Bellator News

Cole Shelton - October 25, 2021

Bellator 268 went down on October 16 in Arizona and the salaries for the fight card have now been released. In the main event of Bellator 268, Vadim Nemkov defended his light heavyweight title against Julius Anglickas with a submission win. The co-main event saw Corey Anderson TKO Ryan Bader in under a minute as Nemkov and Anderson will now fight one another in the grand prix finals. The date of the finals has not been announced by Bellator but will likely happen sometime early in 2022.

Adam Martin - October 24, 2021

Bellator heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko issued a statement following his first-round KO win over Tim Johnson at Bellator 269. Emelianenko hadn’t fought since a knockout win over Quinton Jackson in December 2019. However, it looked like the ring rust was not an issue at all as Emelianenko went into the ring and knocked Johnson out in the first round in a devastating fashion. It was an incredible performance by Emelianenko, who at age 45 continues to defy Father Time. He still appears to have plenty of gas left in his tank despite being one of the oldest heavyweights in the sport as he pulled off yet another incredible finish in his MMA career.

Adam D Martin - October 24, 2021

Bellator president Scott Coker admits that he was blown away by Fedor Emelianenko’s first-round KO win over Tim Johnson at Bellator 269. Emelianenko took on Johnson in the main event of Saturday’s Bellator 269 event in Russia, and he won the fight in the first round by brutal knockout. Considering Emelianenko is now 45 years old, it was incredible to see how fast his hands still are at this point in his career. In fact, Emelianenko’s boss Coker was so blown away by his performance that he couldn’t wipe the smile off his face following the big knockout.

Adam D Martin - October 24, 2021

Watch heavyweight MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko land his incredible knockout on Tim Johnson in slow motion at Saturday’s Bellator 269 event. The 45-year-old Emelianenko entered the fight with Johnson as the underdog but he got the job done in the first round with a brutal knockout. Don’t look now, but Emelianenko is now riding a two-fight win streak after knocking out Quinton Jackson in his last fight two years ago. Overall, Emelianenko has won four of his last five fights, with all four of those wins coming by way of knockout. However, he has said that he is considering retiring from the sport, so it’s hard to say for sure whether or not this Johnson fight was his last. Knowing Emelianenko, he will likely fight again. However, we should still enjoy his beautiful knockout win over Johnson, especially since it could be the last he ever lands.

Chris Taylor - October 23, 2021

MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko returns to the cage in the headliner of tonight’s Bellator 269 event for a heavyweight bout with Tim Johnson. Emelianenko (39-6 MMA) will be returning to action for the first time since December of 2019, where he earned a first round knockout victory over Quinton ‘Rampage‘ Jackson. ‘The Last Emperor’ enters tonight’s matchup having gone 3-2 over his past five fights overall.

Chris Taylor - October 23, 2021

MMA returns to Moscow this evening with Bellator 269, a ten-bout fight card headlined by heavyweights Fedor Emelianenko and Tim Johnson. Emelianenko (39-6 MMA) will be returning to action for the first time since December of 2019, where he earned a first round knockout victory over Quinton ‘Rampage‘ Jackson. ‘The Last Emperor’ has gone 3-2 over his past five fights overall.

Cole Shelton - October 21, 2021

Brent Primus knows his next fight will be for the Bellator’s lightweight title. Primus picked up a massive win last Saturday at Bellator 267 as he beat Benson Henderson by decision. In the fight, Primus was close to finishing it a couple of times, and despite not finishing the fight, he’s pleased with his performance.

Drake Riggs - October 20, 2021

RIZIN bantamweight champion Kyoji Horiguchi is set to attempt to reclaim the title he never lost. Bellator announced on Wednesday that their newest Bellator 135-pound champion in Sergio Pettis has his next challenger. Pettis will defend against the RIZIN titlist in Horiguchi on Dec. 3 at Bellator 272 in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Cole Shelton - October 19, 2021

Tim Johnson says it is still surreal to think he is fighting Fedor Emelianenko in Russia, in what could be the Russian’s final fight. When Bellator announced Emelianenko would be fighting back home in Russia, many thought he would be fighting a fellow legend. Yet, that wasn’t the case as instead, he will be fighting Johnson at Bellator 269, who has a theory as to why Emelianenko picked him.

Cole Shelton - October 19, 2021

The 55th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC Vegas 41 and Bellator 269. We’re first joined by one-half of the Bellator 269 headliner in heavyweight, Tim Johnson (2:10). Next, UFC lightweight Grant Dawson (15:14) joins the show. UFC lightweight, Ricky Glenn (36:20) also joins the show. UFC heavyweight, Ike Villanueva (48:06) then comes on. Closing out the program is UFC flyweight, Jeff Molina (59:01).

Harry Kettle - October 19, 2021

Bellator fighter Dillon Danis has opened up on his recent arrest and provided his account of what went down. Last month, footage emerged of Danis being choked on the ground and restrained by a security guard at a bar in New Jersey. Many fans took the opportunity to openly mock and tease Danis, highlighting his confidence on social media as well as the fact that he hasn’t fought inside the cage for two years.

Cole Shelton - October 18, 2021

Dillon Danis has three names in mind for his return fight. Danis has not fought since June of 2019 where he submitted Max Humphrey in the first round at Bellator 222. Since then, the pandemic happened and Danis had to have two knee surgeries which has kept him out of action. However, he is getting closer to a return which he says will be in about four months and when he returns, he says he wants Jake Shields or Diego Sanchez.

Adam D Martin - October 18, 2021

Former UFC light heavyweight contender and current Bellator standout Corey Anderson reacted after knocking out Ryan Bader at Bellator 268. Anderson knocked Bader out on Saturday night in the semifinals of the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix. For Anderson, it’s his third straight knockout win since joining Bellator and he is looking every bit the part of a world champion. By finishing Bader in such a devastating fashion, Anderson has advanced to the finals of the $1 million tournament. In 2022, Anderson will face off against Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov, who advanced to the tournament finals with a submission win over Julius Anglickas. Between Anderson and Nemkov, there is a lot of talent in the tournament finals.

Adam D Martin - October 17, 2021

Bellator president Scott Coker called the Bellator 205lbs Grand Prix winner the best light heavyweight fighter in MMA. On Saturday night at Bellator 268, Vadim Nemkov submitted Julius Anglickas and Corey Anderson knocked out Ryan Bader to advance to the finals of the promotion’s 205lbs Grand Prix. Nemkov is, of course, already the Bellator light heavyweight champion, and he’s defended his belt twice en route to the tournament finals. Anderson, meanwhile, has won all three of his fights in Bellator by knockout and he looks like a completely different fighter since coming over from the UFC. In 2022, Nemkov will meet Anderson in the finals, and according to their boss Coker, the winner will be the world’s top light heavyweight.

Chris Taylor - October 16, 2021

Tonight’s Bellator 268 event was co-headlined by a light heavyweight grand prix semifinal bout which pits Corey Anderson up against Ryan Bader. Bader (28-7 MMA) had advanced to the tournament semifinals by earning a lopsided unanimous decision victory over Lyoto Machida. Prior to that win, ‘Darth‘ was coming off a TKO loss to Vadim Nemkov, where he surrendered the promotions 205lbs title.

Chris Taylor - October 16, 2021

Tonight’s Bellator 268 event is co-headlined by a light heavyweight grand prix semifinal bout which pits Corey Anderson up against Ryan Bader. Bader (28-6 MMA) advanced to the tournament semifinals by earning a lopsided unanimous decision victory over Lyoto Machida. Prior to that win, ‘Darth‘ was coming off a TKO loss to the aforementioned Vadim Nemkov, where he surrendered the promotions 205lbs title.

Chris Taylor - October 16, 2021

A key lightweight contest between Benson Henderson and Brent Primus takes place on the main card of tonight’s Bellator 268 event in Phoenix. Henderson (28-10 MMA), a former UFC champion, will be looking to snap a two-fight losing skid this evening. ‘Bendo‘ suffered a unanimous decision loss to Jason Jackson in a welterweight contest his last time out.

Chris Taylor - October 16, 2021

MMA action returns to Phoenix this evening for Bellator 268, a thirteen-bout fight card headlined by Vadim Nemkov vs. Julius Anglickas. Nemkov (14-2 MMA) will be looking to earn his second career title defense, this while securing a spot in the Bellator light heavyweight grand prix finals. The Russian standout last competed in April where he scored a unanimous decision victory over Phil Davis.