Bellator News
Bellator 221 gets featherweight clash between Cris 'Sunshine' Lencioni and Adil Benjilany
Drake Riggs - March 8, 2019
Stacking up a card is nothing new in MMA. Promotions do it more often than not and it’s always to the fans’ satisfaction. While still in its infancy, Bellator 221 is beginning to form and take shape throughout its entirety. FloCombat reported yesterday that a featherweight scrap between Adil ‘Gloryboy’ Benjilany (5-1) and Cris ‘Sunshine’ Lencioni (4-2) has been added to the May 11 event live from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. BJPenn.com has confirmed the news.
Mirko Cro Cop announces retirement from MMA after suffering stroke
Tom Taylor - March 1, 2019
Another legend of mixed martial arts has decided to hang up the gloves. On Friday, former PRIDE, UFC and Bellator heavyweight star Mirko Cro Cop announced that he’s ending his fighting career. Cro Cop explained that he is ending his fighting career because he suffered a stroke shortly after his last fight, a decision defeat of Roy Nelson, and that he can no longer withstand damage to the head. Mirko Cro Cop made this announcement on Dnevnik Nove TV in his native Croatia.
Lyoto Machida heading back to light heavyweight with Chael Sonnen fight in the works
Drake Riggs - February 27, 2019
It has been six years since the former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida (25-8) competed in a bout that took place at 205-pounds. However, that appears to be changing for his upcoming fight. According to ESPN, a light heavyweight bout between Machida and the three-time UFC title challenger, Chael Sonnen (31-16-1) is currently being finalized for an event to be determined. Both fighters have reportedly verbally agreed to the bout.
Dillon Danis not happy about NSAC suspension, but finds silver lining
Thomas Taylor - February 25, 2019
Shortly after Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Conor McGregor in the UFC 229 main event back in October, he scaled the side of the Octagon and attacked McGregor’s long-time training partner Dillon Danis. In the subsequent moments, McGregor got into a brief skirmish with Nurmagomedov training partners Zubaira Tukhugov and Abubakar Nurmagomedov inside the cage. In late January, the Nurmagomedovs, McGregor, and Tukhugov all received suspensions and fines of various levels at a Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) meeting.
VIDEO | Watch James Gallagher, Charlie Ward pick up big stoppage wins at Bellator 217 in Dublin
Tom Taylor - February 24, 2019
Saturday night was a big night for Irish MMA, as Conor McGregor stablemates Charlie Ward and James Gallagher picked up big stoppage wins, and Khabib Nurmagomedov training partner Myles Price defeated McGregor cohort Peter Queally by decision. It all went down at Bellator 217 in Dublin. Charlie Ward, who fought previously in the UFC, was up first. He needed less than one minute to dispatch of his foe Jamie Stephenson, sealing the deal with a thunderous left hook in the first round. This is Ward’s second first-round knockout victory in a row. He’s now 6-3 overall.
Bellator announces 16-man featherweight tournament
Drake Riggs - February 18, 2019
Once known as strictly a tournament structured promotion, Bellator MMA is now getting back to its roots with their third tournament since Scott Coker’s arrival. Just at the end of this past month, Bellator wrapped up their heavyweight Grand Prix which saw the vacant title be awarded to the light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader after he ran through the likes of Muhammad ‘King Mo’ Lawal, Matt Mitrione, and the legendary Fedor Emelianenko.
The biggest winners from Bellator's weekend doubleheader
Mike Straus - February 18, 2019
Bellator had a busy weekend as the promotion held a doubleheader on Friday and Saturday night. Let’s look at who some of the biggest winners were. It’s a good thing that the Viacom owned promotion booked back to back nights in Uncasville, Connecticut. If the promotion would’ve packed it up and headed home after Friday night’s main event disaster, fans may have rioted. Luckily Bellator 216 on Saturday night largely delivered.
Cheick Kongo and Ryan Bader get heated over potential title fight
Tom Taylor - February 17, 2019
When Cheick Kongo handed former Bellator champ Vitaly Minakov his first loss on the main card of Bellator 216 on Saturday night, he earned himself a shot a reigning Bellator heavyweight champ Ryan Bader. He did not hesitate to call Bader out at the Bellator 216 post-fight press conference.
Cheick Kongo sends ominous threat to Bellator heavyweight champ Ryan Bader
Tom Taylor - February 17, 2019
Cheick Kongo is now the number-one contender in the Bellator heavyweight division. The hulking Frenchman earned that honor with a workmanlike defeat of the formerly undefeated former champ Vitaly Minakov at Bellator 216 on Saturday night. Cheick Kongo has been chasing a Bellator heavyweight title shot for years, and can now look forward to a fight with reigning champion Ryan Bader. That said, he believes it would be more straightforward for Bader to just give him the belt — and he promises trouble if the champ doesn’t oblige.
Michael Page expects rematch with Paul Daley
Tom Taylor - February 17, 2019
On Saturday night, in the main event of Bellator 216, British knockout artists Michael Page and Paul Daley finally stepped into the cage for their long-awaited grudge match. The bout served as the penultimate quarterfinal bout of the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix. In the end, Page won this fight, surviving several Daley takedowns to win a unanimous decision.
Pros react to Paul Daley vs. Michael Venom Page at Bellator 216
Chris Taylor - February 16, 2019
A welterweight scrap between bitter rivals Paul Daley and Michael Venom Page served as the headliner of tonight’s Bellator 216 event in Uncasville, Connecticut. Michael Venom Page entered tonight’s Bellator 216 headliner sporting a perfect professional record of thirteen wins and no losses.
Bellator 216 Results: Michael Venom Page defeats Paul Daley (Highlights)
Chris Taylor - February 16, 2019
A welterweight fight between bitter rivals Paul Daley and Michael Venom Page headlined tonight’s Bellator 216 event in Uncasville, Connecticut. Michael Venom Page entered tonight’s Bellator 216 headliner sporting a perfect professional record of 13-0.
Bellator 216 Results: Mirko Cro Cop defeats Roy Nelson (Highlights)
Chris Taylor - February 16, 2019
A heavyweight rematch between Mirko Cro Cop and Roy Nelson co-headlined tonight’s Bellator 216 event in Uncasville, Connecticut. Cro Cop and Nelson first met under the Zuffa banner back at UFC 137 in October of 2011, with “Big Country” emerging victorious by way of TKO in round three.
Bellator 216 Results: Cheick Kongo defeats Vitaly Minakov
Chris Taylor - February 16, 2019
A heavyweight rematch between Cheick Kongo and Vitaly Minakov took place on the main card of tonight’s Bellator 216 event in Uncasville, Connecticut. Minakov had previously defeated Kongo via unanimous decision back in 2014.
Matt Mitrione issues apology after Bellator 215 fight with Sergei Kharitonov ends in a no-contest
Chris Taylor - February 16, 2019
Heavyweight knockout artists Matt Mitrione and Sergei Kharitonov squared off in the headliner of last night’s Bellator 215 event in Uncasville, Connecticut. Unfortunately for fight fans, the bout lasted just fifteen seconds and that was not due to a spectacular finish.
MMA Community reacts to Matt Mitrione vs. Sergei Kharitonov at Bellator 215
Chris Taylor - February 15, 2019
Heavyweight knockout artists Matt Mitrione and Sergei Kharitonov collided in the headliner of tonight’s Bellator 215 event in Uncasville, Connecticut. Matt Mitrione (13-6 MMA) entered tonight’s contest looking to rebound, this after suffering a unanimous decision loss to Ryan Bader at Bellator 207.
Bellator 215 Results: Austin Vanderford submits Cody Jones in Round 1 (Video)
Chris Taylor - February 15, 2019
Austin Vanderford took on Cody Jones in a 175-pound catchweight bout on the main card of tonight’s Bellator 215 event from Uncasville, Connecticut. The fight marked Vanderford’s Bellator MMA debut.
Bellator 216 weigh-in results: Paul Daley, Michael Page official for welterweight grudge match
Tom Taylor - February 15, 2019
Tomorrow night, Bellator will promote its second show of the weekend in Bellator 216. This card will be headlined a welterweight grudge match between British knockout artists Paul Daley and Michael “Venom” Page. This grudge match serves as the penultimate quarterfinal bout of the promotion’s exciting welterweight Grand Prix, with the winner advancing to battle former champ Douglas Lima in the second round.