Bellator News

Vadim Nemkov and Ryan Bader.
Ryan Bader

Vadim Nemkov eyeing rematch with Ryan Bader to avenge Fedor Emelianenko: "I have to beat him"

Josh Evanoff - June 29, 2023

Bellator light-heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov again has his eyes on Ryan Bader, but not for himself. The Russian is fresh off his return in the main event of Bellator 297 earlier this month. There, he faced Yoel Romero, who was riding a two-fight winning streak. However, the 46-year-old proved to be no match for Vadim Nemkov, as the champion retained his title by unanimous decision.

Corey Anderson and Jamahal Hill.
Corey Anderson

Corey Anderson downplays Jamahal Hill's UFC title after harsh back and forth: "Who has he beat?"

Josh Evanoff - June 28, 2023

Bellator light-heavyweight contender Corey Anderson has fired more shots at UFC champion Jamahal Hill. ‘Overtime’ returned to the cage earlier this month at Bellator 297 against Phil Davis. There, the light-heavyweight contender scored a split-decision win over ‘Mr. Wonderful’, an important win for Corey Anderson. However, he didn’t have much time to celebrate, as he started going back and forth with Jamahal Hill.

Gordon-Ryan
Dillon Danis

Gordon Ryan blasts Dillon Danis for claiming to be a BJJ World Champion: “The biggest farce”

Susan Cox - June 28, 2023

Gordon Ryan has taken aim at Dillon Danis for claiming to be a BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) World Champion. Dillon ‘El Jefe’ Danis is claiming to be a four-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion.

Cris-Lencioni
Cris Lencioni

Wife of Cris Lencioni provides update on Bellator fighter as medical bills reach over $300k

Cole Shelton - June 28, 2023

Marca Lencioni, the wife of Bellator fighter Cris Lencioni has provided an update on her husband. Lencioni recently had a medical issue while he was training and lost consciousness. His family later confirmed that he suffered cardiac arrest while training jiu-jitsu and was in the ICU, but not many details were revealed.

Vadim Nemkov and Scott Coker
Scott Coker

Scott Coker praises Vadim Nemkov after win over Yoel Romero: "Best 205-pounder on the planet"

Josh Evanoff - June 19, 2023

Scott Coker crowned Vadim Nemkov as the best light-heavyweight on the planet after his win over Yoel Romero. The Russian made his return to the cage on Friday night in the main event of Bellator 297. There, he faced the ‘Soldier of God’, who entered the contest riding a two-fight winning streak. However, Yoel Romero’s recent success ended over the weekend.

Cris Lencioni
Bellator

Family starts GoFundMe as they reveal Bellator's Cris Lencioni is in ICU after suffering from cardiac arrest

Cole Shelton - June 19, 2023

The family of Cris Lencioni has provided an update on the Bellator fighter. On Sunday night, Chael Sonnen confirmed reports that Lencioni had a medical issue as he was training and lost consciousness. Immediately, he was rushed to the hospital and a week later, he still has not regained consciousness and is in ICU, but Sonnen did not share what caused Lencioni to lose his consciousness.

Vadim Nemkov
Vadim Nemkov

Bellator champion Vadim Nemkov hints at moving up to heavyweight: "I may try myself"

Fernando Quiles - June 19, 2023

Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Vadim Nemkov could be trying his hand at heavyweight. Nemkov went one-on-one with former UFC title challenger Yoel Romero in the main event of Bellator 297. The action was held inside the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. Vadim Nemkov put his 205-pound gold at stake.

Cris Lencioni
Chael Sonnen

Chael Sonnen says Bellator's Cris Lencioni has been hospitalized after losing consciousness during training: "He has not regained consciousness"

Cole Shelton - June 18, 2023

Chael Sonnen has opened up on the current health of his friend and Bellator fighter Cris Lencioni. Lencioni is 11-3 as a pro and is 6-2 in Bellator and has won four straight fights. He is slated for arguably the biggest fight of his career as he’s supposed to take on James Gallagher at Bellator 298 on August 11. However, in preparation for the fight, Lencioni was training and reportedly lost consciousness, Sonnen revealed.

Sergio Pettis, UFC Minneapolis
Patricio "Pitbull" Freire

Bellator 297: Pros react after Sergio Pettis defeats Patricio Pitbull

Zain Bando - June 16, 2023

Sergio Pettis and Patricio Pitbull locked horns in tonight’s Bellator 297 co-main event at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill. Arguably the two best non-UFC lighter-weight fighters, Pettis and Pitbull were unifying their respective titles, with the winner earning the bantamweight title and a matchup with interim champion Patchy Mix. Mix had stated during an impromptu media availability Saturday night that he looked forward to watching the fight as a fan and is excited for whoever he gets to face next. Pettis was returning to the Bellator cage after nursing a knee injury, while Pitbull entered the contest sporting a 35-5 record, having fought the likes of Michael Chandler, Juan Archuleta, and AJ McKee, to name a few.

Vadim Nemkov vs. Yoel Romero
Bellator

Bellator 297: ‘Nemkov vs. Romero’ Live Results

Zain Bando - June 16, 2023

Bellator 297 goes down tonight, live at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill. The promotion’s second trip to Wintrust Arena features a double main event offering with Vadim Nemkov defending his light heavyweight title against former UFC middleweight title challenger Yoel Romero. While Nemkov is undefeated in Bellator, Romero, 46, is looking for a spark to finally win his first-ever undisputed title and extend his own winning streak to three.

Scott Coker
Professional Fighters League (PFL)

Scott Coker opens up on reports about the PFL buying Bellator

Cole Shelton - June 15, 2023

Scott Coker has opened up on the rumor that the PFL is buying Bellator. It was recently reported that Bellator is up for sale and PFL was in talks to buy them. It was unknown if they would merge into one promotion, but UFC president Dana White was shocked PFL was trying to buy Bellator.

Anthony Pettis and Sergio Pettis
Bellator

Anthony Pettis shares hefty bet on brother Sergio ahead of Bellator 297 fight against Patricio Pitbull

Cole Shelton - June 15, 2023

Anthony Pettis will be backing his brother Sergio Pettis in a big way ahead of Bellator 297. In the co-main event of Bellator 297 on Friday night in Chicago, Pettis is looking to defend his bantamweight title for the second time as he takes on Patricio Pitbull. The Brazilian is the current Bellator featherweight champ and former lightweight champ but is dropping down in weight as he looks to become a three-weight world champion.

Scott Coker, Bellator, ONE Championship, Jon Jones
Scott Coker

Scott Coker sends message to other MMA promotions: "We have as good or better fighters than other leagues, including the UFC"

Zain Bando - June 14, 2023

Bellator president Scott Coker has made his stance clear – his fighters are the cream of the crop. Ahead of Bellator 297 Friday night, which is headlined by two marquee title fights in Vadim Nemkov vs. Yoel Romero at light heavyweight and Sergio Pettis vs. Patricio Pitbull at bantamweight, Coker was adamant his three champions could challenge a whos-who, including the best the UFC has to offer. “We have as good or better fighters than other leagues, including the UFC,” Coker said. “And I think that everybody knows that now.”

Vadim Nemkov

WATCH | Vadim Nemkov has virtual face-off with Yoel Romero as 'Soldier of God' misses presser due to fear of heights

Josh Evanoff - June 14, 2023

Bellator light-heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov had a unique staredown with Yoel Romero today. The Russian has been out of the cage since his rematch with Corey Anderson last October. At Bellator 288, Vadim Nemkov scored a unanimous decision win over ‘Overtime’ to retain his light-heavyweight title. That was a huge win for the champion, as it set the record for most Bellator title defenses in the division, with three.

Patricio Freire, Bellator, Josh Thomson
Patricio "Pitbull" Freire

Patricio Pitbull expecting to dominate Sergio Pettis to win third Bellator championship: "Put him down"

Josh Evanoff - June 14, 2023

Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull expects to stop Sergio Pettis this weekend. The Brazilian has been out of action since a non-title clash with Kleber Koike Erbst last December. There, Patricio Pitbull scored a unanimous decision win, his third in a row. That April, he re-earned the featherweight title by avenging his prior loss to A.J. McKee, defeating ‘Mercenary’ by decision.

Yoel Romero, Israel Adesanya
Yoel Romero

Bellator 297: Yoel Romero says the MMA community ‘knows what happened’ in last title fight appearance

Zain Bando - June 14, 2023

Yoel Romero has not forgotten what happened the last time he competed in Chicago. The 46-year-old Cuban light heavyweight was on the wrong end of a 2018 middleweight title fight with Robert Whittaker, a fight many believed Romero did enough to earn a decision.

Patricio Freire, Bellator, Josh Thomson
Patricio "Pitbull" Freire

Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull thinks media ignores his accomplishments: "It will be on them"

Fernando Quiles - May 28, 2023

Bellator Featherweight Champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire believes media members have been ignoring what he has accomplished. Not only is Freire the reigning three-time Bellator champion at 145 pounds, but he’s also the promotion’s former lightweight champion. If he makes weight and defeats Sergio Pettis at Bellator 297, he’ll become the new Bellator Bantamweight Champion, making him a rare three-division MMA champion.

Bellator title
Bellator

Bellator MMA plans to add a new division for the first time since 2014

Fernando Quiles - May 26, 2023

Bellator MMA is rolling out a new division. MMAJunkie.com reports that Bellator is expected to introduce the men’s flyweight division soon. While a date hasn’t been revealed, the report noted that the launch will be taking place in “the coming days.”