Shlemenko (photo via Bellator.com)

By FCF Staff

Bellator has locked up one of its top fighters for the foreseeable future, as the promotion has announced that it has signed middleweight champ Alexander Shlemenko to a multi-fight, multi-year extension.

The 29 year-old fighter, who is set to face recent tourney winner Brennan Ward on March 28th, was quoted saying in the announcement:

“Bellator has been my home for many years, and it’s where I want to be,” Shlemenko said. “Bjorn made me a promise and he lived up to that promise to provide me with a new deal. I have made a home here at Bellator, and I will continue to represent Russia in my efforts in the cage. I have gained millions of new fans both in the US and in Russia and around the world during my time with Bellator, and I will enjoy being Bellator’s longest running champion. I will continue wearing that belt with honor during my time with Bellator, which will now be at the peak of my career.”

“Alexander Shlemenko has been with this organization since its infancy, and has grown into one of the most dominant champions in MMA,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney was quoted saying. “I can say without hesitation Alexander has been a large part of the success we have enjoyed over the last five years and as the biggest name in Russian MMA, he’s been the catalyst to the largest TV deal in the history of MMA in Russia.  It’s an honor to have him fight in this organization. I look forward to watching his career continue inside the Bellator cage for years to come.”

No specific details regarding Shlemenko’s new deal were disclosed.

Since the Russian fighter lost by unanimous decision to former champ Hector Lombard in 2010, Shlemenko (49-7) has gone on to win 12 straight fights. Most recently, at Bellator 109 in November, the highlight reel striker put away Doug Marshall in the first round with a pounding punch to the body.