Bellator News
Brendan Schaub confirms that he knew Jake Paul would interrupt his Dillon Danis interview
Drake Riggs - May 20, 2021
Brendan Schaub almost saw a brawl of sorts break out on his Food Truck Diaries set between Jake Paul and Dillon Danis. Paul’s drive-by water balloon and toilet paper attack on Danis was speculated as staged by many. Now several months removed from the December episode of Below the Belt’s Food Truck Diaries, Schaub reveals he at the very least knew something was bound to go down.
Brett Johns explains his decision to part ways with the UFC for Bellator: “They weren’t willing to pay the money”
Adam D Martin - May 20, 2021
Bantamweight Brett Johns explained his decision to part ways with the UFC for Bellator, saying that “they weren’t willing to pay the money.” Johns went 5-2 overall in the UFC from 2016 to 2020, and he finished off his run in the Octagon with back-to-back wins over Montel Jackson and Tony Gravely. He is a very good bantamweight fighter and considering he is just 29 years old, the Wales native still has a ton of untapped potential and upside in the sport. By all accounts, this looks to be a tremendous signing for Bellator, and it’s a wonder why the UFC let Johns get away.
Cris Cyborg open to fighting Kayla Harrison at lightweight
Adam D Martin - May 20, 2021
Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg says she is open to fighting PFL standout Kayla Harrison in a lightweight bout. Cyborg takes on Leslie Smith in a rematch that headlines this Friday’s Bellator 259 card. Since joining Bellator in 2020, Cyborg has defeated Julia Budd and Arlene Blencowe as she once again shows the MMA world that she is still one of the best in the world. In Bellator, the promotion does have a featherweight division but is quickly running out of challengers for the champion. That’s why there have been some suggestions that Bellator could possibly take a run at Harrison once she becomes a free agent after this third PFL season.
Darrion Caldwell expects to finish Leandro Higo again, plans to reclaim bantamweight title later this year
Cole Shelton - May 19, 2021
Darrion Caldwell is focused on reclaiming his bantamweight title. After Caldwell lost back-to-back fights to Kyoji Horiguchi for the RIZIN title and to lose his Bellator belt, he moved up to featherweight to take part in the grand prix. He beat Henry Corrales by decision and then submitted Adam Borics, but lost in the semis to AJ McKee.
After being "disrespected" by Dana White, Danny Sabatello expects to "maul" Brett Johns and "make him quit"
Cole Shelton - May 17, 2021
Danny Sabatello thought he was for sure going to get a UFC contract after his dominant performance over Taylor Moore on the Contender Series in November. Sabatello landed three of four takedowns and had 14:06 of ground control and won the fight 30-24, 30-25, 30-26. It was a dominant performance and for the now 28-year-old he thought he was a shoo-in for the contract.
Austin Vanderford expects to drag Fabian Edwards into the "deep waters," believes a win puts him into title contention
Cole Shelton - May 17, 2021
Austin Vanderford is eager to share the cage with Fabian Edwards at Bellator 259 on Friday night. Vanderford is 10-0 and coming off a decision win over Vinicius de Jesus in his third fight in Bellator. Vanderford is currently the third-ranked middleweight while Edwards is ranked fourth. Although they are both up and comers in the division, Vanderford believes the fight makes sense now.
Anthony Johnson arrested for identity theft in Connecticut following Bellator 258
Adam D Martin - May 11, 2021
Bellator light heavyweight star Anthony Johnson was arrested for identity theft in Connecticut following his big win last weekend. The Daily Voice was the first to report the arrest of Johnson. According to police reports, Johnson illegally used a credit card in November 2019 in order to purchase a round-trip ticket from Newark, New Jersey, to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and Johnson was named as the passenger of the ticket. New Canaan police obtained a warrant for Johnson’s arrest, and “Rumble” was taken into custody following his fight last weekend at Bellator 258 where he knocked out Jose Augusto in one of the most exciting MMA fights of the year.
Scott Coker confirms Bellator considering bantamweight division for next Grand Prix
Adam D Martin - May 11, 2021
Bellator president Scott Coker confirmed that Bellator is considering the bantamweight division for the organization’s next Grand Prix. Coker is currently holding Bellator’s light heavyweight Grand Prix and featherweight Grand Prix, and two years ago held the welterweight Grand Prix. Coker is a big fan of the tournament format going back to his Strikeforce days and so he is already thinking about what the next tournament in Bellator would be, and it could very well be bantamweight.
Michael Bisping slams Dillon Danis for suggesting they have beef: "You don’t fight, you’re just an online troll whose as insignificant as a bothersome fly"
Chris Taylor - May 8, 2021
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping is getting sick and tired of being pestered by Bellator fighter Dillon Danis. The verbal sparring between Bisping and Danis began last weekend during the UFC Vegas 25 broadcast. ‘The Count’, who was on commentary duties last Saturday, had replied to one fight fans criticism with a message of “Why don’t you cry about it?”.
Jose Augusto issues classy statement following knockout loss to Anthony Johnson
Chris Taylor - May 8, 2021
Jose Augusto has issued a classy statement following his second round knockout loss to Anthony Johnson at last night’s Bellator 258 event. Augusto (7-3 MMA) had taken last night’s fight with ‘Rumble’ on short-notice, this after Johnson’s originally slated opponent Yoel Romero was forced off the card.
Watch Michael Venom Page flatten Derek Anderson's nose in slow motion at Bellator 258
Chris Taylor - May 8, 2021
Michael Venom Page scored another highlight reel knockout at last night’s Bellator 258 event, destroying Derek Anderson’s nose with a head kick. Page (19-1 MMA) had entered last night’s event in Uncasville looking to extend his current winning streak to five in a row. The English standout had most previously competed in October of 2020, where he earned a unanimous decision victory over Ross Houston.
Anthony Johnson unhappy with "piss-poor performance" at Bellator 258
Chris Taylor - May 8, 2021
Anthony Johnson returned to action for the fist time in over fours years at last night’s Bellator 258 event for a light heavyweight bout with Jose Augusto. Johnson (23-6 MMA) was originally scheduled to fight Yoel Romero at Friday’s event in Uncasville, but ‘The Soldier of God’ failed his medicals and was unable to compete.