Bellator News

Thomas Taylor - December 29, 2019

On Saturday night, in the main event of Bellator MMA’s debut in Japan, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rampage Jackson was knocked out by fellow PRIDE legend Fedor Emelianenko. The fight-ending punch occurred at the 2:44 mark of round one, and admittedly didn’t look like it made all that severe of an impact. The nature of the punch caused some of MMA’s more suspicious fans to suggest that Rampage had intentionally taken a fall in the fight.

Thomas Taylor - December 29, 2019

Former UFC fighter Daron Cruickshank has found himself under fire after racist comments he made during an April visit to Japan have come to light. Cruickshank, who previously competed in the UFC lightweight division, has spent the last few years of his career fighting for Japan’s RIZIN Fighting Federation. During an April visit to Japan, the former UFC fighter made some controversial comments, suggesting that Japanese people eat dogs.

Adam Martin - December 29, 2019

Bellator president Scott Coker says that Fedor Emelianenko could get a heavyweight title shot against champion Ryan Bader, but a fight against Josh Barnett is more likely. Emelianenko had one of his most impressive performances in years when he knocked out Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in the main event of Bellator Japan. The Russian legend looked fast and powerful in the fight, bouncing back from a first-round knockout loss to Ryan Bader earlier this year in the finals of the Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix.

Adam D Martin - December 29, 2019

Bellator president Scott Coker said that welterweight contender Lorenz Larkin will get a pass for missing weight at Bellator Japan and could get a title shot next. Larkin weighed in at 173.5lbs for his fight against fellow UFC alum Keita Nakamura on the main card. Larkin went on to dominate the bout en route to winning a lopsided unanimous decision, but the fact he missed weight made some believe he would be knocked down the title shot pecking order for Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima’s belt.

Adam D Martin - December 29, 2019

Check out what the pros had to say following Michael Page and Michael Chandler’s huge knockout wins on the Bellator Japan card. Page knocked out former UFC welterweight Shinsho Anzai in a catchweight bout. Here’s what some of the pros had to say about his performance.

Adam D Martin - December 29, 2019

Michael “Venom” Page responded to the critics calling him a can crusher following his second-round KO win over Shinsho Anzai at Bellator Japan. Since getting knocked out by Douglas Lima back in June, Page has defeated little-known opponents in Anzai, Giovanni Melillo and Richard Kiely in his last three fights. As impressive as he looked in those victories, the fact they were such a big step down in competition has led critics to call Page a “can crusher.”

Adam D Martin - December 29, 2019

Bellator heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko clarified he did not retire following his first-round KO win over Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at Bellator Japan. Emelianenko had one of his best showings in years as the 43-year-old Russian appeared to be fast and spry against Jackson, moving around the cage like he was 20 years younger and showing off his legendary KO power to collect a decisive win over his long-time peer Jackson.

Adam D Martin - December 29, 2019

Bellator heavyweight legend Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has reacted following his first-round KO loss to Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator Japan. Jackson took on Emelianenko in the main event featuring two of the legends of PRIDE. It was expected to be a competitive battle between two heavy-hitting heavyweight sluggers, but Emelianenko proved he was the superior fighter as he outstruck Jackson for the first few minutes of the fight before landing the decisive knockout blow at 2:44 of the first round.

Chris Taylor - December 28, 2019

A heavyweight fight between MMA legends Fedor Emelianenko and Rampage Jackson headlines tonight’s Bellator Japan event. Fedor Emelianenko (38-6 MMA) will be looking to rebound after suffering a first round knockout loss to Ryan Bader in his most recent appearance at Bellator 214.

Cole Shelton - December 28, 2019

Douglas Lima has his eyes set on becoming a Bellator champ-champ before he decides to grant anyone a rematch. Lima, who is the current Bellator welterweight champion after beating Rory MacDonald, recently said that he is going after middleweight gold. And, after that, he plans to grant a rematch to the winner of Lorenz Larkin vs. Michael Page.

Chris Taylor - December 28, 2019

A 173-pound catchweight bout between Michael ‘Venom’ Page and Shinsho Anzai took place on the main card of tonight’s Bellator Japan event. ‘MVP’ (16-1 MMA) will enter tonight’s contest looking to build on the momentum of back-to-back first round knockout victories over opponents Richard Keily and Giovanni Melillo.

Chris Taylor - December 28, 2019

Bellator Japan: ‘Fedor vs. Rampage’ takes place this evening live from Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Fedor Emelianenko (38-6 MMA) will be looking to rebound after suffering a first round knockout loss to Ryan Bader in his most recent appearance at Bellator 214.

Tom Taylor - December 27, 2019

When heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko signed a new three-fight contract with Bellator MMA, the expectation was that it signalled the final chapter of his career. According to the man himself, however, retirement could be further off than the end of this new Bellator contract. He might continue fighting beyond that if he still feels good.

Adam Martin - December 27, 2019

Bellator president Scott Coker says that Bellator heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader will defend both of his belts in 2020. Bader is coming off of a No Contest against Cheick Kongo in his first Bellator heavyweight title defense. He spent all of 2019 up at heavyweight, and hasn’t fought at light heavyweight since November 2017. But he plans on moving back down a weight class for his next fight, according to Coker.

Cole Shelton - December 27, 2019

In the main event of Bellator 237, which goes down in Tokyo, Japan, two Pride legends in Fedor Emelianenko and ‘Rampage’ Jackson square off. Heading into the fight, Emelianenko is a -135 favorite while the former UFC champion is a +105 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros lean towards Fedor Emelianenko but know anything can happen between these two heavyweights.

Natasha Hooper - December 26, 2019

2019 was a rollercoaster ride for the world of MMA, featuring plenty of ups and downs. As the year draws to a close, BJPENN.com looks back on 10 of the biggest MMA stories of 2019, from the good to the bad to the downright ugly.

Adam D Martin - December 22, 2019

Bellator president Scott Coker says the promotion is considering a women’s flyweight Grand Prix tournament including its star champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane. Macfarlane defended her title once again with a unanimous decision win over Kate Jackson in the main event of Bellator Hawaii. Coker was asked by the media during the post-event scrum who is next for Macfarlane to fight, and his answer was very interesting.

Adam D Martin - December 22, 2019

Bellator Hawaii was another showcase card for some of the promotion’s brightest young stars including Bellator women’s flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, who put her belt on the line against Kate Jackson in the main event of the evening. Also on the card was the first fight in the quarterfinals of the Bellator featherweight Grand Prix featuring stud prospect AJ McKee against veteran Derek Campos.