More Bellator MMA News
After Devastating Defeat, MMA Legend Fedor Emelianenko Announces His Post-Retirement Plans
MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko has confirmed that he will become an MMA coach after his retirement fight against Ryan Bader at Bellator 290.
“That Man Has a Family”: Vicious Knockout Out-of-Nowhere Leaves MMA Fans Concerned at Bellator 290
Bellator 290 saw one of the most brutal KOs in recent times. The fans reacted upon seeing the vicious elbow land on a fighter.
“Dude WTF All the OGs Came Out”: Tear-Inducing Photo of “MMA Royalty” at Fedor Emelianenko Retirement Party at Bellator 290 Goes Viral
Fans reminisce the good old days as MMA legends gather for the final battle of Fedor Emelianenko who bids his adieu at Bellator 290
“Brutal Sport”: MMA World Reacts to the End of ‘The Last Emperor’ Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator 290
MMA icon Fedor Emelianenko retired at Bellator 290 after a crushing defeat to Ryan Bader. Fans and pros bid farewell to the legend.
Despite Conquering the UFC’s Heavyweight Crown, Brock Lesnar Still Wanted to Fight Fedor Emelianenko in 2009 to Prove His Worth
Brock Lesnar once shared his aspirations to fight Fedor Emelianenko for his UFC Heavyweight Championship to prove his worth in MMA world.
“Save Yourself the Embarrassment”: Conor McGregor’s Teammate Dillon Danis Gets “Tricked” With “$1,000”, Gordon Ryan & Others React
Fans go berserk with trashing Dillon Danis as Gordon Ryan publicly mocks him for getting scammed by a YouTuber over posting fake ad.
“Fedor Would Dispatch Prime Cain”: MMA World Engages in Greatest HW Debate Ahead of the Fedor Emelianenko Retirement Fight at Bellator 290
MMA around the world engages in a discussion on the greatest heavyweight fighter of all time ahead of Fedor Emelianenko vs. Ryan Bader fight.
MMA Fighter-Turned-TikTok Sensation, Keith Lee, Amasses 9 Million Followers & Becomes Savior of Local Food Joints
The MMA fighter turned TikTok sensation, Keith Lee, transformed his relationship with food into a 'business saving' venture within months.
“Danis Baited His Way…’: Fans Erupt As Veteran Promotor Scott Coker Provides Update on Dillon Danis’s MMA Career
Scott Coker gives an update on what the future holds for Dillon Danis, but the fans believe it's a dead-end for his fighting career.
“I Got My Money on Khabib and Dubai Investors”: MMA World in Denial As Sale of Bellator Comes To Light a Day After UFC Shares Tumble
Fans react to Ariel Helwani talking about the whispers he heard about Bellator MMA, saying Khabib Nurmagomedov might buy the promotion.
MMA Referee Exposes Dana White’s Decision After Failed Experience: “I Got Burned. I Will Not Allow Someone to Burn Me Again”
UFC president Dana White reveals why he has no interest in promoting a cross-promotional event with other MMA organizations.
Bellator CEO Reveals UFC Star Khabib Nurmagomedov Was Ironically “Freaking Out” at the Level of Production in Their Rizin Cross-Promotion Event
Bellator President Scott Coker says Khabib was 'freaking out' and excited during the Bellator MMA vs. Rizin event held in Japan.
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 |
