More Bellator MMA News
HILARIOUS: Usman Nurmagomedov Makes Fun of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Hairstyle
During a recent interview with 'The Schmo' Bellator fighter Usman Nurmagomedov made fun of cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov's hairstyle
Who is Patricio Pitbull’s Wife? Kids, Family & More About the UFC Debutant
Read this article to find out more about MMA legend Patricio Pitbull’s family life including his wife and kids.
All You Need To Know About Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Cousin, Usman Nurmagomedov
As Usman Nurmagomedov returns to the Bellator cage at Bellator 263, we take a detailed look at his professional MMA career so far.
Bellator 263: Pitbull vs. McKee – Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire vs A.J. McKee: Prediction and Analysis
Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire wil face A.J. McKee at the Bellator 263 event. Who do you think will win this epic clash between these fighters?
Everything You Need to Know About the UFC Prospect Adrian Yanez
Ahead of his UFC Vegas 32 bout against Randy Costa, we take a look at Adrian Yanez's career thus far and review his potential going forward.
Fabricio Werdum Hints at a Fight Against Bellator Legend Fedor Emelianenko
Fabricio Werdum is gunning for a rematch against Fedor Emelianenko. 'The Last Emperor will make his return to Bellator later this year.
VIDEO: Bellator Fighter Destroys Unsuspecting Man in a Bar And Walks Off
Former Bellator MMA fighter and veteran kickboxer Joe Schilling recently got involved in altercation where he knocked out a bar patron with series of punches.
Bellator 261 Walkout Songs: What Were The Fight Tracks Some of The Prominent Fighters Used?
Bellator 261 saw some of the prominent fighters using some iconic songs sung by famous singers to make their entrance. What were those?
‘Fedor is Fighting Again?!’- Jon Jones Posts A Cryptic Message on Heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko’s Return
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones tweets a post to show his excitement on the news of Fedor Emelianenko's return to action.
WOW! Fedor Emelianenko Could Face Alistair Overeem in his Bellator Return Fight
Bellator MMA President Scott Coker spoke to the media and revealed some possible opponents for Fedor Emelianenko in his comeback fight.
BREAKING: 44 Year Old Fedor Emelianenko Announces Return to MMA- Will Rejoin Bellator
MMA journalist Ariel Helwani recently shared some information about when MMA veteran Fedor Emelianenko will return to action.
BREAKING: Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire Puts His Belt on the Line Against A.J. McKee on July 31
The Bellator Featherweight Grand Prix Final is set for July 31 at Bellator 263. It will be contested between Patricio Pitbull and A.J. McKee.
About Bellator MMA
History
Bellator MMA is one of the world's largest mixed martial arts promotions and is recognised as the closest competitor to the UFC. The term Bellator has its origin in Latin language which translates to 'warrior' in English.
Bjorn Rebney founded the company in 2008 and ran it until 2014, before departing and handing the reins to Scott Coker. Presently, the company has successfully hosted 242 numbered events.
The former Strikeforce executive made the move after his contract with Zuffa expired. Following Coker’s arrival, Bellator MMA pivoted to a more traditional North American approach to the sport. This is a departure from the organization's tournament format during its initial phase.
Bellator's tournament format
Bellator MMA has played host to a variety of tournaments under its older format, with 11 seasons of Bellator Fighting Championship held in 4 years from 2009 to 2014. The tournaments saw fighters of specific weight classes compete for a shot at the divisional title.
Also in 2013, the promotion aired a single-season series called Fight Master: Bellator MMA where Randy Couture, Frank Shamrock, Greg Jackson, and Joe Warren served as coaches.
Like all American martial arts organizations, the rules for fights in the Bellator promotion are exactly the same with eye gouges and groin strikes deemed as illegal offenses for which fighters can incur point penalties or be disqualified.
Along with MMA, Bellator has a kickboxing promotion which has hosted 12 events since its inception in 2016.
Some big names who are part of Bellator MMA
At present, the company is home to some of the biggest MMA names including former UFC Champions like Cris Cyborg, Frank Mir, and Lyoto Machida. Current Bellator Champions include Ryan Bader, Douglas Lima, Patricio Freire, and Ilima-Lei Macfarlane. Additionally, the promotion is home to big names such as Fedor Emelianenko, Gegard Mousasi, and Cat Zingano.
via Imago
Patricio Freire after becoming a two-division Bellator MMA champion
Currently, there are 7 divisions for male fighters in Bellator. These are heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight, lightweight, featherweight and bantamweight. The promotion offers 2 divisions for its female talent at Featherweight and flyweight.
List of Champions at Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA has 5 world champions across 9 divisions. 2 fighters are double champions and 2 divisional titles are vacant at present.
| Division | Name | Date Won | Title Defenses |
| Heavyweight | Ryan Bader | January 26, 2019 | 1 |
| Light Heavyweight | Ryan Bader | June 24, 2017 | 1 |
| Middleweight | Vacant | Since February 10, 2020 | - |
| Welterweight | Douglas Lima | October 26,2019 | 0 |
| Lightweight | Patricio Freire | May 11, 2019 | 0 |
| Featherweight | Patricio Freire | April 21,2017 | 3 |
| Bantamweight | Vacant | Since November 27, 2019 | 0 |
| Women’s Featherweight | Cris Cyborg | January 25, 2020 | 0 |
| Women’s Flyweight | Ilima-Lei Macfarlane | November 3,2017 | 4 |
