Wrestling does not necessarily end after college, but Bellator is providing a lucrative, alternative path for those who wish to keep competing in combat sports. The mixed martial arts promotion's latest signee is Romero Cotton, a former three-time national champion from Division II Nebraska Kearney.

Bellator has shown no hesitation in adding wrestlers from lower NCAA divisions, as evidenced by the signings of Joey Davis and Tyrell Fortune, who both scored wins in their MMA debuts and, like Cotton, were multiple-time DII champions.

Having an opportunity to be part of a promotion like Bellator so early in my MMA career is one that I am thankful for," Cotton said. "Being that I'm just starting out in the sport, I thought it would be two or three years of grinding and working my way up the ladder before reaching a company of this magnitude.

"Having seen how Bellator's recent string of wrestlers have been treated and performed, I'm honored to be the latest, and there's nothing I'm looking forward to more than showing the world my skills that I've acquired throughout my life not only as a wrestler but as an athlete. Now, I move onto the next phase of my career and will continue to develop into a well-rounded fighter."

Known as the "Fab Five," Bellator's recent signings of former college wrestlers include Ed Ruth, Aaron Pico, and Jarod Trice, along with Davis and Fortune. Pico is recovering from a knee injury and has yet to make his MMA debut, while Trice is slated to start at Bellator 167 on December 3. Cotton will be wrestling 85kg this weekend for the Minnesota Storm at the Bill Farrell.

Terms of the deal (number of fights, years, and dollar amounts) were not disclosed, however, Cotton's weight class has been set at 185 pounds -- the middleweight division. Other successful wrestlers in Bellator include Darrion Caldwell, Joe Warren, Bubba Jenkins, as well as current champions Phil Davis and Michael Chandler.

Check out this interview with Romero Cotton after 2014 NCAAs: