FRESNO, Calif. — It has been 17 months since former Gardendale wrestler John Salter strapped on his leather gloves and stepped inside the cage.

Salter, a 145-pound state champion with the Rockets in 2002, has recently been added to the main card of “Bellator 156: Galvao vs Dantas 2”, which will take place on June 17 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif.

His middleweight bout with Brandon “Bull” Halsey (9-1) will be his first fight back since sustaining a laboring neck injury in preparation for a clash with Reggie Pena. Following neck surgery, Salter began nursing back and elbow discomfort, according to mmajunkie.com. He then took a temporary break from the sport.

“I knew I couldn’t come out and be myself, so I didn’t want to take any chances on taking a loss just because I’m injured and not 100 percent,” said Salter to Steven Marrocco with mmajunkie.com.

Spike TV will air Salter vs Halsey on Friday, June 17. The main card will begin at 8 p.m.

The 31-year-old mixed martial artist is currently riding a three-fight winning streak that’s hiked his professional record to 11-3. Prior to the injuries, Salter disposed of Dustin Jacoby in his Belabor MMA debut.

Salter ended the “Bellator 132” fight at the 3:33 mark of the second round via rear-naked choke.

“Dustin Jacoby is a world-class kick boxer and Salter came at him with no fear at all. That’s what stands out to me the most in that fight is he went right after a guy that most people play the outside and try to avoid. He didn’t do that, he went right after him, took him down, took his back and choked him out like he stole something from him,” said Bellator commentator Jimmy Smith.

The local product makes his return to the cage on a hot streak, winning six of his last seven professional fights. As the proud owner of five first-round knockout victories, Salter isn’t one to play defense and go to an official decision.

“He never lets it go to the judges,” said Smith. “He goes in there to finish guys, to take them out and to take their legacy; that’s how he fights.”

“That was the kind of fight you love to see from a new guy in Bellator, and he put his name on the map with that fight,” said Smith of Salter’s latest win over Jacoby.

After graduating from Gardendale, Salter went on to win an NAIA national championship at Lindenwood University in 2007, the same year he began his MMA career.

The former Alabama state champion has never gone to an official decision in the cage.

Erik Harris is the Sports Editor of The North Jefferson News. Email him at njnsports@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jeharris2.