Bellator News
Cris Cyborg gives career update: "Financially, I can retire"
Zain Bando - December 5, 2023
Cris “Cyborg” Justino is at a crossroads. The former UFC women’s featherweight champion and current Bellator featherweight champion, Cyborg wants to be part of the newly minted PFL-Bellator merger.
Bellator executive Mike Kogan claims ONE Championship is about to go out of business: “These people scammed everybody”
Susan Cox - November 28, 2023
Bellator executive Mike Kogan is claiming ONE Championship is about to go out of business. The announcement came last week that Bellator was no longer a standalone entity. The promotion was acquired by the PFL (Professional Fighters League).
Bellator executive details the "beginning of the end" of the promotion
Cole Shelton - November 27, 2023
Bellator executive Mike Kogan detailed what started the end of the promotion. It was announced last week that the PFL had bought Bellator as the promotion had been looking for a buyer for quite some time. After months of negotiation, a deal got done and according to Kogan, he says a lot of blame for Bellator’s downfall will be on Showtime.
PFL’s Donn Davis wants Ngannou vs. Wilder to be a "mixed-rules" fight
Zain Bando - November 21, 2023
Monday marked a historic day for MMA, as Donn Davis’ PFL and Scott Coker’s Bellator unified to become second-fiddle to the UFC. It also teased speculation about what could be next on the boxing side of things, specifically for former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Donn Davis, who appeared on the latest edition of “The MMA Hour” with Ariel Helwani, said there is a possibility of Ngannou fighting Deontay Wilder, the former WBC heavyweight champion.
MMA fighters react to news that the PFL has acquired Bellator: “This is huge for the sport!”
Harry Kettle - November 21, 2023
A parade of past, present and future MMA fighters have reacted to the news that PFL has officially acquired Bellator. Earlier this week, it was announced that the Professional Fighters League (PFL) had officially purchased Bellator. It’s a move that has been heavily rumored for a while and now, it’s been confirmed. PFL’s Donn Davis ironed out some of the details in an appearance on The MMA Hour, but there are still plenty out there who are curious to see how it all goes down.
Jason Jackson says mindset won the welterweight belt at Bellator 301: “He was scared”
Zain Bando - November 20, 2023
Friday marked a new era in Jamaican MMA, as Jason Jackson shocked the mixed martial arts world with a third-round KO against previously unbeaten welterweight kingpin Yaroslav Amosov in the main event of Bellator 301. Although it may go down as an upset in the history books, for Jason Jackson, 33, it was meant to be.
Jake Paul reacts to the PFL-Bellator merger: "Let's prove it"
Zain Bando - November 20, 2023
Boxing personality Jake Paul has chimed in on the Bellator-PFL merger, which was announced Monday morning by PFL chairman Donn Davis. The two promotions will begin their partnership in 2024. Jake Paul, who boxes Andre August December 15, said he’s excited for the future of MMA and said the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
Donn Davis eyeing PFL vs. Bellator championship card for February: "Best card possible"
Josh Evanoff - November 20, 2023
PFL executive Donn Davis is hoping to see his best face Bellator’s early next year. Earlier today, the Bellator-PFL sale was made official. Throughout much of this year, the two companies were in talks, especially after Showtime made the decision to drop combat sports. While already rumored, the announcement this fall made Donn Davis and others get this deal finalized.
PFL officially acquires Bellator MMA: “Our fighter roster is equal to UFC”
Susan Cox - November 20, 2023
The PFL has officially acquired Bellator MMA, and in doing so has stated, ‘Our fighter roster is equal to UFC’. The news of the merger has been in the works for months, but now is a done deal and the Professional Fighters League has officially acquired Bellator MMA.
Patchy Mix reflects on tough upbringing after Bellator 301 title win: “I come from absolutely nothing, man”
Zain Bando - November 18, 2023
Friday night at Wintrust Arena was Patchy Mix’s crowing achievement. In what was likely the final Bellator event ever, Patchy Mix, the Bellator interim bantamweight champion, made good on his dream.
Sergio Pettis reacts following title loss to Patchy Mix at Bellator 301: "It's your time now"
Chris Taylor - November 18, 2023
Sergio Pettis has reacted after losing his bantamweight world title to Patchy Mix at last night’s Bellator 301 event. Pettis (23-6 MMA) was looking to defend his Bellator bantamweight championship for a third time when he squared off with Mix (19-1 MMA) Friday night in Chicago, Illinois.
Patricky Pitbull unsure Bellator lightweight tournament will continue after PFL sale: "Losing $2 million"
Josh Evanoff - November 17, 2023
Former Bellator lightweight champion Patricky Pitbull is just as unsure of the company’s future as anyone. The Brazilian has been out of the cage since a knockout win over Roberto de Souza in July. That was a nice rebound win for Patricky Pitbull, having lost his lightweight gold to Usman Nurmagomedov in his prior outing. With the win at Bellator X RIZIN 2, he advanced to the lightweight Grand Prix semifinals.
Bellator 301: 'Amosov vs. Jackson' Weigh-In Results: 1 fighter misses weight
Zain Bando - November 16, 2023
Bellator 301 takes place Friday night from the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill., as it is the promotion’s third trip back to “The Windy City” in one year and its second of 2023. The 16-fight Bellator 301 card features many huge names from top-to-bottom, including two world title fights and a Grand Prix lightweight semifinal bout.
Sergio Pettis sends message to aspiring athletes: “I just want to be an example for everyone"
Zain Bando - November 15, 2023
Sergio Pettis and Patchy Mix will meet in the co-main event of Bellator 301 on Friday night in Chicago to unify the promotion’s bantamweight titles. Pettis, who turned 30 in August, said Wednesday that his return to the cage is more than just about completing the journey. “I just want to be an example for everyone who is a late bloomer,” Sergio Pettis said. “I feel like I am a late bloomer, and it took me time to develop my game, skill, and confidence. Growing up, I was not a confident individual and had a lot of anxiety. With that, I was also under my brother’s shadow, but in those dark times, I was able to learn who I am.”
Danny Sabatello plans to "dominate, motherf****r" Raufeon Stots at Bellator 301: "We know he has a brittle chin"
Cole Shelton - November 15, 2023
Danny Sabatello called for a rematch with Raufeon Stots ever since they fought in October of 2022. Sabatello and Stots fought in the semi-finals of the bantamweight Grand Prix, and Stots ended up winning a split decision. Since then, Sabataello was adamant he won the fight and called for a rematch.
Raufeon Stots calls out “little boy” Danny Sabatello: "Who have you beaten that's worth any note?"
Zain Bando - November 15, 2023
Raufeon Stots and Danny Sabatello picked up right where they left off ahead of their Bellator 301 bantamweight rematch in Chicago. Amid their trash talk amongst each other, emotions ran high. The fued began ahead of Bellator 289 in December last year, where Raufeon Stots was able to secure a decision victory before ultimately losing to Patchy Mix in his next fight.
Dillon Danis announces retirement from fighting
Cole Shelton - November 14, 2023
Dillon Danis appears to be walking away from the fight game. Danis returned to combat sports back in October when he fought and lost to Logan Paul in his boxing debut. It was his first fight since June of 2019 when he fought at Bellator 222.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 146 with Patchy Mix, Chase Hooper, Danny Sabatello, and Chad Anheliger
Cole Shelton - November 14, 2023
The 146th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC Vegas 82 and Bellator 301. We’re first joined by the interim Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix (2:01). Next, UFC featherweight Chase Hooper (18:59) comes on. Sixth-ranked Bellator bantamweight Danny Sabatello (42:49) joins the show. Closing out the program is UFC bantamweight Chad Anheliger (1:01:35).