Former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) combatant Batista finally declared that his deal with mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter Strikeforce is nearly sealed.
"We're real close. We actually agreed on a number last week and we're sorting stuff out," said the half-Filipino-half Greek former pro wrestler in an interview with DC 101, a Washington DC-based radio show.
Batista, whose real name is David Bautista Jr., said that his MMA debut will probably start early next year.
"We should have a deal real soon. Hopefully, I'll be fighting in March," the 41-year-old bodybuilder-actor said.
In an MMAfighting.com article, a Strikeforce spokesperson confirmed that there has been ongoing dialogue between sides. He, however, said Batista remains unsigned.
A logical move
Batista believes he has what it take to survive in MMA, citing that he had trained in the Filipino martial art, Kali. He added that he also tried out Muay Thai and worked on his ground game.
"The grind of professional wrestling, there is nothing is more brutal," he said. "I told my mom I wanted to get into fighting. She was scared to death. I said, 'Mom, the last few years I was an inch away from breaking my neck every night and now you're worried about me being punched in the face?'"
He said several issues with WWE have prompted him to leave the company, and venturing into MMA was more of a logical move.
In WWE, he became a 6-time World Champion. Batista was also declared winner of WWE's 2005 Royal Rumble match.
Batista said he and Strikeforce had talked about him possibly making his debut in Washington DC. The promotion has yet to run an event in the northeast US.
Batista is the latest wrestler to leave pro wrestling for MMA. Other former WWE stars who jumped into the MMA scene are Bobby Lashley and current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar. -- With a report from Mike Chiappetta, MMAFighting.com
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