Former World Heavyweight champion Jake Hager, better known to fans as Jack Swagger, will be making his mixed martial arts debut tonight at Bellator 214.
Hager will be fighting J.W. Kiser in a heavyweight fight. Kiser has a 0-1 record while Hager is still 0-0. At the weigh-ins yesterday, the former WWE Superstar weighed in at 238lbs and while on the scales, he even did the “We The People” pose as the press looked on.
“I’m going to be successful because I have the best coaches around me and because I have my heart 100 percent in this,” Hager said at the open workouts per MMAJunkie.com. “This is serious. We’re not playing games. A lot of people look at me like, ‘Hey, this is a money grab’ or whatever. No, I’m not playing any games. I know that I have the confidence in my conditioning and my shape to go out and do that.”
Hager also discussed how he got support from his former co-workers and one unlikely supporter – WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon. “He said, ‘Don’t lose,’” Hager quipped.
The show takes place from The Forum in Inglewood, California and will air on Paramount and streams on DAZN.