Ruth added to Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix

Ed Ruth, three-time NCAA wrestling champ for Penn State, is one of nine competitors named to the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix tournament, the MMA promotion announced Tuesday.

Ten of Bellator's best 170-pounders will be featured in the bracket to determine a welterweight champ for the promotion. In addition to Ed Ruth, others named to the tournament by Bellator president Scott Coker include current champion Rory MacDonald; former champions Douglas Lima and Andrey Koreshkov; undefeated welterweights Michael Page, Neiman Gracie and Yaroslav Amosov; and former UFC standouts Lorenz Larkin and Jon Fitch. A tenth contestant has yet to be named.

Once the ten fighters are named, there will be two "play-in" matches to determine the final eight-man bracket.

The Grand Prix is scheduled to begin at Bellator 205 in September with a matchup between Lima and Koreshkov.

Ruth, who signed with Bellator in May 2015, has crafted a perfect 6-0 record, all competing for Bellator. Late last month, Ruth made his debut as a welterweight at Bellator 201, scoring a second-round stoppage of veteran Andy Murad (who is now 15-3). Prior to Bellator 201, Ruth had previously fought at middleweight (185 pounds).

Although Ruth made a name for himself on the wrestling mat, striking has figured into his pro MMA success, having one four bouts by TKO and one by knockout.