Jake Hager

The Big Hurt

USA

Officially retired
HeavyweightBellator
September 21, 2023
Hager announced Thursday that he was retiring from MMA fighting, MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Hager will instead focus on his professional wrestling career, which he put on pause to enter the MMA ranks back in 2019. Having been years removed from entering the Bellator ring, Wednesday's comments put to rest any possibility of a return.
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Wins with Swagger
HeavyweightBellator
January 26, 2019
Hager defeated JW Kiser via submission (arm triangle choke) at 2:09 of Round 1 at Bellator 214 on Saturday in Los Angeles.
ANALYSIS
Even though Hager is best known for performing as professional wrestler Jack Swagger, he was an All-American wrestler at Oklahoma in 2006. He had very little trouble dealing with Kiser, who brought a 1-1 record into the fight. Hager pressed for the clinch right away, scored a takedown and went to work from the top. He threw a few punches and elbows from the top before moving into an arm triangle choke. Hager did not even mean to move past half guard to finish the hold. Hager has continued to perform as a professional wrestler during the runup to this fight, so it remains to be seen if he is serious about continuing an MMA career in Bellator. He looked solid in this fight, but the future is still unknown.
Signs with Bellator
HeavyweightBellator
November 14, 2017
Hager has signed a deal with Bellator and will join their heavyweight division, Marc Raimondi of MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Hager, better known in the WWE as Jack Swagger, has decided to make the switch to MMA and will make his debut with Bellator. Hager was a standout wrestler in college, setting the single-season record at the University of Oklahoma for most pins in a season (30) in 2006. While a date isn't been set for his first fight, the former WWE World Heavyweight and U.S. champion has already signed with the promotion.