s stint with the company lasted from 2006 to 2017.
Bellator 214 is set to take place on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at The Forum in Inglewood, California. The preliminary card will air online at 7:00 pm EST while the main card will air on Paramount Network at 9:00 PM EST.
Fedor Emelianenko and current Bellator light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader will headline this show in the heavyweight grand prix tournament finals in order to crown a new champion. The promotion will be announcing more bouts in the coming weeks. Here’s the updated card:
- Fedor Emelianenko vs. Ryan Bader – for vacant heavyweight title
- Champ Gegard Mousasi vs. Rafael Lovato Jr. – for middleweight title
- Henry Corrales vs. Aaron Pico
- Jake Hager vs. J.W. Kiser
