Bellator News

Tom Taylor - April 29, 2019

Over the weekend, on the main card of Bellator 220, former Bellator light heavyweight champs Phil Davis and Liam McGeary collided in an anticipated rematch. In the end, Davis won this fight when McGeary sustained an apparent jaw injury in the third round.

Tom Taylor - April 29, 2019

Shortly after battling Jon Fitch to a draw in the main event of Bellator 220, Bellator welterweight champ Rory MacDonald made some comments that cast doubt on his future as a fighter. Most notably, he suggested that he no longer has the desire to hurt people — certainly an issue for those who make their living fighting in a cage.

Drake Riggs - April 28, 2019

The first RIZIN Fighting Federation event of 2019 went down on April 21 with RIZIN 15. It was a great night of fights as per usual from the Japanese based MMA leader. In action, that night was none other than the RIZIN bantamweight king, Kyoji Horiguchi (27-2) who defeated Ben Nguyen via first-round TKO. The dominant 28-year old entered the ring for the first time since he won the title on New Year’s Eve 2018 at RIZIN 14 when he defeated the Bellator champion, Darrion “The Wolf” Caldwell (13-2) in a crazy comeback effort.

Mike Straus - April 28, 2019

Bellator 220, from the SAP Center in San Jose, California, is a wrap. With a whopping 18 fights on the night (including the usual Bellator post-lims) there were plenty of opportunities for fighters to make a statement. Let us take a deeper look and see what fighters showed out in Central Cali.

Drake Riggs - April 28, 2019

The Bellator welterweight title was on the line in the main event of Bellator 220 in San Jose, California on Saturday night. In the bout was the defending champion, Rory MacDonald as he took on the seasoned UFC veteran and former World Series of Fighting champ, Jon Fitch. In a very closely contested battle, the scorecards would reflect that as the fight wound up being a majority draw. Because of the fact that MacDonald didn’t lose, he remained the champion and will advance to the welterweight Grand Prix semifinals to take on Neiman Gracie.

Drake Riggs - April 27, 2019

Bellator has brought back life to their old school style of tournaments with their world title Grand Prix’s. And for the welterweight tournament, Bellator 220 hosted the first title fight as the champion, Rory MacDonald, made his first return after an unsuccessful attempt at capturing middleweight gold in his last time out. The extremely season veteran, Jon Fitch looked to make it two losses in a row for the Canadian. MacDonald rushes forward immediately and cracks Fitch with a hard right hand that stuns him. Fitch retaliates with a single leg attempt. He gets it down slowly as MacDonald threatens with a kimura as he stands back up. Fitch keeps grinding on him but MacDonald goes back for the kimura. They separate and MacDonald throws some shots before defending a Fitch takedown attempt. Another big right from MacDonald lands. Fitch has a cut in his hair somewhere. MacDonald backs Fitch up and is stalking. Fitch shoots for a takedown and gets it big this time. Fitch works ground and pound to the body as the round closes.

Drake Riggs - April 27, 2019

The first of Bellator 220’s two title fights went down within the always fun flyweight division as the undefeated champ, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane took on the hungry challenger, Veta Arteaga. Arteaga pushes the action instantly but Macfarlane stops the forward momentum with a single leg attempt that takes them to the cage. Arteaga tries to land what she can in tight but Macfarlane eventually gets the action down before Arteaga finds a sprawl to better her position and get back up. Against the fence again they go. Macfarlane pulls her away and gets the takedown. She’s now on Arteaga’s back but gets thrown off fairly quickly. Now working from the bottom, an armbar turns to an ankle lock attempt with Arteaga throwing body punches the whole time. Arteaga stands up with Macfarlane still on her leg. Macfarlane lets go, up to the feet they go. Arteaga continues to be relentless with her attack. She gets Macfarlane to the cage now where she lands knees to the body. The two break and stand in the center. Round ends after Arteaga stops a takedown.

Drake Riggs - April 27, 2019

Following the first match-up featuring former champions, Bellator 220’s main card rolled on as the former WEC and UFC lightweight king, Benson Henderson returned. Standing across from him was the rising contender, Adam Piccolotti. Each fighter was looking to extend their winning streaks to three straight and make their cases for the next shot at the 155-pound crown.

Drake Riggs - April 27, 2019

Kicking off the main card of Bellator 220 was a fun lightweight match-up that saw Muay Thai star, Gaston Bolanos return against Nathan Stolen. The action starts with Stolen pushing the pace and taking a leg kick before the two trade punches. Each land nicely as Bolanos keeps adding in his leg kicks. He lands a nice combo that results in a Stolen takedown attempt that’s thwarted. The two clinch up and Stolen hits a trip. Bolanos quickly sweeps it before they get back up. Each fighters land big bombs but Bolanos does the more damage and drops Stolen as Bolanos follows up and finishes it.

Drake Riggs - April 27, 2019

Bellator MMA is back with another great card in Bellator 220 that is topped off by two title fights. One of which takes place in one of their Grand Prix’s. In the featured attraction, the welterweight title Grand Prix continues onward as we get to find out who advances to face Neiman Gracie in the semifinals.

Drake Riggs - April 26, 2019

She’s back. After 21 months out of action, ‘The Peacemaker’ Leslie Smith will be returning to action as she has signed with Bellator MMA.

Drake Riggs - April 26, 2019

Without a doubt, Russia’s ‘Last Emperor,’ Fedor Emelianenko is one of the greatest mixed martial artists to ever grace the face of the Earth. But despite his incredible success throughout his career and late resurgence through the Bellator heavyweight Grand Prix, it all ended abruptly in January. At Bellator 214, the vacant title was on the line in the tournament’s finals. Standing in Emelianenko’s way on his path to becoming a champion for the first time in 10 years was the current light heavyweight champion of Bellator, Ryan Bader. In the end, 35 seconds was all it took for Bader to sleep the icon with a stiff left hand followed by some on the ground.

Drake Riggs - April 26, 2019

The end of 2018 marked a new era of sorts when it comes to cross-promotion in MMA as Bellator and RIZIN teamed up like never before. For RIZIN’s annual big New Year’s Eve show, in 2018 that was RIZIN 14, one of their biggest stars, Kyoji Horiguchi would fight for the inaugural bantamweight title. His opponent would be none other than Bellator’s bantamweight champion, Darrion Caldwell.

Drake Riggs - April 26, 2019

Often times when fighters are undefeated, they can understandably be arrogant and perhaps overly confident. The same can be said for champions. So when mixing the two, it’s rare to see that zero stay a zero for all too long. However, despite being both undefeated and a champion, these descriptions wouldn’t be fitting for Bellator’s first and only flyweight queen, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane. Similarly, like another undefeated champion in Virna Jandiroba who is also fighting this weekend, Macfarlane manages to stay very grounded and humble on her journey although many others in her position wouldn’t be. And that she attributes to her realistic view of the MMA landscape after having seen others fall before her.

Drake Riggs - April 26, 2019

Tomorrow night in San Jose, California, the Bellator welterweight and flyweight titles will be on the line. Looking for his first Bellator welterweight title defense and to advance to the semifinals of the welterweight Grand Prix will be Rory MacDonald who is back in his normal weight class after trying to dethrone middleweight champ, Gegard Mousasi.

Drake Riggs - April 26, 2019

When it comes to the discussion of who is the greatest lightweight fighter of all time, debates can’t be had without the mention of the former WEC and UFC king, ‘Smooth’ Benson Henderson. Continuously underappreciated throughout his reigns as champion, Henderson was as active of a champion as any and constantly looking for a fight. Although no longer the champion, that attitude remains the same with a similar goal in mind.

Drake Riggs - April 25, 2019

Current Bellator welterweight champion, Rory MacDonald has become fairly familiar with ‘Ruthless’ Robbie Lawler over the years. Formerly a staple of the UFC’s 170-pound division, MacDonald would fight Lawler twice during his UFC run. The first time being in a three-round affair that saw him on the wrong end of a split decision. Their second encounter would come two years later as Lawler was now the champion.

Drake Riggs - April 25, 2019

History will be made this Saturday night at Bellator 220… And that will all be determined by the flyweights. In the night’s co-main event, we have the returning unbeaten champion, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane as she looks to extend her title defense number to three straight. On the other side of the equation, there’s the always game Veta Arteaga who hopes to play spoiler and become the promotion’s second 125-pound queen.