Bellator News

Harry Kettle - July 30, 2020

Bellator double champion Ryan Bader is set to return to light heavyweight for the first time since 2017 to defend his championship against Vadim Nemkov, ESPN reports. Bader has been at the helm of two divisions since he knocked out Fedor Emelianenko in January 2019, but he first won the Light Heavyweight Championship in June 2017 before defending it five months later against Linton Vassell.

Natasha Hooper - July 27, 2020

UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev has mocked Bellator star Dillon Danis for his recent callout attempt, and then he proceeded to challenge Demian Maia. Danis, who trains with Conor McGregor, joined the Bellator roster in 2018 and has tallied two victories. He is yet to be defeated and he has used his victories to justify wild callouts on social media. Whether it is Youtube star Jake Paul, Ben Askren, Kevin Lee, or Khabib Nurmagomedov’s stablemate Islam Makhachev, the Bellator standout isn’t afraid to send shots towards his rivalries on social media.

Adam Martin - July 24, 2020

Bellator heavyweight contender Matt Mitrione is set to make his return to the cage when he takes on Timothy Johnson at Bellator 243. Bellator 243 takes place on Friday, August 7, and is headlined by a rematch between top lightweight contenders Michael Chandler and Benson Henderson. The heavyweight matchup featuring Mitrione vs. Johnson is set to be the co-main event for the card. The event takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Cole Shelton - July 22, 2020

Ricky Bandejas is excited to headline his first Bellator show. In the main event of Bellator 242, which will be the promotions first card since COVID-19, Bandejas is taking on UFC veteran, Sergio Pettis. Yet, for the longest time, the now American Top Team fighter didn’t know he would be the main event.

Adam Martin - July 16, 2020

Bellator is planning on returning to action this fall with four events over the next two months including title fights featuring Cris Cyborg and Ryan Bader. Bellator officially announced this week it will be returning on July 24 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, and according to British MMA journalist Gareth Davies, the promotion will in fact hold four events at the Mohegan Sun from July to September. Davies spoke to the organization’s president Scott Coker, who confirmed to him that Bellator is planning to hold four events for its comeback, with fights featuring Cyborg and Bader.

Adam Martin - July 15, 2020

A rematch between light heavyweights Lyoto Machida and Phil Davis has been set for an upcoming Bellator event that takes place on September 11. Combate was the first to report the rematch between Machida and Davis and confirmed it will be the main event for the Bellator event. The fight will be set for three rounds as Bellator does not do non-title five-round fights as the UFC does. Bellator is returning to action next week after having missed the last five months due to the coronavirus pandemic and the promotion has been busy announcing fights for its return to television screens.

Tom Taylor - July 15, 2020

The full lineup for Bellator 242, scheduled for July 24 at the Mohegan Sun Arena, has been revealed. Bellator 242 will mark the promotion’s return from a pandemic-related shutdown. The card will be headlined by a fantastic bantamweight showdown between Bellator staple Ricky Bandejas and former UFC talent Sergio Pettis.

Harry Kettle - July 15, 2020

According to a recent report from Combate, Michael Chandler and Benson Henderson’s proposed rematch is set to go down on August 7. The two veterans last fought back at Bellator 165 in November 2016, and on that night, Chandler beat Henderson via split decision to retain the Bellator Lightweight Championship. They were first scheduled to run it back in December 2019 for Bellator’s co-promotion event with Rizin in Japan, but an injury for Henderson ensured that didn’t happen.

Tom Taylor - July 9, 2020

Former Bellator commentator Sean Wheelock has taken on a gig as a play-by-play man for an adult webcam website called ImLive.com. His objective will be to enhance the experience for blind users. Here’s how an official press release explained it (via MMA Junkie):

Adam Martin - July 8, 2020

Bellator is set to hold its first show since February as the promotion is scheduled to make its return to your television screens on July 24. Sherdog.com reported that Bellator is scheduled to return on July 24 with an event from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. According to the report, the event is tentative pending the Mohegan Tribe Department of Regulation clearing it to go on. For that to happen, Sherdog reports it likely depends on “extensive testing, social distancing measures, cleaning procedures and Bellator holding its fights with no fans in attendance.”

Cole Shelton - June 11, 2020

Patrick Mix is looking to claim Bellator’s vacant bantamweight title. Bellator MMA is currently on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the promotion is eyeing a July return. If they do return in July, Mix is hoping to be on the first card and is eyeing a fight against Juan Archuleta for the vacant bantamweight title.

Tom Taylor - June 5, 2020

BJJ ace Dillon Danis has challenged Jorge Masvidal to ditch the UFC’s Octagon in favor of the Bellator cage. On Friday afternoon, Masvidal took to Twitter to share his frustration with the stalled negotiations for a welterweight title fight with Kamaru Usman. He began by daring the UFC to release him from his contract if they’re not prepared to pay him what he’s worth.