Debut.

Former England, Wasps and Northampton Saints flanker James Haskell is set to make his MMA debut for Bellator in May.

As reported by the Evening Standard, Haskell will fight on a card headlined by Irish MMA star James Gallagher at Bellator London on May 16 at the SSE Arena, Wembley.

His opponent is set to be announced in the coming weeks with Haskell currently training out of London-based MMA gym Shootfighters, home to MMA star Micheal ‘Venom’ Page.

Haskell, who won 77 caps for England and toured with the Lions in 2017, has insisted he will apply the same dedication to MMA as he did throughout his rugby career.

“I wouldn’t have agreed to it if I didn’t believe I could pull it off,” Haskell told Standard Sport last August.

“My coaches are going to tell me what to do. It’s about them formulating a plan, what is going to work for me and what isn’t going to work for me.

“They are specialists, I am excited to see what they can do with me and they will dictate everything. I don’t really have an opinion for once in my life which is quite nice.”