‘A long time coming!’ – Linton Vassell signs new six-fight deal with Bellator to set up heavyweight title shot against Ryan Bader

Linton Vassell has signed a new six-fight deal with Bellator and is now just waiting for contracts to be signed for his heavyweight title fight against Ryan Bader.

Having rattled off four consecutive wins since November 2019, Vassell has moved himself onto the brink of a third world title shot, having come up short in two previous attempts at light-heavyweight.

A thrilling first round fightback saw him secure a TKO win over Tim Johnson in April and catapult him into the title picture once again, confident he has done everything asked of him to get his opportunity.

The Briton turns 39 this week but a huge new deal with Bellator will hand him the chance to become the new king of the heavyweight division and be crowned only the second Bellator champion from the UK.

‘I feel like this is a long time coming and I’m happy that we could work out a new agreement we are both happy with,’ Vassell told Metro.co.uk.

‘In my head I was next for the title fight and with Bader winning and then calling me out it just made perfect sense. Because I had done everything in my path to get to that number one spot, so pretty much I was next in line.’

It was Bader who spurned one of Vassell’s earlier attempts to become champion at 205lbs back in 2017. The American then called out his old rival following his title defence against Cheick Kongo in May, a win that came just four months on from becoming the division’s undisputed champion with a gruelling victory over Valentin Moldavsky.

Vassell is next in line and has not ruled out the possibility of his world title challenge taking place back in the UK.

‘I was very excited when I heard my name being called by Ryan, so I know he is up for it and I’m up for it,’ he said. ‘So now we’re just waiting for the