One year on in Bellator, Phil Davis glad to speak for ‘someone who doesn’t have a voice’

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Phil Davis knew the reaction was going to be mixed when he signed with Bellator last April.

Just a year ago, after all, the idea of a fighter in his prime, with career upside, willingly walking away from the UFC was considered a little crazy. Bellator was thought of as the place where stars who had retired came back for one last crack at glory, not for someone top 10 in the world in their division.

“There were definitely guys who reached out to me, who congratulated me,” Davis told MMAFighting. “There were other guys who were like, ‘dumb idea.’ But, you know, it’s different for each guy. “

But as Davis heads into year two of his Bellator contract, he turned out to be, if not exactly the leader of a movement, than at least a bellwether of change. His April 15, 2015 signing with the Viacom-backed promotion was the first of several high-profile acquisitions by the sport’s No. 2 promotion, a list which has gone on to include former UFC and WEC lightweight champ …

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