Bellator News

Drake Riggs - June 26, 2018

Today, a prayer to the MMA Gods is indeed in order. And compared to the previous two…this one feels like it has a good chance at being answered soon. Everybody loves the heavyweight division. Especially their legendary figures like Mirko Cro Cop, Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira, Igor Vovchanchyn, Randy Couture…the list goes on.

Tom Taylor - June 26, 2018

That massive September 29th Bellator card that you’ve been hearing about? That’s going to air exclusively on the streaming service DAZN (pronounced Da Zone, for those unfamiliar). This card, which will feature a middleweight title super fight between divisional kingpin Gegard Mousasi and beefed-up welterweight champ Rory MacDonald, as well as a fourth fight between MMA legends Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson and Wanderlei Silva, will kick-start a multi-year deal between Bellator, parent company Viacom, and DAZN.

Tom Taylor - June 25, 2018

As Bellator MMA’s exciting Heavyweight Grand Prix nears its half-way mark, the promotion is reportedly plotting another grand prix in its talent-packed welterweight division. This, per Lance Pugmire of the LA Times.

Tom Taylor - May 24, 2018

On Friday, Bellator MMA will celebrate its 200th fight card with the aptly-titled Bellator 200. On Thursday morning, the 34 fighters on the bill took to the scales to weigh in for the respective battles. Remarkably, only one of these 34 fighters failed to make their contracted weight, as lightweight Martyn Harris was advised to abandon his cut amid health concerns. Every other fighter on the card hit their mark. That includes middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho and challenger Gegard Mousasi, who were elevated to Bellator 200 headlining honors when Roy Nelson and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic’s anticipated rematch fell through.

Drake Riggs - May 17, 2018

We’ve only seen the ‘Axe Murderer’, Wanderlei Silva step foot in the cage once in the last five years. That time being for when he headlined Bellator’s big Madison Square Garden show, Bellator 180 opposite his longtime rival, Chael Sonnen. ‘The American Gangster’ would go on to earn the unanimous decision victory by grinding out Silva in his usual fashion and then enter into Bellator’s heavyweight Grand Prix title tournament where he would defeat Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson in the opening round.

Tom Taylor - May 8, 2018

Over the last few weeks, there’s been significant buzz about a potential fight between Bellator welterweight champ Rory MacDonald, and former Bellator and ONE welterweight champ Ben Askren. While this fight is one that most fans want to see, the key roadblock is that, even in his retirement, Askren remains under contract with ONE Championship. In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Bellator President Scott Coker divulged that he recently met with ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong to discuss a possible Askren vs. MacDonald matchup. While we already know that Coker isn’t interested in bringing Askren back to Bellator for a one-off fight, it sounds like he is interested in swapping fighters with ONE Championship in the future.

Chris Taylor - April 28, 2018

Bellator 198 Results: Fedor Emelianenko KO’s Frank Mir A highly anticipated heavyweight fight between former UFC champion Frank Mir and former PRIDE champion Fedor Emelianenko served as the headliner of tonight’s Bellator 198 event.

Chris Taylor - April 28, 2018

Bellator 198 Results: Dillon Danis submits Kyle Walker Dillon Danis made his highly anticipated mixed martials arts debut at tonight’s Bellator 198 event against opponent Kyle Walker.

Drake Riggs - April 12, 2018

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distresses. He caused the storm to be still so that the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they were quiet, so he guided them to their desired haven… This isn’t always the case in MMA…not even close. As our combat-loving gods have shown over the years, they are very, very, very merciless. The evidence can be seen with the entire fight week leading up to UFC 223 this past week. On April Fools Day of all days out of the 365 days in a year, the UFC announced to the world that interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson had been injured out of his main event title fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov. That by itself was enough to put everyone into a frenzy of disbelief.

Justin Golightly - March 9, 2018

Dillon Danis has an MMA debut on the horizon that has long been teased since his signing with Bellator in March of last year. Dates were set and broke, set then broke again, but now it looks like everything is good to go. First reported by MMA Fighting, Danis is going to a get a big, main card slot on the big April 28th Bellator 198 card headlined by legend Fedor Emelianenko and former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir. biggest debut in MMA History. coming to a TV near you… 💰

Justin Golightly - March 2, 2018

Year after year, there always seems to be some talk here and there about Chuck Liddell returning to MMA. From UFC 205 all the way up until some heat with Chael Sonnen, it always seems to be penciled in but never actually happens. …Until now. Our own Chris Taylor has just recently broke a report that Liddell is nearing a very profitable deal with Bellator for a career victory lap in their cage. Breaking! According to sources close to the situation, former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell is closing in on a multi-million dollar fight deal with Bellator MMA.

Justin Golightly - February 24, 2018

It seems like every year there is a tease that Chuck Liddell may come out of retirement for one or two more fights. This year, it seems to be a fight with former rival and UFC light heavyweight champion, Tito Ortiz. However, Bellator president Scott Coker is on the fence about the idea. It’s not that he wouldn’t put on the trilogy between Liddell and Ortiz, he’s just that he literally doesn’t know if he can. “My understanding is that Chuck [Liddell] is still under contract with the UFC. I’m not sure. I just thought that to be true. I don’t know the details, but when he retired, I think the contract freezes and they maintain some rights. Listen, is it a fight that would be fun to watch [between Liddell and Tito Ortiz]? I think if they both pass a physical and Tito was healthy and his neck was healthy and he was able to perform at a high level, and they were fighting, to me is it interesting? I would definitely watch it.”

Justin Golightly - February 16, 2018

Tonight, former UFC fighter will step into the Bellator cage and fight a former UFC opponent in Roy Nelson. It’s the second bout in an exciting year-long world grand prix that will end up crowning the new Bellator heavyweight champion. The winner of the fight will have to get through potential opponents like King Mo, Fedor Emelianenko, former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir and current Bellator light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader. Still, after such a grueling gauntlet of battles, Mitrione is humble enough to admit that even if he wins, he’s still a step below current UFC heavyweight king Stipe Miocic. “No, I do not [think winning the Bellator world grand prix makes me the top heavyweight]. Stipe [Miocic] is the No. 1 guy in the world. I don’t think anybody can argue that at all. I think it would be really dope to have the chance to compete against him. If the Ali Act ever got passed, I think that would be really dope and I think it would be great for the fans. Then I find out, ‘Are you really that good or not?’”

Tom Taylor - February 15, 2018

This Friday night, Bellator MMA will return to our screens with Bellator 194. On Thursday, the 24 fighters on the card took to the scale to weigh in for the respective battles. Unfortunately, the card’s weigh-ins were not without mishaps, as boxing transplant Heather Hardy missed weighed for her anticipated flyweight bout with fellow boxer Ana Julaton. To make matters worse, this unfortunate hiccup was due to a misunderstanding, as Hardy weighed in and, believing she’d hit her mark, began rehydrating. Only then was she told she’d missed she’d actually weighed in above the flyweight division’s 126-pound limit. Though this unfortunate miss was accidental and minuscule, Hardy will surrender 20% of her fight purse to Julaton all the same.

Justin Golightly - February 15, 2018

Why are MMA tournaments awesome? #Bellator194 headliner and grand-prix participant @roynelsonmma explains. Full story: https://t.co/sk0ip6v0GN pic.twitter.com/WKmJWvo7fb — MMAjunkie (@MMAjunkie) February 15, 2018

Justin Golightly - February 8, 2018

After Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson got on The MMA Hour and said he wanted a fourth — yes, fourth — fight with PRIDE and UFC veteran Wanderlei Silva, we had no idea what to think. However, all that really matters is what Bellator and Silva himself thinks. He caught wind of the offer and is all for the quadrilogy with Quinton Jackson, that is only if it takes place in the Brazilian’s hometown of Curitiba. ”I will [talk to Bellator president Scott Coker about the fight], but I want to do this rematch with ‘Rampage’ [Quinton Jackson] at Arena da Baixada, in Curitiba [Brazil]. I’ll put this as a condition, to be in my hometown. Then it would be worth the effort. Money alone isn’t worth it, it has to be something more, and that would be fighting in front of my friends in Curitiba. I’m kind of big, too, with 229 pounds. I’m training a bit stronger.”

Justin Golightly - January 27, 2018

Despite being in this fight game for the last 15 years, Paul Daley had been pretty much lighting it up in Bellator. In his last 10 fights, he’s only loss to current Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald and previous champ Douglas Lima. After multiple disputes with the Powers That Be, Daley said he had been released from his contract. Bellator was quick to refute the report, but either way it’s clear he wants to be on his way out. If the UFC is willing to take him back, he’s ready to test himself against the best in some fire match-ups. “If Bellator are gonna act like they don’t want me then they should just let me go instead of backtracking in the media. I’ve had like ten inbox messages from promotions, princes, Kings of Dubai and Russian Oligarchs and all kinds of people. So, if they are gonna let me go just let me go. If the UFC contacted me I would go back there. Of course I would. All I want to do is fight the fights that I’m promised within a reasonable time frame.”

Tom Taylor - January 25, 2018

Paul Daley has not been happy with Bellator MMA of late. Over the last few weeks, the British knockout artist has repeatedly shared his gripes with Bellator on Facebook. Scott Coker talking about Page at the Bellator presser, Bellator are Sooooooo on ass it’s sickening 🤢 He hasn’t fought MMA in how long, his last performance in boxing and MMA were terrible,” Daley said in a recent Facebook post.