Bellator News
Bellator 221 Results: Patricio Freire KO's Michael Chandler (VIDEO)
Chris Taylor - May 11, 2019
Lightweight champion Michael Chandler put his title on the line against bitter rival and current featherweight champion Patricio Freire in tonight’s Bellator 221 main event. Michael Chandler (19-4 MMA) reclaimed the Bellator lightweight title at December’s Bellator 212 event, this by defeating Brent Primus via unanimous decision. Chandler enters tonight’s headliner having won seven of his past eight fights, which includes a knockout win over Patricio’s brother Patricky.
Bellator 221 Results: Douglas Lima KO's Michael Page (VIDEO)
Chris Taylor - May 11, 2019
A welterweight grand prix semifinals match between Douglas Lima and Michael Page served as the co-headliner of tonight’s Bellator 221 event in Rosemont, Illinois. Michael ‘Venom’ Page will enter tonight’s contest sporting a perfect professional mixed martial arts record of 14-0. In his most recent effort at Bellator 216, Page scored a unanimous decision victory over knockout artist Paul Daley.
More reasons to watch Bellator 221
Mike Straus - May 9, 2019
Another weekend chock-full of high level mixed martial arts is upon us. The Viacom owned promotion touches down in Chicago for Bellator 221 on Saturday. Bellator will go head to head with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for the second straight week on Saturday night. While that typically is promotional suicide, Bellator 221 is a solid offering, and dare I say the main card is just as good as UFC 237’s.
Rory MacDonald explains how 'new relationship with Jesus Christ' has changed him as a fighter
Tom Taylor - May 8, 2019
Ever since his contentious Bellator 220 draw with Jon Fitch, there’s been some question about what the future holds for Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald. Much of that uncertainty stems from the comments he’s made about his flagging urge to hurt people. Speaking on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on Monday, MacDonald added a bit of clarity to the situation. He explained that, since rediscovering his faith, he no longer feels the anger he once did when he steps into the cage.
Bellator Birmingham produces two knockout of the year contenders
Chris Taylor - May 4, 2019
Tonight’s Bellator Birmingham event produced some amazing fights including a pair of KO’s that are already being touted as potential knockout of the year candidates. Kickboxing sensation Raymond Daniels made his second career MMA appearance at tonight’s event and scored one of the most flashy knockouts in recent memory.
Jon Fitch believes 'we need some new people judging fights' after controversial draw against MacDonald
Cole Shelton - May 3, 2019
Jon Fitch had his shot to win Bellator gold last Saturday, and many believed he had succeeded by the time the final bell rang. Fitch, who many counted out, came out and took Rory MacDonald down over and over again and dominated him on the ground. He even won one round 10-8 — but even that couldn’t earn Fitch the win. Rather, only one judge had the fight for the 41-year-old, with the other two seeing it is a draw. This means the fight was ruled a majority draw, and because MacDonald was the champion, he moved on in the welterweight Grand Prix.
More reasons to watch Bellator Birmingham
Mike Straus - May 1, 2019
The Resorts World Arena in the United Kingdom will house the action for this weekend’s Bellator Birmingham event. Let’s take a look at some more reasons to watch. A former lightweight champion will headline the festivities and a kickboxing legend will look to earn his first win as a mixed martial artist.
Leslie Smith breaks down differences between UFC and Bellator
Drake Riggs - April 30, 2019
As UFC bantamweight contender Leslie Smith was working her way up the rankings ladder in 2016-2017 with three consecutive wins in the division, she was also making her presence felt in more ways than just within the Octagon. Having always been a strong advocate for fighter’s rights, Smith would launch Project Spearhead in early 2018 in an effort to create a fighter’s union for UFC athletes.
Bellator 220 medical suspensions: Rory MacDonald facing long-term sit
Tom Taylor - April 30, 2019
Bellator 220 was a great card, highlighted by some fun back-and-forth fights, and handful of grisly finishes. While these factors made for an entertaining card, they unfortunately also meant that several fighters on the bill were handed lengthy medical suspensions by the California State Athletic Commission. Main event fighter Rory MacDonald, for example, could be out 180 days after his back-and-forth fight with Jon Fitch, while Veta Arteaga is facing a lengthy sit due a cut sustained in her loss to Ilima-Lei MacFarlane, and Liam McGeary has been sidelined due to a broken jaw.
Firas Zahabi shuts down talk of Rory MacDonald retiring
Cole Shelton - April 29, 2019
After Rory MacDonald fought to a majority draw against Jon Fitch in the first round of the welterweight grand prix, his post-fight comments caused quite a stir. “I don’t know what to say,” MacDonald said post-fight. “I landed some good stuff in there, I don’t know. It’s hard to sometimes pull the trigger now. I don’t have that killer inside. It’s really hard to explain. But I hesitate a little bit now. It wasn’t my best performance.”
Bellator 220 fighter salaries: Rory MacDonald leaves as highest earner
Drake Riggs - April 29, 2019
Bellator 220 went down on Saturday night as it was headlined by two big title fights in the respective welterweight and flyweight divisions. In the co-main event, we saw “The Ilimanator” Ilima-Lei Macfarlane extend her perfect record to 10-0 as she picked up her third title defense by finishing Veta Arteaga in the third-round by TKO (doctor’s stoppage). Macfarlane landed a vicious elbow to the forehead of her opponent that opened a cut that was too severe for the fight to continue.
PHOTO | Liam McGeary shows broken jaw, tooth sustained in Phil Davis fight
Tom Taylor - April 29, 2019
Over the weekend, on the main card of Bellator 220, former Bellator light heavyweight champs Phil Davis and Liam McGeary collided in an anticipated rematch. In the end, Davis won this fight when McGeary sustained an apparent jaw injury in the third round.
Darrion Caldwell vs Kyoji Horiguchi 2 official for Bellator 222
Drake Riggs - April 28, 2019
The first RIZIN Fighting Federation event of 2019 went down on April 21 with RIZIN 15. It was a great night of fights as per usual from the Japanese based MMA leader. In action, that night was none other than the RIZIN bantamweight king, Kyoji Horiguchi (27-2) who defeated Ben Nguyen via first-round TKO. The dominant 28-year old entered the ring for the first time since he won the title on New Year’s Eve 2018 at RIZIN 14 when he defeated the Bellator champion, Darrion “The Wolf” Caldwell (13-2) in a crazy comeback effort.
The biggest winners from Bellator 220
Mike Straus - April 28, 2019
Bellator 220, from the SAP Center in San Jose, California, is a wrap. With a whopping 18 fights on the night (including the usual Bellator post-lims) there were plenty of opportunities for fighters to make a statement. Let us take a deeper look and see what fighters showed out in Central Cali.
Rory MacDonald questioning fighting future after Jon Fitch draw
Tom Taylor - April 28, 2019
Last night, in the main event of Bellator 220, Rory MacDonald retained the Bellator welterweight title and moved to the second round of the Bellator welterweight Grand Prix with a draw against former World Series of Fighting champion Jon Fitch. After this controversial bout, MacDonald is apparently questioning his continued desire to fight — more specifically his desire to hurt people.
Jon Fitch not sure where to go after draw at Bellator 220, contemplates retirement
Drake Riggs - April 28, 2019
The Bellator welterweight title was on the line in the main event of Bellator 220 in San Jose, California on Saturday night. In the bout was the defending champion, Rory MacDonald as he took on the seasoned UFC veteran and former World Series of Fighting champ, Jon Fitch. In a very closely contested battle, the scorecards would reflect that as the fight wound up being a majority draw. Because of the fact that MacDonald didn’t lose, he remained the champion and will advance to the welterweight Grand Prix semifinals to take on Neiman Gracie.
Bellator 220 results: Ilima-Lei Macfarlane slices Veta Arteaga to remain champion (Highlights)
Drake Riggs - April 27, 2019
The first of Bellator 220’s two title fights went down within the always fun flyweight division as the undefeated champ, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane took on the hungry challenger, Veta Arteaga. Arteaga pushes the action instantly but Macfarlane stops the forward momentum with a single leg attempt that takes them to the cage. Arteaga tries to land what she can in tight but Macfarlane eventually gets the action down before Arteaga finds a sprawl to better her position and get back up. Against the fence again they go. Macfarlane pulls her away and gets the takedown. She’s now on Arteaga’s back but gets thrown off fairly quickly. Now working from the bottom, an armbar turns to an ankle lock attempt with Arteaga throwing body punches the whole time. Arteaga stands up with Macfarlane still on her leg. Macfarlane lets go, up to the feet they go. Arteaga continues to be relentless with her attack. She gets Macfarlane to the cage now where she lands knees to the body. The two break and stand in the center. Round ends after Arteaga stops a takedown.
Bellator 220 results: Benson Henderson edges Adam Piccolotti in thriller (Highlights)
Drake Riggs - April 27, 2019
Following the first match-up featuring former champions, Bellator 220’s main card rolled on as the former WEC and UFC lightweight king, Benson Henderson returned. Standing across from him was the rising contender, Adam Piccolotti. Each fighter was looking to extend their winning streaks to three straight and make their cases for the next shot at the 155-pound crown.