Bellator News

Tom Taylor - December 16, 2018

The UFC’s outfitting deal with sports apparel giant Reebok is frequently criticized by fans, fighters, and pundits alike. Not only does this deal deprive fighters of the chance to pursue more lucrative sponsorship deals for themselves, it also deprives them have the chance to dress up during their walkouts and set themselves apart from their peers. Veteran MMA referee John McCarthy is glad this isn’t the reality in Bellator, where he now serves as a cage-side commentator. Speaking during Saturday’s Bellator Hawaii broadcast, as former UFC light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida walked out for his Bellator debut, John McCarthy explained how pleased he was to see Machida walking out in his traditional karate gi rather than Reebok gear.

Chris Taylor - December 15, 2018

Hawaii’s Ilima-Lei Macfarlane put her Bellator women’s flyweight title on the line against Valerie Letourneau in tonight’s Bellator 213 main event in Honolulu. Macfarlane enters tonight’s main event sporting a perfect professional record of 8-0. The Hawaiian‘s most recent win came via submission over Alejandra Lara at Bellator 201 this past June in California.

Chris Taylor - December 15, 2018

The promotional debut of former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida took place at tonight’s Bellator 213 event in Honolulu, Hawaii. Machida squared off with former Bellator middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho in the evenings co-main attraction.

Chris Taylor - December 15, 2018

Patricio and Patricky Freire were not impressed by the performance of Michael Chandler at last night’s Bellator 212 event in Hawaii. Chandler handed Brent Primus his first career loss in last night’s headliner, thus reclaiming his Bellator lightweight world title.

Chris Taylor - December 14, 2018

The lightweight belt was on the line in tonight’s Bellator 212 main event as reigning division champion Brent Primus squared off with former title holder Michael Chandler. Michael Chandler had previously surrendered his Bellator lightweight world title to Brent Primus in June of 2017, this after suffering a leg injury that resulted in an eventual TKO.

Christopher Taylor - December 14, 2018

Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir returned to action in the co-headliner of tonight’s Bellator 212 event in Hawaii against Javy Ayala. Frank Mir made his Bellator debut this past April, suffering a first-round TKO loss to Fedor Emelianenko.

Chris Taylor - December 14, 2018

A heavyweight bout featuring former UFC champion Frank Mir taking on Javy Ayala served as the co-headliner of tonight’s Bellator 212 event in Hawaii. Frank Mir made his Bellator debut back in April, where he suffered a first-round TKO loss to Fedor Emelianenko.

James Lynch - December 13, 2018

With another welterweight tournament matchup happening this weekend, the big question has been when champion Rory MacDonald will face Jon Fitch in the final first-round tournament bout. Bellator President Scott Coker provided some clarity on the issue when speaking to MMAJunkie this week in Hawaii.

Cole Shelton - December 11, 2018

Ricky Bandejas has his next fight booked. The former CFFC interim bantamweight champion will return on January 26 at Bellator 214 against top contender Juan Archuleta. Bandejas confirmed the news with BJPENN.com after an initial report by FloCombat.

James Lynch - December 11, 2018

Bellator MMA announced in a press release that James Gallagher will headline Bellator 218 in Dublin, Ireland on Feb. 23. Gallagher (7-1) will look to bounce back from the first loss of his career as he’s set to face Steven Graham in a bantamweight bout. The 22-year-old is coming off a first-round TKO loss to former CFFC champion Ricky Bandejas at Bellator 204 in August. Losing for the first time in his career was especially tough for Gallagher who had engaged in a lot of trash talk leading up until the bout. The highlight reel head kick made it’s way on SportsCenter and did big numbers on social media.

Drake Riggs - December 10, 2018

Former two-time Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler has undeniably established himself as one of the best fighters outside of the UFC. At Bellator 212, he looks to reclaim the title that he controversially lost.

Mike Straus - December 7, 2018

Valérie Létourneau will challenge flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane for the title in the main event of Bellator 213 on December 15. Lètourneau will have her hands full in Honolulu, Hawaii, as she attempts to be the first women to beat the champion in MMA. The Canadian born Lètourneau may be an underdog heading into next weekend, but she feels she has a big advantage when it comes to experience.

Mike Straus - December 6, 2018

Two-time Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler is on a mission to get his title back. And he is willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish his goal. Chandler, 32, is one of the best 155-pound fighters in the world. He is arguably Bellator MMA’s best athlete and has been the promotions go-to guy for the last few years. And boy does he want his lightweight title back.

Christopher Taylor - December 5, 2018

Mixed martial arts legend Mirko Cro Cop will make make his Bellator debut on February 16 in Uncasville, Connecticut against Roy Nelson. This according to ESPN‘s Ariel Helwani, who recently shared the report on social media.

Drake Riggs - December 3, 2018

Capping off 2018’s MMA calendar will be RIZIN 14 on New Year’s Eve. With the full lineup now revealed, there is plenty to look forward to. Among the announced bouts, for most, the most anticipated will be the fantasy bout that will be fought over the inaugural RIZIN bantamweight title. That fight will feature none other than the current Bellator 135-pound champion, Darrion ‘The Wolf’ Caldwell as he goes to Japan to challenge one of their biggest stars in Kyoji Horiguchi.

Cole Shelton - November 30, 2018

Bellator and RIZIN are back in the business of co-promoting. It was recently announced that Bellator is sending their current bantamweight champion Darrion Caldwell to fight in RIZIN on New Year’s Eve. Caldwell will be heading to Japan to fight Kyoji Horiguchi for the RIZIN bantamweight title.

Tom Taylor - November 29, 2018

Juan Archuleta has long stood out as one of the most exciting prospects in the Bellator featherweight division. In his Friday night Bellator 210 fight with Jeremy Spoon, he’ll look to take another big step toward divisional champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire. To say Archuleta is excited for this looming test would be an understatement.

Cole Shelton - November 28, 2018

Aaron Pico (4-1 MMA) is a future superstar. The 22-year-old is currently riding a four-fight win streak, with all four of those victories coming by way of first-round knockout. However, for Pico, arguably the best attribute of his game is his wrestling and so far he hasn’t had to use it.