Bellator News
Daniel Cormier dismisses PFL and Bellator, says UFC is the only place to earn "Superstardom"
Curtis Calhoun - October 8, 2024
UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier feels the UFC is the only MMA promotion in which athletes truly have an opportunity to achieve a superstar fame level. Cormier sat cage-side as UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira defeated Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307. Pereira defended the belt for the third time in just seven months and rallied from early adversity to finish Rountree.
Bellator Paris card on November 16th canceled, Patchy Mix vs. Leandro Higo postponed
Josh Evanoff - October 3, 2024
Next month’s Bellator Paris card headlined by Patchy Mix vs. Leandro Higo has been canceled. ‘No Love’ hasn’t been seen in the cage since a split-decision victory over Magomed Magomedov in May. That victory was Patchy Mix’s first defense of his Bellator bantamweight title and moved him to 20-1 as a professional. Following the victory, the champion was booked opposite Leandro Higo for next month in France.
Paul Hughes eyeing Bellator title fight against Usman Nurmagomedov with victory over A.J. McKee: "It's got to be next"
Josh Evanoff - September 19, 2024
Paul Hughes is angling for a fight with Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov. ‘Big News’ is still early on in his tenure with PFL and Bellator. Paul Hughes famously chose to sign with Donn Davis and the promotion, over Dana White and the UFC earlier this year. In his promotional debut earlier this summer, the Irishman scored a second-round knockout victory over Bobby King.
Former Bellator champion Yaroslav Amosov hints at UFC run after promotional exit
Fernando Quiles - September 13, 2024
Yaroslav Amosov, a former Bellator welterweight champion, has announced his departure from Bellator MMA and is teasing a UFC run. Amosov had been with Bellator since the summer of 2018. He went on a tear under the promotion, going 8-1. Along the way, the Ukrainian bruiser became Bellator’s 170-pound champion with one successful title defense and a unification win. He suffered the first loss of his pro MMA career after being stopped by Jason Jackson in late 2023.
Usman Nurmagomedov wants to prove Khabib Nurmagomedov right: "I am the future"
Fernando Quiles - September 8, 2024
Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov believes he is the future of MMA. Nurmagomedov put his 155-pound hardware at stake against Alexandr Shabliy in the main event of Bellator Champions Series 4 this past Saturday. The Dagestan bruiser earned a unanimous decision win to maintain his hold on the gold and improve his pro MMA record to 18-0, 1 NC.
Video | Lorenz Larkin stops Levan Chokheli in the first round at Bellator San Diego
Harry Kettle - September 8, 2024
Lorenz Larkin picked up a huge win over Levan Chokheli last night in their battle at Bellator San Diego. Over the course of the last 15 years, Lorenz Larkin has served as an interesting case study in mixed martial arts. For the longest time, he was viewed as someone who has the potential to be a real superstar. In equal measure, some of his appearances inside the cage didn’t quite live up to the hype.
Khabib Nurmagomedov calls Usman Nurmagomedov the "future" of MMA
Harry Kettle - September 4, 2024
MMA legend Khabib Nurmagomedov believes his cousin Usman Nurmagomedov is the future of the sport. As we know, it’s been an interesting time for Usman Nurmagomedov as of late. While he may be a world champion in Bellator, he’s also had to deal with a suspected doping violation. Despite that, he is set to return to the cage this weekend when he defends his crown against Alexandr Shabliy.
Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards 2 scrapped, new Bellator London main event revealed
Josh Evanoff - September 3, 2024
Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards 2 has been removed from Bellator London. The two met in the main event of Bellator 299 last September. There, Fabian Edwards gave the undefeated middleweight champion arguably the toughest test of his career. However, the striker wound up being badly knocked out in round three. Post-fight, Johnny Eblen got into a confrontation with then-UFC champion, Leon Edwards in a wild scene.
Patchy Mix vs. Leandro Higo headlines Bellator Champions Series: Paris on Nov. 16
Curtis Calhoun - July 23, 2024
Bellator bantamweight titleholder Patchy Mix will face a new contender for his upcoming title defense in Paris. As announced in a Tuesday press release, Bellator Champions Series: Paris on November 16th will feature a Mix vs. Leandro Higo headliner. Mix last defended the belt in a ‘Fight of the Year’ contender against Magomed Magomedov in May.
Douglas Lima booked for Bellator return after lengthy, messy contract dispute
Curtis Calhoun - July 10, 2024
Former Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima will make his return to the cage at 185lbs after his rocky relationship with the PFL was repaired. Lima will face middleweight contender Aaron Jeffery at Bellator Champions Series: San Diego on September 7th. He returns to the cage following a 16-month hiatus, stemming from his unanimous decision win over Costello Van Steenis at Bellator 296.
Former Bellator champ Raufeon Stots booked for return on Sept. 7
Curtis Calhoun - July 9, 2024
Former Bellator interim bantamweight champion Raufeon Stots will return to the cage after a 10-month absence from fighting. Stots will face Glover Teixeira protégé Marcos Breno in the Bellator Champions Series: San Diego co-main event on September 7th. The promotion announced the matchup in a press release on Tuesday.
Bellator announces pair of title fights for September, including Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Alexandr Shabliy
Josh Evanoff - June 18, 2024
Bellator MMA’s schedule for September is heating up, as it now includes the return of Usman Nurmagomedov. Fans are now six months into PFL’s ownership of Bellator. Last fall, the Donn Davis-led promotion purchased the company from Viacom but had no plans to get rid of the company. Instead, each brand has run events separately in 2024, but have featured a lot of overlap. Names such as Cedric Doumbe have jumped back-and-forth, and that will likely only continue.