Bellator News
Bellator 253 Results: A.J. McKee submits Darrion Caldwell in the first round (Video)
Cole Shelton - November 19, 2020
In the main event of Bellator 253, Darrion Caldwell was taking on A.J. McKee in the semifinals of the featherweight grand prix. Darrion Caldwell (14-3) is riding a two-fight winning streak with both wins coming in the featherweight grand prix. In the opening round of the tournament, he defeated Henry Corrales by decision and then followed that up with a first-round submission win over Adam Borics. Before entering the grand prix, Caldwell lost back-to-back fights to Kyoji Horiguchi for the RIZIN bantamweight title and to lose his Bellator bantamweight title. He defended his bantamweight title once but does hold notable wins over Leandro Higo, Noad Lahat, Joe Warren, and Eduardo Dantas.
Bellator 253: 'Caldwell vs. McKee' Live Results and Highlights
Cole Shelton - November 19, 2020
Bellator remains in Uncasville, Connecticut for Bellator 253. The fight card features one-half of the featherweight grand prix semifinals as Darrion Caldwell takes on A.J. McKee. Darrion Caldwell (14-3) is riding a two-fight winning streak with both wins coming in the featherweight grand prix. In the opening round of the tournament, he defeated Henry Corrales by decision and then followed that up with a first-round submission win over Adam Borics. Before entering the grand prix, Caldwell lost back-to-back fights to Kyoji Horiguchi for the RIZIN bantamweight title and to lose his Bellator bantamweight title. He defended his bantamweight title once but does hold notable wins over Leandro Higo, Noad Lahat, Joe Warren, and Eduardo Dantas.
AJ McKee shares what advice mentor Floyd Mayweather Jr. gave him
Adam Martin - November 19, 2020
Bellator featherweight contender AJ McKee shared what advice one of his mentors, boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr., gave him. McKee is one of the top prospects in all of MMA. At just 25 years old, the sky is the limit for the California native, whose father Antonio fought in the UFC a decade ago. McKee began fighting as a pro in 2015 for Bellator and since then he has racked up 16 wins in 16 fights as he looks to make the leap from a prospect to a champion.
Scott Coker says Rampage Jackson is now a free agent, Bellator committed to younger direction
Adam Martin - November 18, 2020
Bellator president Scott Coker says that Rampage Jackson was released from the promotion and is an unrestricted free agent. Jackson last fought at Bellator & RIZIN: Japan in December 2019 and he suffered a first-round TKO loss to Fedor Emelianenko that night. Now 42 years old, we haven’t heard anything from Jackson all year in regards to fighting again for Bellator. That’s because according to Coker, the final fight on Jackson’s Bellator contract was the Emelianenko fight. With that final bout completed, Jackson’s contract with Bellator concluded and the promotion released him. He’s now free to sign anywhere else.
Scott Coker teases Bellator 205lbs tournament: "It's the best light heavyweight division on the planet"
Adam Martin - November 13, 2020
Bellator president Scott Coker teased a future Bellator 205lbs tournament, saying “it’s the best light heavyweight division on the planet.” Coker and his organization are in the midst of completing the Bellator Featherweight Grand Prix, a tournament that was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The promotion previously put on the Heavyweight Grand Prix that saw Ryan Bader win. In the past, Coker held a heavyweight tournament, a women’s bantamweight, and a middleweight tournament in Strikeforce, so we all know Coker loves a good bracket.
Patricio Freire ready for John Kavanagh's "dream match" with Conor McGregor
Tom Taylor - November 13, 2020
Two-division Bellator champion Patricio Freire has opened the door to a cross-promotional super fight with UFC superstar Conor McGregor. Freire returned to the cage on Thursday, when he defended the Bellator featherweight title with a lopsided knockout victory over McGregor’s teammate at SBG Ireland, Pedro Carvalho.
Fabricio Werdum says Bellator negotiations have stalled, now wants to fight for PFL
Tom Taylor - November 13, 2020
Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum is now eyeing a spot on the PFL roster after negotiations with Bellator MMA fizzled out. Werdum, who parted ways with the UFC earlier this year, has recently been linked to a rematch with fellow heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko after the Bellator MMA banner.
Bellator 252 Results: Patricio Pitbull KO's Pedro Carvalho (Highlights)
Cole Shelton - November 12, 2020
Bellator remains in Uncasville, Connecticut for Bellator 252 where Patricio Pitbull takes on Pedro Carvalho in the main event. Patricio Pitbull (30-4) is on a five-fight winning streak where he won and defended the featherweight title three times during this run. He also knocked out Michael Chandler in 61 seconds to win the lightweight title to become a champ-champ in Bellator. Pitbull is coming off a decision win over Juan Archuleta to defend his belt in the opening round of the featherweight grand prix.
Bellator 252: 'Pitbull vs Carvalho' Live Results & Highlights
Cole Shelton - November 12, 2020
Bellator remains in Uncasville, Connecticut for Bellator 252. The fight card features Patricio Pitbull defending his featherweight belt against Pedro Carvalho in the main event. The featherweight grand prix also continues after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Patricio Pitbull (30-4) is on a five-fight winning streak where he won and defended the featherweight title three times. He also knocked out Michael Chandler in 61 seconds to win the lightweight title to become a champ-champ in Bellator. Pitbull is coming off a decision win over Juan Archuleta to defend his belt in the opening round of the featherweight grand prix.
Patricio Freire rates Michael Chandler's chances in the UFC
Tom Taylor - November 12, 2020
Two-division Bellator champ Patricio Freire has shared his thoughts on how Michael Chandler will perform in the UFC’s Octagon. Freire currently holds the Bellator featherweight and lightweight titles, and is slated to defend the former against Pedro Carvalho in the main event of Bellator 252 on Thursday night.
Phil Davis, not Corey Anderson, gets next Bellator title shot against Vadim Nemkov
Adam Martin - November 10, 2020
Bellator president Scott Coker said that Phil Davis, and not Corey Anderson, will get the next title shot against 205lbs champ Vadim Nemkov. After Anderson dominated Melvin Manhoef in his Bellator debut, many fans and media thought he could jump past Davis for the next title shot against Nemkov, who will be making his first title defense since knocking out Ryan Bader. However, it appears as though Bellator has decided to go with Davis instead of Anderson for the next title shot.
Benson Henderson moves back up to welterweight, fights at Bellator 253 against Jason Jackson
Adam Martin - November 10, 2020
Former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson is set to return to the welterweight division when he fights Jason Jackson at Bellator 253. Bellator 253 takes place on Thursday, November 19 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Henderson vs. Jackson is set to be the co-main event for the card, which features a five-round main event between featherweights AJ McKee and Darrion Caldwell. Also on the card is Keith Lee (brother of UFC star Kevin Lee) vs. top prospect Raufeon Stots, plus the return of Kevin Ferguson Jr. (son of the late Kimbo Slice).
Austin Vanderford explains why he and wife Paige VanZant leave politics out of MMA: "I'm a fighter and I care about fighting"
Adam Martin - November 6, 2020
Bellator middleweight contender Austin Vanderford explained why he and his wife Paige VanZant leave politics out of their MMA careers. Vanderford picked up his 10th pro victory on Thursday night at Bellator 251 when he won a unanimous decision over short-notice opponent Vinicius De Jesus. The 30-year-old American signed with Bellator in 2019 following a stint on Dana White’s Contender Series that saw the UFC pass on signing him. Since joining Bellator, Vanderford is 4-0 and looking every bit like a future title contender in the promotion’s middleweight division.
Bellator 251 Results: Corey Anderson TKO's Melvin Manhoef (Highlights)
Cole Shelton - November 5, 2020
Corey Anderson is set to make his Bellator debut against knockout artist, Melvin Manhoef in the main event of Bellator 251. Melvin Manhoef (32-14-1) has been a pro since 1995 and at 44-years-old is still going strong. The former Bellator middleweight title challenger is on a two-fight winning streak but has not fought since October of 2019 when he beat Yannick Bahati by TKO at Bellator 230. In his career, Manhoef has fought the likes of Gegard Mousasi, Robbie Lawler, Tim Kennedy, and Mark Hunt.
Bellator 251: 'Manhoef vs. Anderson' Live Results and Highlights
Cole Shelton - November 5, 2020
Bellator remains in Uncasville, Connecticut for Bellator 251 that sees Melvin Manhoef welcome Corey Anderson to the promotion in the main event. Melvin Manhoef (32-14-1) has been a pro since 1995 and at 44-years-old is still going strong. The former Bellator middleweight title challenger is on a two-fight winning streak but has not fought since October of 2019 when he beat Yannick Bahati by TKO at Bellator 230. In his career, Manhoef has fought the likes of Gegard Mousasi, Robbie Lawler, Tim Kennedy, and Mark Hunt.
Douglas Lima issues statement following loss to Gegard Mousasi at Bellator 250
Chris Taylor - October 31, 2020
Douglas Lima was looking to become a promotional champ-champ when he squared off with Gegard Mousasi in the main event of Bellator 250. The reigning Bellator welterweight champion, Lima (32-8 MMA), had entered Thursday night’s highly anticipated main event on a three-fight win streak, his latest being a unanimous decision victory over Rory MacDonald at Bellator 232.
Gegard Mousasi releases statement after winning vacant Bellator middleweight title
Adam D Martin - October 30, 2020
New Bellator middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi released a statement after defeating Douglas Lima to claim the vacant belt at Bellator 250. Mousasi won a unanimous decision over Lima in the main event of Thursday’s Bellator 250 card. Mousasi was able to control the cage for the entire fight as he walked Lima down, outstruck him, and landed some takedowns for good measure. It was nice to see a vintage performance from Mousasi, as he reclaimed the middleweight belt he lost two fights ago in an upset loss to Rafael Lovato Jr. Overall, Mousasi has won 10 of his last 11 fights.
Gegard Mousasi could move up to 205lbs to become double champion, says Scott Coker
Adam D Martin - October 30, 2020
Middleweight Gegard Mousasi could move up to light heavyweight next in order to become a double champion says Bellator president Scott Coker. Mousasi bested Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima via unanimous decision in the main event of Thursday night’s Bellator 250 card. Mousasi was able to get the better of Lima on the feet and on the mat as he won the decision and earned the vacant Bellator middleweight champion, his second time winning the organization’s title at 185lbs. Mousasi is now 5-1 overall in the Bellator cage and a winner of 10 of his last 11 fights.