Bellator MMA signs Keri Anne Taylor-Melendez, wife of UFC contender Gilbert Melendez

Bellator MMA recently bolstered its women's MMA roster, seeking out a fighter whoBellator President Scott Coker already knows well.

Keri Anne Taylor-Melendez will make the jump from kickboxing and Muay Thai to the Bellator cage on Sept. 19, 2015, at SAP Center (a.k.a. "Shark Tank") for its upcoming "Dynamite" super show. Her hyphenated surname indicates that she's the wife of current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight Gilbert Melendez.

Taylor-Melendez first tried her hand at combat sports one decade ago, eventually going on to compile an amateur record of 4-1 in kickboxing. Her kickboxing record since turning professional is 2-1, while her MMA record has yet to be established.

Taylor-Melendez provided the following statement about her signing:

"I actually fought for Scott Coker before Gilbert and we both have a great relationship with him, so I feel very comfortable with this situation. Even though I haven't been super active as a fighter I have never really stopped training and look forward to testing my skills as a Muay Thai fighter and a mixed martial artist. My goal is to go out there and do my best and make my daughter, my family and team proud."

"Dynamite" is an event that will combine both Bellator MMA and GLORY kickboxing, which means she could have gone either way in her promotional debut (against an opponent yet to be named), but Bellator's press release asserts it will indeed be MMA.

For complete Bellator 142: "Dynamite" coverage -- and everything else Bellator MMA-related -- click here.