Bellator News

Cole Shelton - May 17, 2021

Danny Sabatello thought he was for sure going to get a UFC contract after his dominant performance over Taylor Moore on the Contender Series in November. Sabatello landed three of four takedowns and had 14:06 of ground control and won the fight 30-24, 30-25, 30-26. It was a dominant performance and for the now 28-year-old he thought he was a shoo-in for the contract.

Cole Shelton - May 17, 2021

Austin Vanderford is eager to share the cage with Fabian Edwards at Bellator 259 on Friday night. Vanderford is 10-0 and coming off a decision win over Vinicius de Jesus in his third fight in Bellator. Vanderford is currently the third-ranked middleweight while Edwards is ranked fourth. Although they are both up and comers in the division, Vanderford believes the fight makes sense now.

Adam D Martin - May 11, 2021

Bellator light heavyweight star Anthony Johnson was arrested for identity theft in Connecticut following his big win last weekend. The Daily Voice was the first to report the arrest of Johnson. According to police reports, Johnson illegally used a credit card in November 2019 in order to purchase a round-trip ticket from Newark, New Jersey, to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and Johnson was named as the passenger of the ticket. New Canaan police obtained a warrant for Johnson’s arrest, and “Rumble” was taken into custody following his fight last weekend at Bellator 258 where he knocked out Jose Augusto in one of the most exciting MMA fights of the year.

Adam D Martin - May 11, 2021

Bellator president Scott Coker confirmed that Bellator is considering the bantamweight division for the organization’s next Grand Prix. Coker is currently holding Bellator’s light heavyweight Grand Prix and featherweight Grand Prix, and two years ago held the welterweight Grand Prix. Coker is a big fan of the tournament format going back to his Strikeforce days and so he is already thinking about what the next tournament in Bellator would be, and it could very well be bantamweight.

Chris Taylor - May 8, 2021

Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping is getting sick and tired of being pestered by Bellator fighter Dillon Danis. The verbal sparring between Bisping and Danis began last weekend during the UFC Vegas 25 broadcast. ‘The Count’, who was on commentary duties last Saturday, had replied to one fight fans criticism with a message of “Why don’t you cry about it?”.

Chris Taylor - May 8, 2021

Jose Augusto has issued a classy statement following his second round knockout loss to Anthony Johnson at last night’s Bellator 258 event. Augusto (7-3 MMA) had taken last night’s fight with ‘Rumble’ on short-notice, this after Johnson’s originally slated opponent Yoel Romero was forced off the card.

Chris Taylor - May 8, 2021

Michael Venom Page scored another highlight reel knockout at last night’s Bellator 258 event, destroying Derek Anderson’s nose with a head kick. Page (19-1 MMA) had entered last night’s event in Uncasville looking to extend his current winning streak to five in a row. The English standout had most previously competed in October of 2020, where he earned a unanimous decision victory over Ross Houston.

Chris Taylor - May 8, 2021

Anthony Johnson returned to action for the fist time in over fours years at last night’s Bellator 258 event for a light heavyweight bout with Jose Augusto. Johnson (23-6 MMA) was originally scheduled to fight Yoel Romero at Friday’s event in Uncasville, but ‘The Soldier of God’ failed his medicals and was unable to compete.

Cole Shelton - May 7, 2021

In the co-main event of Bellator 258, Anthony Johnson is set to make his promotional debut and return to MMA against short-notice replacement, Jose Augusto. The fight also serves as the quarter-finals of the light heavyweight grand prix. Anthony Johnson (22-6) is making his return after retiring after he suffered a submission loss to Daniel Cormier at UFC 210 for the UFC’s light heavyweight title. Prior to the setback, he was on a three-fight winning streak with KO wins over Glover Teixeira, Ryan Bader, and Jimi Manuwa. In his career, “Rumble” holds notable wins over Alexander Gustafsson, Phil Davis, Andrei Arlovski, and Dan Hardy. He also lost to Cormier at UFC 187 for the belt as well.

Cole Shelton - May 7, 2021

Opening up the Bellator 258 main card, Michael Page and Derek Anderson are finally set to meet. Michael Page (18-1) is on a four-fight winning streak and is set for his first fight of 2021. Last time out, he scored a decision win over Ross Houston in October, in his lone fight of 2020. In 2019, he had five fights going 4-1 with a decision win over Paul Daley and KO wins over Richard Kiely, Gianni Melillo, and Shinso Anzai. His lone loss came to Douglas Lima by KO. Page is ranked second at welterweight in the Bellator rankings.

Adam D Martin - May 7, 2021

Former UFC light heavyweight Anthony Johnson is excited about his return to MMA at Bellator 258, saying that he wants to have “fun” fights. Johnson returns from a four-year layoff when he takes on Jose Augusto Azevedo this Friday night at Bellator 258 as part of the Bellator World Light Heavyweight Grand Prix. Johnson was originally targeted to fight Yoel Romero, but after Romero was removed due to a medical issue, Azevedo stepped up on short notice. For Johnson, it’s disappointing because he was really looking forward to throwing down and banging with Romero. But going in there and getting to mix it up with someone like Azevedo is also exciting for him.

Cole Shelton - May 6, 2021

Michael Page says he isn’t happy with Bellator and wants a sit-down meeting to vent his frustration. Page is set to return on Friday night at Bellator 258 against Derek Anderson. It will be Page’s first fight of 2021 and a win could put him back into title contention. However, he is just focused on his fight and wanting a sit-down meeting with the promotion.