More Bellator MMA News
Khabib’s Cousin Usman Nurmagomedov Removed From Bellator LW Roster After Failed Drug Test Finally Hits Dagestani Camp
Usman Nurmagomedov, the cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov, has recently failed a drug test, and has faced some serious consequences!
Amid Bellator’s Merging Rumors, the PFL President Confirms MMA Fight Talks Between Deontay Wilder and Francis Ngannou
Ray Sefo hints at a potential Deontay Wilder and Francis Ngannou, MMA bout amid merger rumors with Bellator. What's brewing here?
Is Dillon Danis Signed to the UFC or Bellator? All About Conor McGregor’s Controversial Friend’s MMA Career
Who is Conor McGregor's friend Dillon Danis signed to? Is it UFC or does he have a contract with Bellator MMA? How does his MMA career look?
Calling Dana White a “Disturbance”, Bellator Counterpart Scott Coker Fires Back After Relentless Comments From UFC CEO
Dana White didn't hold back on his words and Bellator CEO didn't really care much about it. Here are Scott Coker's latest responses to White.
After Cristiano Ronaldo Wiped $4 Billion Off American Firm, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Cousin Followed Suit After Dominant Bellator 300 Win
Following Cristiano Ronaldo's impact on an American firm's value, Usman Nurmagomedov replicated Rolando's antic and made waves with his win.
“Only Khabib Knows”- “Kangaroo Video” on Brother Usman Nurmagomedov’s Massive Bellator 300 Win Has Fans in Splits Over UFC Legend’s Hidden Message
UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov congratulated his cousin Usman Nurmagomedov for his recent win and fans can't stop laughing at the post.
“UFC Is Waiting for You”- Dana White and Co. Encouraged to Take Khabib’s Cousin Usman Nurmagomedov in UFC After Dominant Win Against Brent Primus at Bellator 300
Usman Nurmagomedov and his win at Bellator 300 has left MMA fans wanting to see the Dagestani fighter take his skills to the UFC.
Leon Edwards Issues a 9-Words Statement Following the Loss of His Brother at Bellator 299 to Johnny Eblen
UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards has a short message for his brother Fabian after his title bout loss at Bellator 299.
As Dustin Poirier Steps on Conor McGregor’s Turf, Ex-BMF Contender Shares Massive Update on Johnny Eblen Ahead of Bellator 299 in Dublin, Ireland
Dustin Poirier provided an update regarding his teammate ahead of Bellator 299 as he visited his former rival Conor McGregor's hometown.
“Bad*ss”- From Uber Eats to UFC Champ, Alexandre Pantoja’s Driving Factor Revealed by Teammate and Bellator Champ Johnny Eblen
Bellator middleweight champion, Johnny Eblen, reveals teammate Alexandre Pantoja and his story to the UFC title are an inspiration to all.
“He Can’t Go to Jail” – Threatened With a Lawsuit by Nina Agdal, Logan Paul Fight Close to Getting Jeopardized as Conor McGregor’s Teammate Dillon Danis Reveals Possible “Jail” Time
Ahead of his fight against Logan Paul, MMA fighter Dillon Danis receives lawsuit threats from Paul's fiancée Nina Agdal; fans react.
“It’s Really a Different Business System…”: Former Bellator Champ Alexander Volkov Opens Up on the “Sad” Ending of Bellator Amid Rumors of a Possible PFL Buyout
Amidst rumors of a buyout by PFL, current UFC Heavyweight Alexander Volkov speaks out on the fate of his former promotion Bellator.
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 |
