Undefeated middleweight Alain Van De Merckt has announced on social media that he has signed with top European promotion KSW.
The Belgian fighter was previously set to compete on the final episodes of this season of Dana White's Contender Series to earn a shot in the UFC.
Van De Merckt was scheduled to fight Brazil's Heraldo Souza at the UFC Apex following a great start to his pro career that has put him on the map in Europe.
With a record of 8-0, the 31-year old has finished all of his pro wins with an equal split of four submissions and four knockouts.
Six of his eight pro bouts have come in Dutch promotion Levels Fight League where he was the middleweight champion before receiving this call-up.
He's trained with some of the top fighters in Europe too with associations to gyms like Combat Brothers in The Netherlands which is the home of recent UFC signing Reinier de Ridder.
After withdrawing from his fight with Souza on the Contender Series, Van De Merckt had been teasing that he was going to sign to a top promotion and there will have been plenty of interest.
In the post where he announced his signing to KSW on X, he also called out his first opponent by mentioning the name of Laid Zerhouni.
The French fighter is 2-1 in the promotion and just Yesterday, was announced to be in action at KSW 101 in Paris on December 20 but the opponent has not yet been named.
"Top Boy" will undoubtedly be a name to keep an eye on in the promotion, especially if he can continue his track record for getting opponents out of there.