2000 Olympian Ferrid Kheder has signed to compete in Bellator's eight-man lightweight tournament beginning in April.

Kheder has won titles in several Judo championships and represented France in the 2000 Olympic Games in Australia, finishing seventh. Kheder began MMA three years ago and has already amassed a 16-5 record.

Kheder trains his standup under Shawn Tompkins at the TapouT gym in Las Vegas. Kheder is a black belt in judo and a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Kheder holds a victory over UFC veteran Drew Fickett and last fought in a loss to Daisuke Nakamura at M-1 Global: Breakthrough in August.

In Bellator's lightweight bracket, the other announced competitor is Georges St-Pierre's training partner, Mike Ricci.