Bellator News

Vadim Nemkov
Vadim Nemkov

Bellator champion Vadim Nemkov hints at moving up to heavyweight: "I may try myself"

Fernando Quiles - June 19, 2023

Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Vadim Nemkov could be trying his hand at heavyweight. Nemkov went one-on-one with former UFC title challenger Yoel Romero in the main event of Bellator 297. The action was held inside the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. Vadim Nemkov put his 205-pound gold at stake.

Cris Lencioni
Chael Sonnen

Chael Sonnen says Bellator's Cris Lencioni has been hospitalized after losing consciousness during training: "He has not regained consciousness"

Cole Shelton - June 18, 2023

Chael Sonnen has opened up on the current health of his friend and Bellator fighter Cris Lencioni. Lencioni is 11-3 as a pro and is 6-2 in Bellator and has won four straight fights. He is slated for arguably the biggest fight of his career as he’s supposed to take on James Gallagher at Bellator 298 on August 11. However, in preparation for the fight, Lencioni was training and reportedly lost consciousness, Sonnen revealed.

Vadim Nemkov vs. Yoel Romero
Vadim Nemkov

Bellator 297: Pros react after Vadim Nemkov defeats Yoel Romero

Zain Bando - June 16, 2023

Tonight, the light heavyweight main event featured champion Vadim Nemkov taking on Yoel Romero at Bellator 297 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill. After a delay to begin the Bellator 297 preliminary portion, the card cruised through with five fights in a little over an hour, plus the highly-anticipated three-main card fights to lead into the main event. Nemkov entered the contest 8-0 in Bellator with three finishes by KO/TKO, as his most recent win came against Corey Anderson back in November, which also took place in Chicago.

Sergio Pettis, UFC Minneapolis
Patricio "Pitbull" Freire

Bellator 297: Pros react after Sergio Pettis defeats Patricio Pitbull

Zain Bando - June 16, 2023

Sergio Pettis and Patricio Pitbull locked horns in tonight’s Bellator 297 co-main event at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill. Arguably the two best non-UFC lighter-weight fighters, Pettis and Pitbull were unifying their respective titles, with the winner earning the bantamweight title and a matchup with interim champion Patchy Mix. Mix had stated during an impromptu media availability Saturday night that he looked forward to watching the fight as a fan and is excited for whoever he gets to face next. Pettis was returning to the Bellator cage after nursing a knee injury, while Pitbull entered the contest sporting a 35-5 record, having fought the likes of Michael Chandler, Juan Archuleta, and AJ McKee, to name a few.

Scott Coker
Professional Fighters League (PFL)

Scott Coker opens up on reports about the PFL buying Bellator

Cole Shelton - June 15, 2023

Scott Coker has opened up on the rumor that the PFL is buying Bellator. It was recently reported that Bellator is up for sale and PFL was in talks to buy them. It was unknown if they would merge into one promotion, but UFC president Dana White was shocked PFL was trying to buy Bellator.

Anthony Pettis and Sergio Pettis
Bellator

Anthony Pettis shares hefty bet on brother Sergio ahead of Bellator 297 fight against Patricio Pitbull

Cole Shelton - June 15, 2023

Anthony Pettis will be backing his brother Sergio Pettis in a big way ahead of Bellator 297. In the co-main event of Bellator 297 on Friday night in Chicago, Pettis is looking to defend his bantamweight title for the second time as he takes on Patricio Pitbull. The Brazilian is the current Bellator featherweight champ and former lightweight champ but is dropping down in weight as he looks to become a three-weight world champion.

Sergio Pettis vs. Patricio Pitbull
Vadim Nemkov

Bellator 297 Weigh-in Results

Zain Bando - June 15, 2023

Bellator returns to the Windy City Friday night for Bellator 297 with two world title fights to top the bill from Wintrust Arena. This is the promotion’s second trip back to Chicago, Ill., in less than a year, as Bellator 288 took place last November from the same venue. Former UFC middleweight title challenger and interim champion Yoel Romero puts his two-fight win streak on the line against current Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov in the Bellator 297 main event, who defends his title in Chicago again.

Scott Coker, Bellator, ONE Championship, Jon Jones
Scott Coker

Scott Coker sends message to other MMA promotions: "We have as good or better fighters than other leagues, including the UFC"

Zain Bando - June 14, 2023

Bellator president Scott Coker has made his stance clear – his fighters are the cream of the crop. Ahead of Bellator 297 Friday night, which is headlined by two marquee title fights in Vadim Nemkov vs. Yoel Romero at light heavyweight and Sergio Pettis vs. Patricio Pitbull at bantamweight, Coker was adamant his three champions could challenge a whos-who, including the best the UFC has to offer. “We have as good or better fighters than other leagues, including the UFC,” Coker said. “And I think that everybody knows that now.”

Patricio Freire, Bellator, Josh Thomson
Patricio "Pitbull" Freire

Patricio Pitbull expecting to dominate Sergio Pettis to win third Bellator championship: "Put him down"

Josh Evanoff - June 14, 2023

Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull expects to stop Sergio Pettis this weekend. The Brazilian has been out of action since a non-title clash with Kleber Koike Erbst last December. There, Patricio Pitbull scored a unanimous decision win, his third in a row. That April, he re-earned the featherweight title by avenging his prior loss to A.J. McKee, defeating ‘Mercenary’ by decision.

Yoel Romero, Israel Adesanya
Yoel Romero

Bellator 297: Yoel Romero says the MMA community ‘knows what happened’ in last title fight appearance

Zain Bando - June 14, 2023

Yoel Romero has not forgotten what happened the last time he competed in Chicago. The 46-year-old Cuban light heavyweight was on the wrong end of a 2018 middleweight title fight with Robert Whittaker, a fight many believed Romero did enough to earn a decision.

Sergio Pettis, RIZIN, Nobuyuki Sakakibara
Patricio "Pitbull" Freire

Bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis eyes second title after he gets past Patricio Freire at Bellator 297

Harry Kettle - June 7, 2023

Sergio Pettis has got his eyes set on a second world title if he’s able to get past Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire at Bellator 297. Next weekend in Chicago, Sergio Pettis will go head to head with Patricio Pitbull. He’ll be defending his Bellator bantamweight championship against a man who is widely considered to be the best fighter in Bellator history. If Pitbull is able to secure the win, he’ll also become the first man to be a three-weight champion in a major organization.

Patricio Freire, Bellator, Josh Thomson
Patricio "Pitbull" Freire

Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull thinks media ignores his accomplishments: "It will be on them"

Fernando Quiles - May 28, 2023

Bellator Featherweight Champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire believes media members have been ignoring what he has accomplished. Not only is Freire the reigning three-time Bellator champion at 145 pounds, but he’s also the promotion’s former lightweight champion. If he makes weight and defeats Sergio Pettis at Bellator 297, he’ll become the new Bellator Bantamweight Champion, making him a rare three-division MMA champion.