Bellator News
Keith Lee, brother of Kevin Lee, signs with Bellator
Adam Martin - January 20, 2020
UFC lightweight star Kevin Lee’s younger brother Keith Lee has signed a new, multi-fight contract with Bellator and will make his promotional debut at Bellator 239. Lee’s signing was first revealed by MMAjunkie.com. The younger Lee will take on veteran bantamweight Shawn Bunch in his Bellator debut at Bellator 239, which takes place on February 21 in Thackerville, Oklahoma.
Cris Cyborg: Bellator 238 fight against Julia Budd will be 'one of the greatest fights in WMMA history'
Cole Shelton - January 20, 2020
Cris Cyborg believes her upcoming fight against Julia Budd will be one of the best ever. In the main event of Bellator 238, Cyborg is making her promotional debut and challenging for the featherweight title. It will no doubt be a tough fight for Cyborg. Yet, she is eager for the challenge and the opportunity to headline the card.
Ryan Bader to defend Bellator light heavyweight title in April
Adam Martin - January 14, 2020
Bellator champ-champ Ryan Bader will take a break from the heavyweight division as he moves back down to light heavyweight to defend his belt there in April. Bader himself announced Tuesday on his Instagram that he will be moving back down to 205lbs to defend his light heavyweight title. An opponent, date, or venue were not disclosed by Bader, but he told fans to expect news soon.
Paul Daley fired from role as Bellator television analyst
Adam D Martin - January 12, 2020
Welterweight contender Paul Daley says that he has been fired from his role as a television analyst for the Bellator MMA promotion. Daley was one of Bellator’s television analysts for its European Series in 2019. However, he will not be continuing in that role in 2020 as “Semtex” himself announced on his Instagram he was fired from the gig. Here’s what Daley told his fans.
Dillon Danis claims Khabib Nurmagomedov tried to 'run away' following uppercuts in UFC 229 brawl
Harry Kettle - January 10, 2020
Bellator star Dillon Danis has claimed that Khabib Nurmagomedov attempted to run away in the aftermath of their UFC 229 brawl. The incident, which occurred back in October 2018, began after Nurmagomedov had just submitted Conor McGregor in the fourth round of their main event fight in Las Vegas. Immediately after that, “The Eagle” quite literally went flying out of the cage in an attempt to attack McGregor’s team — specifically Danis.
Dillon Danis believes everyone calls him out because he's on top and 'always will be on top'
Cole Shelton - January 9, 2020
Dillon Danis believes he is and will always be on top of the fight game. Danis, who is 2-0 in his career, is set for his third fight under the Bellator banner. While many fighters come and go in the sport, ‘El Jefe’ believes he will remain near the top for a long time.
Jimmy Smith criticizes John McCarthy for MVP vs. Anderson Silva comparisons
Adam Martin - January 9, 2020
Long-time MMA analyst Jimmy Smith criticized Bellator commentator Big John McCarthy for his recent comparison between Michael Page and Anderson Silva. McCarthy has come under scrutiny for his recent comments comparing the early careers of the two. Many fans believe that Bellator has given Page a mostly easy road so far, but McCarthy said that Page’s first 18 career bouts match up well with the first 18 fights that Silva had, despite the evidence suggesting Silva’s road was tougher. Smith saw McCarthy’s comments and said that he does not agree with him.
John McCarthy reiterates argument that 'MVP' fought better competition than Anderson Silva
Adam Martin - January 7, 2020
Bellator commentator Big John McCarthy explained why he recently said Michael Page fought better competition than Anderson Silva during his early career. McCarthy’s comments during the Bellator New Year’s Eve card drew the ire of MMA fans and media, who were quick to criticize McCarthy for his comments that Page fought better competition than Silva during the early parts of both fighters’ careers.
Eddie Hearn wants DAZN to more than double monthly price
Tom Taylor - January 2, 2020
The sports streaming service DAZN is now home to Bellator MMA, Combate Americas, and boxing action featuring superstars like Canelo Alvarez and Anthony Joshua. Fans can access all of that combat sports content for $19.99 a month, or $99.99 for an annual membership. Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn would like to see that rate increase — by a lot. Hearn, who promotes Anthony Joshua, has witnessed DAZN’s recent growth, and believes the service is becoming a must-have for fight fans, particularly those that follow boxing.
Rory MacDonald believes Douglas Lima trilogy is still possible
Tom Taylor - January 1, 2020
Rory MacDonald is no longer a Bellator fighter, having signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) in 2020. While this promotion change has opened the door to some new and exciting matchups for MacDonald, it has seemingly closed the door on a trilogy fight between MacDonald and reigning Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima, who are currently tied 1-1 across two previous bouts. Yet MacDonald doesn’t see it that way.
Rampage Jackson vows to lose weight, wants MMA fans to join him
Tom Taylor - January 1, 2020
Rampage Jackson tipped the scales at 265 pounds for his Bellator Japan-headlining showdown with fellow MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko. While that’s certainly not an unheard of weight for the heavyweight division, it was quite heavy for Rampage, who previously ruled the UFC’s 205-pound light heavyweight division. To make matters worse, Rampage lost this fight by first-round knockout, so the extra mass did little to benefit him.
VIDEO | Patricky Freire scores nasty soccer kick KO over Luiz Gustavo at RIZIN 20
Harry Kettle - December 31, 2019
Patricky Freire secured his place in the final of the Lightweight Grand Prix wit a superb soccer kick knockout over Luiz Gustavo at RIZIN 20. Coming into the event the expectation was that Freire would be viewed as one of the favorites, especially after his dominant quarter-final win over Tatsuya Kawajiri back at RIZIN 19 in October. In the semis earlier this evening he was able to live up to the hype in a big way as he finished Gustavo off in less than half a minute.
Rampage Jackson shuts down conspiracies that Fedor Emelianenko fight was fixed
Thomas Taylor - December 29, 2019
On Saturday night, in the main event of Bellator MMA’s debut in Japan, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rampage Jackson was knocked out by fellow PRIDE legend Fedor Emelianenko. The fight-ending punch occurred at the 2:44 mark of round one, and admittedly didn’t look like it made all that severe of an impact. The nature of the punch caused some of MMA’s more suspicious fans to suggest that Rampage had intentionally taken a fall in the fight.
UFC veteran Daron Cruickshank under fire for racist remarks in Japan
Thomas Taylor - December 29, 2019
Former UFC fighter Daron Cruickshank has found himself under fire after racist comments he made during an April visit to Japan have come to light. Cruickshank, who previously competed in the UFC lightweight division, has spent the last few years of his career fighting for Japan’s RIZIN Fighting Federation. During an April visit to Japan, the former UFC fighter made some controversial comments, suggesting that Japanese people eat dogs.
Fedor Emelianenko could get title shot against Ryan Bader, but Josh Barnett more likely
Adam Martin - December 29, 2019
Bellator president Scott Coker says that Fedor Emelianenko could get a heavyweight title shot against champion Ryan Bader, but a fight against Josh Barnett is more likely. Emelianenko had one of his most impressive performances in years when he knocked out Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in the main event of Bellator Japan. The Russian legend looked fast and powerful in the fight, bouncing back from a first-round knockout loss to Ryan Bader earlier this year in the finals of the Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix.
Lorenz Larkin will get pass for weight miss, could fight Douglas Lima or Michael Page next
Adam D Martin - December 29, 2019
Bellator president Scott Coker said that welterweight contender Lorenz Larkin will get a pass for missing weight at Bellator Japan and could get a title shot next. Larkin weighed in at 173.5lbs for his fight against fellow UFC alum Keita Nakamura on the main card. Larkin went on to dominate the bout en route to winning a lopsided unanimous decision, but the fact he missed weight made some believe he would be knocked down the title shot pecking order for Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima’s belt.
Pros react to Michael Page and Michael Chandler KO’s at Bellator Japan
Adam D Martin - December 29, 2019
Check out what the pros had to say following Michael Page and Michael Chandler’s huge knockout wins on the Bellator Japan card. Page knocked out former UFC welterweight Shinsho Anzai in a catchweight bout. Here’s what some of the pros had to say about his performance.
Michael "Venom" Page responds to “can crusher” criticism
Adam D Martin - December 29, 2019
Michael “Venom” Page responded to the critics calling him a can crusher following his second-round KO win over Shinsho Anzai at Bellator Japan. Since getting knocked out by Douglas Lima back in June, Page has defeated little-known opponents in Anzai, Giovanni Melillo and Richard Kiely in his last three fights. As impressive as he looked in those victories, the fact they were such a big step down in competition has led critics to call Page a “can crusher.”