The upcoming Bellator welterweight tournament will include an international factor with the presence of Jim Wallhead. With a stellar professional record of 18-5, Wallhead enters the 170 lbs. bracket as one of its most seasoned veterans. Just days before signing with Bellator, he was lauded by Sherdog.com as “the top 170-pound fighter in Europe yet to be signed by a major promotion.”

A native of Leicester, England, Wallhead earned his black belt in Judo at age 16 and won Britain’s under-21 Judo championship at the age of 19. He made his professional MMA debut in 2005 at the age of 21 and has since compiled wins over top MMA talents like UFC veterans Jason Tan and Steven Lynch.

In his most recent fight, Wallhead won a unanimous decision against former TUF participant Che Mills in Wales. He is a member of the Bushido Academy’s Team Rough House along with fellow welterweight notables Dan Hardy and Paul Daley.

Wallhead has been fighting since 2005 in venues all across the U.K. and Holland and will make his U.S. fighting debut when the Bellator Welterweight World Championship begins in April 2010. Wallhead will compete among top competitors within the 170 lbs. division of the tournament, as each fighter battles to become No. 1 contender and win the right to take on current Bellator Welterweight Champion Lyman Good for his title.

Wallhead currently resides in Loughborough, England, with his wife and three-year-old daughter.