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.