Bellator News
Former Bellator champion Ilima-Lei MacFarlane reveals plans to retire after contract expires: "I’ve already accomplished a lot in my career"
Josh Evanoff - August 1, 2022
Former Bellator flyweight champion Ilima-Lei MacFarlane is getting close to hanging the gloves up. ‘The Ilimanator’ has been out of the ring since her decision defeat to Justine Kish in April. The bout was a massive upset and was the second defeat in a row for MacFarlane. She had previously lost her flyweight title to Julianna Velasquez in December 2020.
Bellator 283 Salaries: Douglas Lima among four fighters to earn a six-figure payout
Harry Kettle - July 27, 2022
Douglas Lima was one of four fighters to receive a six-figure payday this past weekend as part of the Bellator 283 card. Bellator 283 went down in Tacoma, Washington last Friday night with a whole host of exciting fights and action for fans to sink their teeth into. From title eliminators to rising prospects making a name for themselves, the promotion once again proved why it serves as the number two player in town in the mixed martial arts space.
Scott Coker reveals Fedor Emelianenko hoping to face Ryan Bader in retirement fight: "We’ll definitely consider it"
Josh Evanoff - July 25, 2022
Scott Coker has revealed that Bellator heavyweights Fedor Emelianenko and Ryan Bader could faceoff once again. ‘The Last Emperor’ has been out of the cage since his knockout of Tim Johnson last October. The victory moved his current winning streak to two, as he previously defeated Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson in December 2019.
Douglas Lima determined to end losing streak against Jason Jackson at Bellator 283: "I don't feel like I've lost a step"
Josh Evanoff - July 19, 2022
Former Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima is ready to let his hands go against Jason Jackson. ‘The Phenom’ is set to return this weekend in the main event of Bellator 283. It’ll be Lima’s first bout since his decision loss to Michael Page last October. The defeat marked his third in a row, as he had previously been defeated by Yaroslav Amosov and Gegard Mousasi.
Valerie Loureda retires from MMA, signs with WWE
Josh Evanoff - June 29, 2022
Bellator MMA prospect Valerie Loureda has decided to hang up the gloves. The 23-year-old has been a star for the Showtime-based company since her 2019 debut. In the Bellator cage, she’s scored four victories in five fights. Her most recent outing came at Bellator 271 in November 2021, where she defeated Taylor Turner via split decision.
Danny Sabatello "happy" with dominant win over Leandro Higo, confident he finishes "scared" Raufeon Stots: "He knows that I'm coming for him"
Cole Shelton - June 29, 2022
Danny Sabatello wanted to hurt Leandro Higo and he believes he did just that. Sabatello and Higo met in the quarter-finals of the Bellator bantamweight grand prix at Bellator 282. In the lead-up to the fight, Sabatello was vocal in his desire to beat up and hurt Higo and he did just that as he earned a clear-cut decision win.
Danny Sabatello fined $5k for swearing in post-fight interview at Bellator 282, calls it "f******g bulls**t"
Cole Shelton - June 27, 2022
Danny Sabatello is not happy that the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation has fined him $5k for swearing in his post-fight interview. After Sabatello earned a one-sided decision win over Leandro Higo, he swore in his post-fight interview which is common for Sabatello. He even mentioned in the post-fight interview that he may be fined.
Cris Cyborg blasts Cat Zingano for demanding additional testing for a potential fight: "Thinks I care what she wants"
Josh Evanoff - June 23, 2022
Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg doesn’t care what Cat Zingano wants. ‘Alpha’ is set to return this Friday at Bellator 282 against Pam Sorenson. Ahead of her return, she’s discussed a potential fight with the champion. The assumption is that if Zingano is able to defeat Sorenson on Friday, she will fight Cyborg next.
Danny Sabatello believes Bellator has a better bantamweight division when compared to UFC: “Dude, I would kill Aljamain Sterling!”
Harry Kettle - June 21, 2022
Bellator star Danny Sabatello believes Bellator’s bantamweight division is stronger than any other promotion’s equivalent. Over the course of his last few fights, Danny Sabatello has started building a brand for himself as one of the most outlandish members of the Bellator roster. The 29-year-old holds a 12-1 pro record in mixed martial arts and following his win over Jornel Lugo, he’s set himself up nicely for a strong run toward the title at 135 pounds.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 83 with Jimmie Rivera, Chris Curtis, Danny Sabatello, Christos Giagos, Mario Bautista, and Vanessa Demopoulos
Cole Shelton - June 21, 2022
The 83rd episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of UFC Vegas 57, BKFC 26 and Bellator 282.
Alistair Overeem confirms his MMA career isn't over, but not interested in fighting Fedor Emelianenko: "I don't really think it's good"
Josh Evanoff - June 1, 2022
Former UFC title challenger Alistair Overeem has confirmed he’s not done inside the cage. However, he’s also not currently aiming to fight fellow legend Fedor Emelianenko right now. Overeem last competed in February of last year, getting stopped by Alexander Volkov. Following the defeat, the 42-year-old was released from the UFC. Despite interest from Bellator, he decided to sign with Glory Kickboxing.
Alex Polizzi reveals Yoel Romero broke his jaw at Bellator 280 (Photo)
Susan Cox - May 26, 2022
Alex Polizzi has revealed that Yoel Romero broke his jaw at Bellator 280. It was Polizzi (10-1 MMA) vs Romero (12-6 MMA) in the co-main light heavyweight bout on May 6, 2022 at Bellator 280. In front of a sold out crowd, referee, Mike Beltran, waived off the fight at 4:59 of Round 3, giving Yoel Romero the TKO victory.
Bellator champion Gegard Mousasi rips the UFC over uniform rules: “That’s stealing from the fighter”
Harry Kettle - May 21, 2022
Bellator middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi has ripped the UFC over their uniform rules and what it means for the fighters. Upon leaving the UFC back in 2017, Gegard Mousasi was riding a nice win streak with many believing he was in line to challenge for the promotion’s middleweight championship. Instead, though, he opted to leave and test the waters in Bellator, where he is a two-time middleweight champion having defended the belt three times. Most recently, he was able to see off the challenge of Austin Vanderford in Dublin to secure his 49th pro win in mixed martial arts.
Michael Page reacts after Paul Daley scores KO in retirement fight: “I don’t respect anything he’s done in his past”
Susan Cox - May 19, 2022
Michael Page has reacted after Paul Daley scored a KO in his retirement fight. Michael Page (20-1 MMA) and Paul Daley (39-15 MMA) took part in one of Bellator’s fiercest rivalries back in February 2019 at Bellator 216, with Page proving victorious with a unanimous decision win.
Khabib Nurmagomedov states he hopes to work with Bellator to book Fedor Emelianenko vs. Junior dos Santos
Josh Evanoff - May 18, 2022
Khabib Nurmagomedov would like to work with Bellator to book Fedor Emelianenko’s final fight. The head of Eagle FC would like to send Junior dos Santos in for the job. ‘Cigano’ is set to face fellow UFC veteran Yorgan De Castro this Friday at Eagle FC 47. The bout is slated as a title eliminator bout. The winner of the fight was expected to face Eagle FC heavyweight champion Rizvan Kuniev, well before today.
Michael Page feels Logan Storley "came to survive" during their Bellator 281 bout: "I have not one bruise or injury"
Josh Evanoff - May 16, 2022
Michael ‘Venom’ Page feels pretty good coming out of his fight with Logan Storley at Bellator 281. It’s like he didn’t even compete in a fight. ‘MVP’ fought Storley in the main event of Bellator 281 last Friday night in London. With the interim welterweight strap on the line, the fight went the distance. After five rounds, Storley earned the victory via split-decision. However, it didn’t come without controversy.
Bellator 281 Results: Logan Storley defeats Michael Page (Highlights)
Chris Taylor - May 13, 2022
Tonight’s Bellator 281 event is headlined by a interim welterweight title fight between Michael Page and Logan Storley. Page (20-1 MMA) will be returning to action for the first time since October of 2021, where he defeated Douglas Lima by split decision. That victory extended MVP’s current win streak to six in a row, a stretch which includes six KO’s.
Bellator 281 Results: Fabian Edwards KO's Lyoto Machida (Video)
Chris Taylor - May 13, 2022
Tonight’s Bellator 281 event is co-headlined by a middleweight bout featuring Lyoto Machida taking on Fabian Edwards. Machida (26-12 MMA), a former UFC light heavyweight champion, will be looking to snap a three-fight losing skid this evening in London. ‘The Dragon’ is coming off three straight decision losses to Gegard Mousasi, Phil Davis and Ryan Bader respectively.