Bellator News

Tom Taylor - August 20, 2020

Patricio Freire, who holds the Bellator featherweight and lightweight titles, expects his former foe Michael Chandler to sign with ONE Championship. Chandler, the former Bellator lightweight champ, recently concluded his current Bellator contract with a knockout win over former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson.

Tom Taylor - August 20, 2020

On Friday night, Bellator MMA will return to our screens with the stacked Bellator 244 card. The event, which will air on the Paramount Network and DAZN, will be topped by a light heavyweight title fight between the champ Ryan Bader, who also holds the promotion’s heavyweight strap, and challenger Vadim Nemkov.

Tom Taylor - August 20, 2020

Bellator light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader, who is gearing up for a title defense against Vadim Nemkov at Bellator 244, believes he could be the best light heavyweight competing right now. Bader, who was previously a top-5 UFC light heavyweight, believes that with Daniel Cormier retired, and Jon Jones moving up to heavyweight, he has legitimate claim to that lofty label.

Cole Shelton - August 19, 2020

John Salter thought he had done enough to earn a title shot following his last fight. With the Bellator middleweight title vacant and Gegard Mousasi not being able to get into the United States, he thought the timing was perfect for him to take on Douglas Lima. The 35-year-old is on a two-fight winning streak. He is also 7-1 in Bellator with his lone loss coming to Rafael Lovato Jr.

Tom Taylor - August 19, 2020

Former UFC bantamweight title challenger Cat Zingano has an opponent for her long-awaited debut in the Bellator MMA cage. According to Ariel Helwani of ESPN, Zingano will make her debut with the promotion on September 11, when she’ll take on Gabby Holloway.

Tom Taylor - August 16, 2020

UFC President Dana White would love to talk to former Bellator lightweight champion and new free agent “Iron” Michael Chandler. White was asked about Chandler, who recently reached the end of his latest Bellator contract, at the UFC 252 post-fight press conference.

Andrew Whitelaw - August 14, 2020

Rising star Valerie Loureda has signed a new multi-year, multi-fight contract extension with Bellator following her second-round TKO win over Tara Graff. “I am pleased to have re-signed with Bellator,” Loureda said in an official press release. “As I have always said, I am here to show the world the true martial artist that I am and chase the flyweight belt. I was born for this, I am a natural born fighter.”

Cole Shelton - August 12, 2020

Austin Vanderford had a joking reaction to his wife, Paige VanZant, signing with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. On Wednesday, it was revealed VanZant signed an exclusive multi-fight contract with the sans gloves promotion. The news caught many off guard. For Vanderford, he believes the news could very well make him the good looking one in their relationship.

Tom Taylor - August 12, 2020

Two-division Bellator champion Ryan Bader believes fellow UFC veteran Corey Anderson made the right decision moving to Bellator. Bader, who rules over the Bellator light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions, weighed in on Anderson’s Bellator move in an interview with MMA Fighting.

Chris Taylor - August 8, 2020

Valerie Loureda kept her perfect mixed martial arts record in check at last night’s Bellator 243 event, scoring a spectacular knockout victory over Tara Graff. After dropping her opponent with a perfectly timed right hand, Valerie promptly ended the fight with some nasty ground and pound (see that here). It was an amazing performance from the budding star in Loureda, one which improved her overall professional record to 3-0.

Chris Taylor - August 7, 2020

Valerie Loureda improved her mixed martial arts record to a perfect 3-0 this evening by scoring a spectacular finish at Bellator 243. The 22-year-old Florida native, Loureda, squared off against Tara Graff on tonight’s main card and the contest did not last long.

Chris Taylor - August 7, 2020

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler squared off with Benson Henderson for a second time in tonight’s Bellator 243 event. In the pairs first encounter back at Bellator 165 in November of 2016, it was Chandler who emerged victorious by way of split-decision.

Adam D Martin - August 7, 2020

Bellator star Dillon Danis called out long-time social media rival Ben Askren in a fight that would pit two elite grapplers against one another. Danis and Askren have gone after each other on social media and in interviews for the last few years, but when Askren retired from MMA last year, it seemed that would kill any hopes of a potential matchup between the two. Things changed recently, however, when Askren revealed that he could be considering a potential comeback for the right opponent. Danis heard the news that Askren may return and took right away to his Twitter to call him out. Check out what Danis sent to Askren below.

Harry Kettle - August 7, 2020

Bellator sensation Valerie Loureda has defended her self-marketing strategy on social media in the wake of recent criticism. Loureda, who is set to square off with Tara Graff at Bellator 243 tonight, is 2-0 in her professional mixed martial arts career with both of her wins coming under the Bellator umbrella. Despite the impressive start, many still feel as if her Instagram popularity is one of the driving forces behind the push she’s been receiving from the promotion.

Adam D Martin - August 7, 2020

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler is excited for the possible matchups in the UFC should he sign with the promotion as a free agent. Chandler, one of the greatest home-grown fighters in Bellator history, takes on Benson Henderson on Friday night in the main event of Bellator 243. It’s the last matchup on Chandler’s deal with Bellator, and he has admitted that he will be testing free agency after the bout. Depending on the outcome of the fight, Chandler could potentially be facing interest from the UFC, ONE Championship, and PFL in his foray into free agency.

Tom Taylor - August 6, 2020

On Friday night, Bellator MMA will return to our screens with the stacked Bellator 243 card out of Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. The card will be topped by a rematch between former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler and former UFC and WEC lightweight champion Benson Henderson. The pair first met in November 2016, with the Bellator lightweight title on the line. On that night, Chandler retained the title with a thrilling, split decision win over the former UFC champ.

Cole Shelton - August 5, 2020

Curtis Millender knows he has to beat Sabah Homasi if he is going to get a long-term contract in free agency. At Bellator 243 this Friday, Millender is set for his second fight in Bellator since re-signing with the promotion after being cut by the UFC. In his debut, he scored a decision win over Moses Murrietta.

Cole Shelton - August 5, 2020

In the main event of Bellator 243, Michael Chandler and Benson Henderson are having a rematch nearly four years in the making. The first fight took place in 2016 where Chandler won a split decision. Heading into the rematch, Chandler is a -235 favorite while the former UFC champion is a +185 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros believe the three-time Bellator lightweight champion in Chandler will get his hand raised again.