Bellator News
Darrion Caldwell expects to finish Leandro Higo again, plans to reclaim bantamweight title later this year
Cole Shelton - May 19, 2021
Darrion Caldwell is focused on reclaiming his bantamweight title. After Caldwell lost back-to-back fights to Kyoji Horiguchi for the RIZIN title and to lose his Bellator belt, he moved up to featherweight to take part in the grand prix. He beat Henry Corrales by decision and then submitted Adam Borics, but lost in the semis to AJ McKee.
Austin Vanderford says 'it was kind of hard to watch' wife Paige VanZant in bare-knuckle boxing
Drake Riggs - May 18, 2021
Paige VanZant has officially transitioned from MMA to bare-knuckle boxing. An unexpected sight for many, her husband, Austin Vanderford, also found it a bit tough to see. Regardless, the rising Bellator middleweight contender still fully supported, and supports, his partner in crime.
After being "disrespected" by Dana White, Danny Sabatello expects to "maul" Brett Johns and "make him quit"
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.
Austin Vanderford expects to drag Fabian Edwards into the "deep waters," believes a win puts him into title contention
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.
Scott Coker confirms Bellator considering bantamweight division for next Grand Prix
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.
Michael Page could be next in line for Bellator title shot, confirms Scott Coker
Adam D Martin - May 10, 2021
Bellator president Scott Coker confirmed that welterweight star Michael Page could be next in line to get a title shot at 170lbs. Page knocked out Derek Anderson in highlight-reel fashion at Bellator 258 this past Friday night, and overall he has won his last five fights in a row, with four of those wins coming by way of knockout. Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima is currently set to fight No. 1 contender Yaroslav Amosov, but Page has been vocal about wanting to fight the winner.
Michael Bisping slams Dillon Danis for suggesting they have beef: "You don’t fight, you’re just an online troll whose as insignificant as a bothersome fly"
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?”.
Jose Augusto issues classy statement following knockout loss to Anthony Johnson
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.
Anthony Johnson unhappy with "piss-poor performance" at Bellator 258
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.
Bellator 258 Results: Sergio Pettis defeats Juan Archuleta (Highlights)
Cole Shelton - May 7, 2021
In the main event of Bellator 258, bantamweight champion, Juan Archuleta is looking for his first title defense as he battles Sergio Pettis. Juan Archuleta (25-2) is coming off a decision win over Patrick Mix to win the vacant bantamweight title back in September. Prior to that, he beat Henry Corrales to get back into the win column after losing to Patricio Pitbull for the featherweight title.
Bellator 258 Results: Anthony Johnson KO's Jose Augusto (Video)
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.
Bellator 258 Results: Michael Page TKO's Derek Anderson (Video)
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.
Michael Page says he's unhappy with Bellator, wants a sit-down meeting
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.
Scott Coker confirms Bellator will not sign free agent Diego Sanchez
Adam D Martin - May 6, 2021
Bellator president Scott Coker confirmed that his promotion does not have any interest in signing free agent UFC veteran Diego Sanchez. Sanchez was released by the UFC last week following a disagreement over the release of medical information. UFC president Dana White let him go and he is now a free agent. While Speaking to Mick Heck ahead of Bellator 258, Coker was asked if Bellator has any interest in signing “The Nightmare,” which the organization’s leader said no to.
Michael Page says Douglas Lima is avoiding him, Lima fires back
Adam D Martin - May 6, 2021
Bellator welterweight contender Michael Page believes that champion Douglas Lima is avoiding the rematch with him, and Lima fired back. Page returns to the cage this Friday at Bellator 258 when he takes on Derek Anderson. Page, the No. 2 contender in the Bellator welterweight rankings, has been criticized by fans for taking fights against non-ranked and lower-ranked opponents. But despite fighting opponents who do not have much name value, Page believes that he is still the top contender in the Bellator welterweight division, and he believes Lima is ducking him.
Patrick Mix expects to finish Albert Morales, blasts James Gallagher: "I put together an amazing camp to whoop his ass and he didn't show up"
Cole Shelton - May 5, 2021
Patrick Mix had a feeling James Gallagher wouldn’t end up fighting him. At Bellator 258, Mix and Gallagher were booked to fight one another. Yet, just over a week before the fight, it was revealed the Irishman was out of the fight. For Mix, he wasn’t surprised when he got the news.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 36 with Michelle Waterson, Geoff Neal, Diego Ferreira, Patrick Mix, and Maurice Greene
Cole Shelton - May 4, 2021
The 36th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN with Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC Vegas 26 and Bellator 258. We’re first joined by UFC Vegas 26 headliner and ninth-ranked strawweight, Michelle Waterson (2:56). Next, 10th-ranked welterweight, Geoff Neal (14:32) comes on. 12th-ranked lightweight, Diego Ferreira joins the show (30:30). Then, second-ranked Bellator bantamweight, Patrick Mix (45:40) comes on. Closing out the program is UFC heavyweight, Maurice Greene (1:03:26).
Photo | Anthony Johnson lean and mean ahead of Bellator debut
Adam Martin - May 2, 2021
Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Johnson looks lean and mean ahead of his promotional debut for Bellator next weekend. Johnson was set to make his promotional debut next Friday night against former UFC fighter Yoel Romero at Bellator 258 as part of the promotion’s 205lbs Grand Prix. Unfortunately, Romero had to withdraw from the tournament this week due to a medical issue, which temporarily left Johnson without an opponent. Bellator ended up finding Team Pitbull representative Jose Augusto Azevedo Barros to take the fight on short notice.