Bellator News
Quinton Jackson could make MMA comeback, hints Bellator champ AJ McKee
Adam Martin - August 1, 2021
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson could make an MMA comeback, hinted Bellator new Bellator featherweight champ, AJ McKee. McKee defeated Patricio Pitbull via first-round submission on Saturday night in the main event of Bellator 263 to claim the promotion’s 145lbs title, and the $1 million grand prize for winning the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix sixteen-man tournament. Now a perfect 18-0 in MMA, McKee appears to be a superstar for Bellator for years to come. It hasn’t come out of anywhere either, as the son of former UFC fighter Antonio McKee was always considered a natural in mixed martial arts, training under his veteran father.
AJ McKee says Max Holloway is his "dream fight" after beating Patricio Pitbull at Bellator 263
Adam D Martin - August 1, 2021
New Bellator featherweight champion AJ McKee says Max Holloway is his “dream fight” after beating Patricio Pitbull at Saturday’s Bellator 263. McKee and Pitbull met in the main event of Bellator 263 in what marked the finals of the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix, a 16-man tournament that began nearly two years ago and only just now finished. Although Pitbull is the champion and one of the most experienced fighters to ever compete in Bellator, he was finished early in the first round when McKee rocked him with a head kick and then choked him out with a guillotine. It was an incredible finish by McKee and proved that he is one of the best featherweights in MMA.
Pros react after A.J. McKee submits Patricio Freire at Bellator 263
Chris Taylor - July 31, 2021
Tonight’s Bellator 263 event was headlined by the tournament finals of the promotions 145-pound grand prix as Patricio Freire squared off with A.J. McKee. Patricio Freire (32-5 MMA), Bellator’s reigning featherweight champion, had entered tonight’s main event on a seven-fight winning streak, his latest being a first round submission victory over Emmanuel Sanchez in the featherweight grand prix semifinals.
Bellator 263 Results: A.J. McKee stops Patricio Freire in Round 1 (Video)
Chris Taylor - July 31, 2021
Tonight’s Bellator 263 event is headlined by the tournament finals of the promotions 145-pound grand prix as Patricio Freire meets A.J. McKee. Patricio Freire (32-4 MMA), the reigning Bellator featherweight champion, will enter tonight’s main event sporting a seven-fight winning streak, his latest being a first round submission victory over Emmanuel Sanchez in the featherweight grand prix semifinals.
Patricio Pitbull sends a warning about respect to AJ McKee ahead of Bellator 263
Adam D Martin - July 30, 2021
Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull sent a warning about respect to his upcoming opponent AJ McKee ahead of Bellator 263. Pitbull, the Bellator 145lbs and 155lbs champion, steps into the cage on Saturday night in Los Angeles against McKee in the finals of the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix. Pitbull has won seven straight fights heading into this finale, while McKee is undefeated with a 17-0 record in Bellator and in MMA. The son of former UFC fighter Antonio McKee is confident that he can beat Pitbull, and at the press conference ahead of the fight, he told the Brazilian that he would beat him up in front of his wife and kids. Pitbull did not take kindly to the comments and they got into an altercation afterwards, which he explained.
Josh Barnett says 'It would really suck' to never fight Fedor Emelianenko
Drake Riggs - July 29, 2021
Josh Barnett vs. Fedor Emelianenko is one of MMA’s biggest fights that got away — but what if it didn’t have to? The pair of heavyweight legends were originally set to clash in 2009 under the short-lived Affliction banner. Fast-forward 12 years and they’re both in the same promotion once again as Emelianenko has his next bout set for October at Bellator’s first show in Russia.
Douglas Lima vs. Michael Page 2 headlines Bellator London
Adam D Martin - July 27, 2021
Bellator MMA announced on Tuesday that Douglas Lima vs. Michael Page 2 will headline the promotion’s upcoming event in London, England. Lima vs. Page 2 will headline Bellator 267, which takes place on October 1 at The SSE Arena, Wembley in London, England. The promotion made the matchup official on Tuesday.
Matt Mitrione released by Bellator following third straight knockout loss
Adam D Martin - July 20, 2021
Heavyweight MMA fighter Matt Mitrione has been released by Bellator following his third straight knockout loss this past weekend. MMAFighting.com confirmed with promotional officials that Mitrione received his walking papers from Bellator after tapping out to strikes against Tyrell Fortune at last Friday’s Bellator 262 event. In addition to Mitrione, Bellator also confirmed that it has released Ronny Markes and Adil Benjilany. Markes was knocked out at Bellator 262, but Benjilany defeated Johnny Soto, marking his release as a strange one considering he just won.
Joe Schilling provides latest update following bar-punching incident
Adam D Martin - July 14, 2021
Former Bellator MMA fighter and GLORY kickboxing star Joe Schilling provided the latest update following his recent bar-punching incident. Schilling was recently involved in an incident at a bar where he was caught on video knocking a man out cold with punches. Schilling later claimed it was self-defense and said that there is more to the story than meets the eye, though the victim, Justin Balboa, said that he plans on taking legal action against “Stitch ‘Em Up.” However, we haven’t had much provided in the way of an update as far as potential charges against Schilling.
Photo | A tweet from former Bellator boss Bjorn Rebney managed to make the UFC 264 broadcast
Adam D Martin - July 12, 2021
A tweet that has become some sort of meme in the MMA community from former Bellator boss Bjorn Rebney managed to make the UFC 264 broadcast. In June 2014, Rebney tweeted out the word “Mexico!!” and to this day, fans still occasionally retweet him when a Mexican MMA fighter does something amazing. Last month at UFC 263, Brandon Moreno defeated former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo to take home the belt, which led to a number of fans retweeting the old Rebney comment. But no one could have predicted that this old tweet would make a UFC show.
Jake Hager wants to fight Fedor Emelianenko in Bellator: "I really honestly believe that this is my fight"
Adam D Martin - July 5, 2021
Former WWE superstar Jake Hager wants to fight Fedor Emelianenko in Bellator, saying that “I really honestly believe that this is my fight.” The legend Emelianenko recently revealed that he is set to return to the Bellator cage this October in Moscow, Russia. Bellator did not announce his opponent yet, with company president Scott Coker admitting that there has been significant interest from other fighters to take on “The Last Emperor,” specifically mentioning Junior dos Santos, Alistair Overeem, and Josh Barnett as potential fights. But it appears there is another challenger in the arena.
Fabricio Werdum calls for Fedor Emelianenko rematch: "Fedor was never the GOAT"
Adam Martin - July 4, 2021
Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum called for the Fedor Emelianenko rematch, suggesting that “Fedor was never the GOAT.” It was just over 11 years ago in Strikeforce that Werdum and Emelianenko met inside the cage and the Brazilian pulled off one of the biggest upsets of all time when he tapped the Russian out with a triangle-armbar. Fans have always wanted to see a rematch between these two rivals, but it has never happened. With Emelianenko set to return to the Bellator cage later this year in Russia, Bellator president Scott Coker has admitted that a number of big names have been in touch with his company to fight Emelianenko, naming fighters such as Josh Barnett, Junior dos Santos, and Alistair Overeem among the possibilities.