Bellator News
Scott Coker sends message to other MMA promotions: "We have as good or better fighters than other leagues, including the UFC"
Zain Bando - June 14, 2023
Bellator president Scott Coker has made his stance clear – his fighters are the cream of the crop. Ahead of Bellator 297 Friday night, which is headlined by two marquee title fights in Vadim Nemkov vs. Yoel Romero at light heavyweight and Sergio Pettis vs. Patricio Pitbull at bantamweight, Coker was adamant his three champions could challenge a whos-who, including the best the UFC has to offer. “We have as good or better fighters than other leagues, including the UFC,” Coker said. “And I think that everybody knows that now.”
WATCH | Vadim Nemkov has virtual face-off with Yoel Romero as 'Soldier of God' misses presser due to fear of heights
Josh Evanoff - June 14, 2023
Bellator light-heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov had a unique staredown with Yoel Romero today. The Russian has been out of the cage since his rematch with Corey Anderson last October. At Bellator 288, Vadim Nemkov scored a unanimous decision win over ‘Overtime’ to retain his light-heavyweight title. That was a huge win for the champion, as it set the record for most Bellator title defenses in the division, with three.
Patricio Pitbull expecting to dominate Sergio Pettis to win third Bellator championship: "Put him down"
Josh Evanoff - June 14, 2023
Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull expects to stop Sergio Pettis this weekend. The Brazilian has been out of action since a non-title clash with Kleber Koike Erbst last December. There, Patricio Pitbull scored a unanimous decision win, his third in a row. That April, he re-earned the featherweight title by avenging his prior loss to A.J. McKee, defeating ‘Mercenary’ by decision.
Bellator 297: Yoel Romero says the MMA community ‘knows what happened’ in last title fight appearance
Zain Bando - June 14, 2023
Yoel Romero has not forgotten what happened the last time he competed in Chicago. The 46-year-old Cuban light heavyweight was on the wrong end of a 2018 middleweight title fight with Robert Whittaker, a fight many believed Romero did enough to earn a decision.
Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull thinks media ignores his accomplishments: "It will be on them"
Fernando Quiles - May 28, 2023
Bellator Featherweight Champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire believes media members have been ignoring what he has accomplished. Not only is Freire the reigning three-time Bellator champion at 145 pounds, but he’s also the promotion’s former lightweight champion. If he makes weight and defeats Sergio Pettis at Bellator 297, he’ll become the new Bellator Bantamweight Champion, making him a rare three-division MMA champion.
Bellator MMA plans to add a new division for the first time since 2014
Fernando Quiles - May 26, 2023
Bellator MMA is rolling out a new division. MMAJunkie.com reports that Bellator is expected to introduce the men’s flyweight division soon. While a date hasn’t been revealed, the report noted that the launch will be taking place in “the coming days.”
Fabian Edwards doesn't view Bellator Paris opponent Gegard Mousasi as being a legend: “He is just another man”
Susan Cox - May 12, 2023
Fabian Edwards doesn’t view Bellator Paris opponent Gegard Mousasi as being a legend. Bellator Paris takes place today, Friday May 12th, at the Accor Arena in Paris, France.
Bellator to adopt pay-per-view model for Canadian viewers starting with Bellator 296
Zain Bando - May 11, 2023
Bellator will begin a new era of its broadcasting history Friday, as the promotion announced a new change for Canadian MMA viewers. According to TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter, Bellator events will move from exclusive broadcasts on YouTube to a semi-traditional pay-per-view model, beginning with Bellator 296 in Paris, France.
Bellator re-signs featherweight champion Cris Cyborg to a multi-fight deal
Cole Shelton - May 4, 2023
Cris Cyborg will be sticking around in Bellator for the foreseeable future. On Thursday, Bellator announced via a press release and on social media that the promotion has inked a new multi-fight deal with their women’s featherweight champ, Cris Cyborg. Cyborg had been vocal about her contract and being a free agent but after some time in negotiations, she has re-signed with Bellator.
UFC star Paddy Pimblett takes aim at Bellator and PFL: “The only reason people go to PFL is to try to win the million dollars with easier fights”
Harry Kettle - April 26, 2023
UFC star Paddy Pimblett has given his thoughts on Bellator and PFL as fighters continue to sign deals with both promotions. While he may be a big star, Paddy Pimblett has had some troubles lately. In addition to some fans turning against him, the Liverpudlian is also currently on the shelf following ankle surgery. It comes in the wake of his controversial win over Jared Gordon, with many believing he shouldn’t have had his hand raised.
Dominance MMA parts ways with Ray Borg for again missing weight at Bellator 295
Josh Evanoff - April 21, 2023
Bellator flyweight contender Ray Borg is once again back in hot water for missing weight. ‘The Tazmexican Devil’ has been out of the cage since his clash with Ricky Bandejas at Eagle FC 46 in March. In that outing, Borg outworked the Bellator veteran en route to a split-decision win. The victory was the flyweight’s third in a row since leaving the UFC in 2020. That August, Borg was released from the promotion due to weight issues.
Corey Anderson vs. Phil Davis added to stacked Bellator 297 event in June
Josh Evanoff - March 30, 2023
Bellator 297 continues to add more high-profile names and former champions to the card. The event is slated for June 16th at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago and already has some massive fights. The card is expected to be headlined by a light-heavyweight title fight between Vadim Nemkov and Yoel Romero. The two were previously expected to clash at Bellator 290 in January, but the Russian withdrew.
Cat Zingano confused by Cris Cyborg’s ducking claims: “She’s not even with the promotion”
Harry Kettle - March 30, 2023
Bellator star Cat Zingano has admitted that she’s confused by Cris Cyborg’s recent claims that she’s ducking her. Since arriving in Bellator, Cat Zingano has been pretty solid. She’s riding a 3-0 win streak and tomorrow night, she’ll look to extend that to four when she battles Leah McCourt.
Jorge Masvidal says the best middleweight fighter in the world competes outside of the UFC: “He’s just a beast”
Harry Kettle - March 28, 2023
UFC star Jorge Masvidal has named a fighter outside of the promotion as the best middleweight on the planet. Across the entirety of his mixed martial arts career, Jorge Masvidal has competed against some of the best fighters in the world. In addition to that, he’s also trained alongside a lot of absolute killers, too.
Two title fights announced for Bellator 297, including Vadim Nemkov vs. Yoel Romero
Lewis Simpson - March 27, 2023
Bellator MMA has announced a spectacular two-title fight card that will go down on June 16 in Chicago, Illinois, at Bellator 297. After a successful turnout last November at the Wintrust Arena, where Vadim Nemkov defended his title against Cory Anderson at Bellator 288, the promotion is heading back with a mouthwatering card.
Bellator 292 Salaries: Usman Nurmagomedov and Benson Henderson lead the way
Susan Cox - March 17, 2023
Usman Nurmagomedov and Benson Henderson were the top earners in the disclosed Bellator 292 salaries. The disclosed fight purses for Bellator 292 have been revealed by the California State Athletic Commission and Nurmagomedov and Henderson both earned six-figure pay checks.
Former lightweight champion Benson Henderson hoping for UFC Hall of Fame induction: "I would definitely appreciate it"
Josh Evanoff - March 13, 2023
Former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson is hoping he’ll make the Hall of Fame. ‘Smooth’ returned to the cage over the weekend at Bellator 292. The former UFC champion faced the undefeated Usman Nurmagomedov in the main event, with the goal of handing him his first loss. Prior to the bout, Henderson revealed his plans to win the tournament, and then retire.
Bellator President Scott Coker gives update on Goiti Yamauchi following grotesque knee injury
Fernando Quiles - March 12, 2023
Goiti Yamauchi suffered a nasty knee injury at the conclusion of his Bellator 292 scrap with Michael Page. Yamauchi and Page shared the cage inside the SAP Center in San Jose, California. This one only last 26 seconds as Page landed a leg kick that totaled Yamauchi’s knee for the TKO finish. It was not a pretty sight, and it was quite clear that Yamauchi suffered an injury that will keep him out of action for a while.