Bellator News

Dillon Danis bashes Tyron Woodley in multi-day Twitter attack
Tom Taylor - July 31, 2019
Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley recently posed for a photo with his former American Top Team training partner Jorge Masvidal, which ruffled some feathers in the MMA community, given that Masvidal just knocked out Woodley’s friend Ben Askren. One of the people to chime in on this issue is Bellator MMA star Dillon Danis. In fact, Danis has spent the better part of a week chastising Woodley on Twitter.

Scott Coker congratulates Cris Cyborg on UFC 240 victory
Adam D Martin - July 28, 2019
Although UFC president Dana White was not complimentary towards Cris Cyborg for her victory over Felicia Spencer on Saturday night at UFC 240, Bellator president Scott Coker had nothing but positive things to say about her performance. The former bossman of Strikeforce, where Cyborg starred from 2009 to 2011, sent out a congratulatory tweet on Saturday night to his friend for her unanimous decision win over Spencer.

Dillon Danis questions Tyron Woodley's loyalty after posing for photo with Jorge Masvidal
Cole Shelton - July 26, 2019
Dillon Danis has taken a shot at Tyron Woodley for hanging out and taking a picture with Jorge Masvidal. The former welterweight champion is good friends and training partners with Ben Askren, who “Gamebred” knocked out at UFC 239. It was a vicious knee that resulted in “Funky” being out cold for quite a while. There was also an intense lead up to the fight where Masvidal said he wanted to end the Askren bloodline. Jorge also that he planned on breaking Ben’s face.

VIDEO | Michael Page, Richard Kiely scuffle at Bellator Dublin press conference
Tom Taylor - July 23, 2019
Michael Page is set to return to the cage opposite fellow striker Richard Kiely at Bellator Dublin on September 27. This week, the two fighters — who have already developed a serious beef — appeared at the official Bellator Dublin press conference. And as is so often the case when rival fighters are smushed together on a small stage, things got heated.

Myles Jury signs with Bellator
Adam Martin - July 19, 2019
Former UFC lightweight contender Myles Jury, who recently became a free agent, has signed a multi-fight contract with Bellator. ESPN.com’s Ariel Helwani first broke the news. He added that Jury, who has previously competed as a featherweight, will compete as a lightweight in Bellator. He is expected to make his promotional debut later this year.

Gegard Mousasi responds to fans calling him 'a bad loser'
Tom Taylor - July 19, 2019
In late June, Gegard Mousasi surrendered the Bellator middleweight title to Rafael Lovato Jr., losing via majority decision. Shortly after this defeat, Mousasi accused his foe of performance-enhancing drug use. “I should have won this match even with him using PEDs,” Mousasi said on Vechtersbazen Podcast. “I told the commission that it’s clear that he was on PEDs. (The commissioner) gave me a pat on the shoulder and told me that he was going to get tested on fight day and walked away.”

Scott Coker discusses leaving Aaron Pico off Bellator featherweight grand prix
Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 18, 2019
Bellator president Scott Coker appears to be taking things slow with Aaron Pico. While Pico has been hailed as one of the greatest prospects in MMA, he was thrown to the wolves rather quickly. At the age of 22, Pico has a record of 4-3 and he’s been stopped in all of his losses. In his last two outings, Pico was brutally knocked out by Henry Corrales and Adam Borics.

Michael Page returns at Bellator Dublin
Tom Taylor - July 17, 2019
Michael Page will soon return to the Bellator cage. The Brit will return to action at Bellator Dublin on September 27 at the 3 Arena, where he’ll take on Richard Kiely in the card’s co-main event.

Bellator eyeing Fedor Emelianenko vs. Rampage or Josh Barnett in Japan
Adam Martin - July 16, 2019
Many thought the great Fedor Emelianenko was considering retirement following a 35-second knockout loss to Ryan Bader back at Bellator 214 in January. Not so fast, says Bellator president Scott Coker, who confirmed Emelianenko has signed a multi-fight agreement with the promotion. Coker even has some opponents in mind for his retirement tour. According to Coker, who spoke to Ariel Helwani on Monday’s MMA Show, Bellator is planning on holding a cross-over event with RIZIN in December, and the Bellator bossman wants Emelianenko to fight on the card.

Bellator announces opening round of Featherweight World Grand Prix
Mike Pendleton - July 15, 2019
The Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix tournament is about to get underway this Fall, and President Scott Coker just announced the opening round matchups in the tournament. Speaking to Ariel Helwani of ESPN, Coker announced all eight fights with the 16 featherweight tournament participants which will be split up between two events in September. Breaking: @ScottCoker just announced the first-round matchups for @BellatorMMA's 16-man featherweight grand prix (via @arielhelwani) pic.twitter.com/lOXPbYnzzI

Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi 2 set for Bellator 228
Cole Shelton - July 11, 2019
Lyoto Machida and Gegard Mousasi are set to run it back at Bellator 228 on September 28, Bellator announced. The two fought back at UFC Fight Night 36 in February 2014. There, they were the fight of the night but it was Machida who did enough as he edged out a unanimous decision. Since then, the Brazilian went on to fight for the UFC middleweight title again, but lost and then headed to Bellator after a 3-4 record following the Mousasi fight.

Ryan Bader booked to defend heavyweight title against Cheick Kongo
Tom Taylor - July 11, 2019
Ryan Bader, Bellator‘s resident two-division champ, is now set to defend his heavyweight strap. Bader, who also owns the light heavyweight title, will make this defense opposite fellow UFC veteran Cheick Kongo. The fight will go down at Bellator 226 on September 7 inside the SAP Center in San Jose, California. This card will also mark the beginning of Bellator’s anticipated featherweight Grand Prix.

Dillon Danis reacts to Ben Askren getting knocked out at UFC 239
Adam D Martin - July 7, 2019
Rising Bellator star Dillon Danis took to social media to give his reaction to Ben Askren’s devastating knockout loss to Jorge Masvidal at UFC 239 on Saturday night. Instead of roasting Askren like you think Danis would have, he actually sent a classy message to the former Bellator welterweight champion.

Gegard Mousasi says he should have beaten Rafael Lovato Jr. 'even with him using PEDs'
Cole Shelton - July 3, 2019
At Bellator London, Rafael Lovato Jr. shocked many as he defeated Gegard Mousasi by majority decision to become the new middleweight champion. But, the now former champion claims the 36-year-old was on PEDs for the fight. “I should have won this match even with him using PEDs,” Mousasi said on Vechtersbazen Podcast (as transcribed by MMA Junkie).

James Gallagher gives the middle finger to panic
Christine Allen - June 25, 2019
“I pulled out of the fight. I didn’t even wanna be here, I didn’t wanna train. I was in a bad way…panic attacks getting sick…and now I’m back, now I’m winning.” As I watched a very relieved James Gallagher retell his experience of severe panic attacks in the weeks leading up to his victory over Jeremiah Labiano at Bellator London 223, I was reminded once again of the fine line between success and failure, and the vital role that mental health plays in not only the outcome of a fight, but life.

Bellator partners with cannabis company cbdMD
Natasha Hooper - June 25, 2019
CBD is making waves in professional sport. The legalization of Marijuana in different states is opening doors for business, especially for companies who are eager to capitalize off new sponsorship opportunities. Many of these business prospects are popping up in the MMA world, and Bellator is leading the way. This week they announced a multi-year, exclusive partnership with cbdMD, Inc. The MMA promotion is joining forces with the American registered cannabinoid (CBD). As a result, cbdMD will receive an array of integrated partnership assets such as category-exclusive branding inside the Bellator cage. CbdMD joins corporate powerhouses such as Monster Energy and Burger King who sponsor Bellator.

Aaron Chalmers pays out fan's failed bet after winning by submission
Tom Taylor - June 23, 2019
Aaron Chalmers was an integral part of one fan’s Bellator 223 parlay bet, but he didn’t win quite the way that fan predicted, stopping his fight via submission rather than knockout. When Chalmers learned that his method of victory had derailed this fan’s otherwise successful parlay, he offered to pay the fan’s prospective winnings via PayPal.

MMA Community reacts after Rafael Lovato Jr dethrones Gegard Mousasi at Bellator London
Chris Taylor - June 22, 2019
A new middleweight champion was crowned at today’s Bellator London event, as Rafael Lovato Jr defeated Gegard Mousasi via majority decision. Lovato Jr entered tonight’s Bellator London main event sporting a perfect professional record of 9-0, which included five wins under the promotional banner.