Bellator News
Patricio Pitbull fires back at Dan Hooker about potential crossover fight
Adam D Martin - August 30, 2020
Bellator double champion Patricio Pitbull fired back at Dan Hooker after the two got into a back-and-forth about a potential crossover fight. Pitbull is currently the Bellator lightweight and featherweight champion, but in the last few weeks, he has taken to social media to call out numerous members of the UFC roster including UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski and his teammate Hooker. Although Pitbull is currently under contract with Bellator, he hasn’t fought in close to a year and is clearly getting frustrated waiting around. While Pitbull is one of the Bellator’s top home-grown talents, it seems obvious he is interested in fighting UFC fighters.
Carlo Pedersoli Jr. slated to make his Bellator debut on September 24 against Grachik Bozinyan
Alfredo Zullino - August 27, 2020
A Bellator welterweight clash between Carlo Pedersoli Jr. (11-3 MMA, 0-0 Bellator) and Grachik Bozinyan (10-5 MMA, 0-1 Bellator) is set for September 24 in Milan, Italy, sources with knowledge of the situation told BJPENN.com. The sources asked for anonymity since the news hasn’t been officially confirmed yet. The Miami-born Italian fighter was supposed to make his promotional debut at Bellator 239 back in February against Mark Lemminger, in Thackerville, Oklahoma, but Pedersoli was eventually forced to pull out of the fight due to an infection.
Alex Volkanovski scoffs at Patricio Freire’s challenge to Dana White, ‘Pitbull’ issues scathing response
Natasha Hooper - August 27, 2020
Alex Volkanovski shrugged off Patricio Freire’s fight challenge, leaving “Pitbull” to unload a scathing counterattack on the UFC featherweight champion. The Bellator two-division champion offered an astronomical bet to UFC president Dana White this week, that he could beat both Khabib Nurmagomedov and Alex Volkanovski.
Why the PFL could be the perfect home for Michael Chandler
Tom Taylor - August 27, 2020
After knocking out Benson Henderson at Bellator 243 earlier this month, Michael Chandler, the promotion’s former lightweight champ, is now a free agent. As one of the biggest stars Bellator has produced to date, Chandler can almost certainly expect lucrative offers from some of the sport’s biggest organizations. He’s already expressed interest in a potential move to the UFC, and UFC President Dana White has reciprocated that interest. Chandler has also discussed a potential move to ONE Championship, where a compelling trilogy fight with his chief rival Eddie Alvarez could await.
Patricio Freire willing to bet Dana White $1 million that he could defeat the UFC’s current featherweight and lightweight champs
Harry Kettle - August 25, 2020
Patricio “Pitbull” Freire is willing to bet Dana White $1 million that he can beat Khabib Nurmagomedov and Alexander Volkanovski. The subject of UFC vs Bellator dream fights has always been present in the MMA community, especially in the last few years. While the last few days has seen a discussion commence regarding which promotion has the best light heavyweight division, it appears as if that’s starting to extend to some of the other weight classes too.
Ryan Bader issues statement following KO loss to Vadim Nemkov at Bellator 244
Adam Martin - August 23, 2020
Former Bellator light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader has released a statement following his brutal TKO loss to Vadim Nemkov. Bader saw his eight-fight unbeaten streak snapped at the hands of Nemkov, who brutally finished Bader in stunning fashion in the main event of Bellator 244. After dropping Bader with a high kick, Nemkov was able to unload punches until the referee was forced to step in and stop the fight, crowning Nemkov as the new Bellator light heavyweight champion.
Vadim Nemkov KOs Ryan Bader to win Bellator light heavyweight title (Video)
Adam Martin - August 21, 2020
Vadim Nemkov is the new Bellator light heavyweight champion after a stunning second-round TKO win over Ryan Bader at Bellator 244. Nemkov met Bader in the main event of this Friday’s Bellator 244 event. Bader was unbeaten over his last eight fights while Nemkov was riding a six-fight win streak entering the bout. The oddsmakers pegged it as a competitive bout but with the edge to Bader as the favorite owing to his standing as a double champion in Bellator.
After knockout win over Matt Mitrione, Tim Johnson eyes rematch with Cheick Kongo
Cole Shelton - August 21, 2020
Tim Johnson believes he has his confidence back. After going 4-3 in the UFC, Johnson signed with Bellator and in his debut fought Cheick Kongo. It was a big fight for him, and unfortunately, did not go his way as he suffered a knockout loss in just 68 seconds.
Scott Coker believes Bellator has superior light heavyweight division to UFC
Adam Martin - August 20, 2020
Bellator president Scott Coker has gone on record saying he believes Bellator has a superior light heavyweight division to the UFC. Coker and Bellator recently signed top-five light heavyweight Corey Anderson to a big-money free-agent deal, strengthening the division. Bellator light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader fights this Friday at Bellator 244 against top contender Vadim Nemkov, in what is an excellent matchup for the belt. Other light heavyweights in the promotion include Lyoto Machida and Phil Davis, who face each other in a rematch in September.
Fedor Emelianenko wants Fabricio Werdum rematch, Scott Coker to "make it happen"
Tom Taylor - August 20, 2020
Fedor Emelianenko wants a rematch with Fabricio Werdum, and Bellator President Scott Coker is ready to “go make it happen” for the Russian legend. Emelianenko and Werdum first met in 2010, under the Strikeforce banner, with Werdum winning by submission in a shocking upset. Today, when Emelianenko is under contract with Bellator, and Werdum is a free agent, the timing for a rematch between the two heavyweight legends seems perfect.
Patricky Freire says he'll have a "surprise" for Conor McGregor at Bellator Dublin
Tom Taylor - August 20, 2020
Patricky Freire says he has a surprise in store for former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor at the upcoming Bellator Dublin card. Freire is scheduled to take on McGregor’s teammate Peter Queally at the Bellator Dublin event, which is scheduled for October 3. The card will feature several other members of Freire’s team taking on fighters from SBG Ireland, where McGregor and Queally both train.
Patricio Freire expects former foe Michael Chandler to sign with ONE Championship
Tom Taylor - August 20, 2020
Patricio Freire, who holds the Bellator featherweight and lightweight titles, expects his former foe Michael Chandler to sign with ONE Championship. Chandler, the former Bellator lightweight champ, recently concluded his current Bellator contract with a knockout win over former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson.
Ryan Bader believes he could be "the best light heavyweight right now"
Tom Taylor - August 20, 2020
Bellator light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader, who is gearing up for a title defense against Vadim Nemkov at Bellator 244, believes he could be the best light heavyweight competing right now. Bader, who was previously a top-5 UFC light heavyweight, believes that with Daniel Cormier retired, and Jon Jones moving up to heavyweight, he has legitimate claim to that lofty label.
John Salter "expecting a three-round battle" against Andrew Kapel, believes a win earns him a title shot
Cole Shelton - August 19, 2020
John Salter thought he had done enough to earn a title shot following his last fight. With the Bellator middleweight title vacant and Gegard Mousasi not being able to get into the United States, he thought the timing was perfect for him to take on Douglas Lima. The 35-year-old is on a two-fight winning streak. He is also 7-1 in Bellator with his lone loss coming to Rafael Lovato Jr.
Corey Anderson says he signed big-money contract with Bellator: "I make more than I would have in the UFC"
Adam Martin - August 19, 2020
Newly-signed Bellator light heavyweight Corey Anderson says he will make more money in Bellator than what he would have made in the UFC. A former winner of The Ultimate Fighter, the news that Anderson had been released by the UFC and signed with Bellator a few weeks ago took many by surprise. Despite a knockout loss to Jan Blachowicz in his last fight, Anderson was still the No. 4 ranked light heavyweight in the UFC. In November 2019, he picked up a POTN bonus for knocking out Johnny Walker. His release from the UFC was a very big surprise.
Cat Zingano gets opponent for Bellator debut
Tom Taylor - August 19, 2020
Former UFC bantamweight title challenger Cat Zingano has an opponent for her long-awaited debut in the Bellator MMA cage. According to Ariel Helwani of ESPN, Zingano will make her debut with the promotion on September 11, when she’ll take on Gabby Holloway.
Valerie Loureda signs new, long-term deal with Bellator MMA
Andrew Whitelaw - August 14, 2020
Rising star Valerie Loureda has signed a new multi-year, multi-fight contract extension with Bellator following her second-round TKO win over Tara Graff. “I am pleased to have re-signed with Bellator,” Loureda said in an official press release. “As I have always said, I am here to show the world the true martial artist that I am and chase the flyweight belt. I was born for this, I am a natural born fighter.”
Austin Vanderford reacts to Paige VanZant signing with Bare Knuckle FC
Cole Shelton - August 12, 2020
Austin Vanderford had a joking reaction to his wife, Paige VanZant, signing with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. On Wednesday, it was revealed VanZant signed an exclusive multi-fight contract with the sans gloves promotion. The news caught many off guard. For Vanderford, he believes the news could very well make him the good looking one in their relationship.