Bellator News

Justin Golightly - November 28, 2017

For hardcore MMA fans and casuals alike, Bellator is bringing back the illustrious grand prix tournament to crown their new heavyweight champion. Ever since it was announced, speculation ran rampant as fans and media alike started making their own match-ups. Not only do we have all of the bouts set, but now we know the location and dates of every opening scrap of the grand prix. The latest trailer is just the cherry on top. “This is going to be something that’s iconic for us. Tournaments, traditionally, are kind of the way martial arts contests happen. Now we get to put eight iconic brand names in our sport together over a year, and then whoever wins will be crowned the heavyweight champion. I think there are certain fights that people want to see. Believe me, we’re going to have some amazing match-ups in this tournament. These fights that we’re going to put together are something that the fans want to see. These are iconic names, big brands.” — Scott Coker speaking to MMA Junkie. 

Justin Golightly - November 23, 2017

Earlier this month, Scott Coker and the team at Bellator dropped a bombshell: That they’d be putting on a heavyweight grand prix to finally crown a new heavyweight champion. They added UFC veterans, legends, light heavyweights and even the light heavyweight champion, Ryan Bader. The tournament has always been one of the most exciting things in combat sports, and this should be no different. Rory MacDonald and Shane Carwin have offered to be alternates in the tournament, but barring any injuries, here is the complete opening bracket below. After the news dropped, Chael Sonnen joined Brett Okamoto at ESPN to weigh-in on the match-ups. Just announced on @SportsCenter: The Heavyweight World Grand Prix bracket is set and kicks off Jan 20th in LA with @ChaelSonnen vs @Rampage4real!! pic.twitter.com/jEB9pPg4wD

Justin Golightly - November 22, 2017

This Bellator heavyweight grand prix has shook things up a lot more than just the huge match-ups it has planned. Even Rory MacDonald wants the chance to be included in this tournament that hearkens back to a bygone era. Former UFC wrecking ball and frequent Redditor, Shane Carwin has since voiced his interest in the tournament, but it looks like things are getting more serious than just a Tweet and an e-mail. Carwin is currently in talks with the promotion and even told his management to make it easy. He dropped into R/MMA with some exclusive news and talked candidly about who he wants put his hands on at Bellator. “So, I saw the tournament announcement and it got me pumped. I was then lurking here and saw the odds from MMA Junkie and I got even more interested. I picked up the cell and e-mailed Rich [Chou] and asked for a spot. My last Bellator negotiations went great, they were by far the most professional of all offers we were presented. I just wasn’t sure how I would be utilized and when you are old you are looking for short trajectories to great opportunities. RIZIN appealed in that way. I told Rich I will accept his last offer to me. No negotiations, no bonus vehicles I’ll just take [Rampage Jackson]’s Tesla. Lets just do this. Ball is in Scott [Coker]’s court. If you want this, let him and Bellator know.”

Justin Golightly - November 22, 2017

Bellator has tapped into our primal sources of nostalgia over huge MMA tournaments and are going to put on a heavyweight grand prix. Featuring legends and UFC veterans including heavyweights and light heavyweights, the tournament is going down early next year and right now, Matt Mitrione is the favorite to win it all. He’ll go into it on a three-fight win streak with his most recent victory being over Fedor Emelianenko. If it was up to him though, he’d rather have just got a title shot he felt he earned already. “I’m not good at giving political answers, so I’ll give you an honest answer: I wasn’t really excited, to be honest. I think it would have been a true heavyweight grand prix to fill it with heavyweights. I think it would have been even better to do it in the same night. I think that would have been a lot of fun. But that’s not how it went. I think they chose the most athletic, most exciting guys they have, and I think that’s what the draw of the tournament is. I would have originally wanted just a title fight, and then have the winner of the tournament fight me for the title – and I would defend it hopefully once during the middle of the year.”

Tom Taylor - November 14, 2017

Bellator MMA finally has a plan in place to fill its vacant heavyweight throne. Throughout 2018, the organization will promote a heavyweight grand prix featuring eight of its premier heavyweights and light heavyweights in Frank Mir, Fedor Emelianenko, Matt Mitrione, Roy Nelson, Ryan Bader, Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Chael Sonnen. Speaking on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, Rampage discussed his role in this tournament, and immediately divulged that he’s rather unexcited about the prospect of a fight with wrestling specialist Chael Sonnen. The former UFC light heavyweight champ, after all, has always taken issue with opponents who focus on the takedown.

Justin Golightly - November 11, 2017

It’s everywhere by now in big bold letters. Conor McGregor storms into the Bellator cage, not once, but twice. He shoves around Marc Goddard and slaps a Bellator official like he’s trying to do his best Nate Diaz impression. What you may haven’t seen yet, is video directly after the chaos. Conor McGregor galloped outside with his friends and teammates, still reeling from Charle Ward’s victory and the pandemonium he caused. Immediately, he carries on about ‘rat’ referee Marc Goddard. “I was still trying to say, ‘Keep going,’ and it’s that same referee [Marc Goddard] who I lost me head with him [at UFC Gdansk]. I said, ‘It’s you, you rat.’ He nearly f-cking crapped his jocks. Oh, it was a beautiful shot [from Charlie Ward]. [John Redmond]’s out cold, we all knew he was out cold and he’s still trying to call it. ‘Oh no, he wasn’t the fight’s not over.’ I said, ‘It’s you, you rat. I see you.'” — Conor McGregor outside at Bellator 187.

Justin Golightly - November 11, 2017

Last night there were some great fights at Bellator 187, but it was a UFC fighter who stole the show. Conor McGregor stormed the cage as his Straight Blast Gym teammate Charlie Ward finished John Redmond at the Dublin card and started a pandemonium not seen since the infamous Strikeforce brawl. He shoved referee Marc Goddard and even slapped an official in the face. President of the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) Mike Mazzulli was regulating the event and has released an official statement about the incident.  “While the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation (MTDAR) was regulating Bellator 187 in Dublin, Ireland, on November 10th, 2017, the following events took place during the Ward vs Redmond bout. Mr. Conor McGregor who was a spectator at the time, disrupted the event by scaling the cage prior to the conclusion of the bout. Mr. McGregor’s conduct jeopardized the health and safety of the bout participants by delaying necessary medical attention to the fighters that were injured during the round.”

Justin Golightly - November 11, 2017

Amidst all the chaos happening in the MMA world right now, Bellator dropped a huge bombshell yesterday that they’ll be putting on a heavyweight grand prix to crown their first heavyweight champion in four years. With all the names participating in the bracket, nearly every match-up is an opportunity to see bouts that we were never able to see due to the fighters not being in the UFC. After two long and storied careers, former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir will meet the legend Fedor Emelianenko in the first round. “I’ll be a part of the eight man tournament that’s been announced by Bellator. I got the word just last night or the night before. I got the call to say, ‘Hey, we need a headshot. We’re putting you in this.’ I obviously agreed. They told me the names that were in there and it looks like I’ll probably be lining up with Fedor [Emelianenko], hopefully in April [2018]. It’s a huge moment. I didn’t even sleep that night thinking about it, running it through my mind, watching videos, already starting to try to pick apart his different traits and gameplans.”

Justin Golightly - November 10, 2017

@TheNotoriousMMA jumps the cage for his teammate Charlie Ward and its all chaos. #MMA #ConorMcGregor #Bellator187 pic.twitter.com/gu9LZL8ORf — Dutch Fight Network (@DutchFightNet) November 10, 2017

Justin Golightly - November 10, 2017

The grand prix is the pinnacle of combat sport. It is the most difficult tournament format and has the potential to produce absolutely chaotic results. That chaos is why that, for the most part other than Japan’s RIZIN, the creation of an MMA grand prix is few and far between. However, there is a man who has never strayed from that chaos, but welcomes it to put on exciting fights throughout the years. That man is Scott Coker and he is at it again. Bellator will put on a heavyweight grand prix to crown its first heavyweight champion in four years. “This is going to be something that’s iconic for us. Tournaments, traditionally, are kind of the way martial arts contests happen. Now we get to put eight iconic brand names in our sport together over a year, and then whoever wins will be crowned the heavyweight champion. I think there are certain fights that people want to see. Believe me, we’re going to have some amazing match-ups in this tournament. These fights that we’re going to put together are something that the fans want to see. These are iconic names, big brands.” — Scott Coker speaking to MMA Junkie. 

Chris Taylor - November 3, 2017

Tywan Claxton scored one of the best flying knee KO’s ever during tonight’s Bellator 186 prelims from University Park in Penn State. Claxton, who made his professional mixed martial arts debut at tonight’s event, crushed his opponent Jonathan Bonilla-Bowman with a flying knee just short of 90-seconds into the first-round.

Tom Taylor - September 24, 2017

Last night, Bellator MMA returned to San Jose, California with the stacked Bellator 183. In the card’s main event, we watched former UFC and WEC lightweight champion Benson Henderson collide with long-time Bellator lightweight contender Patricky “Pitbull” Freire. As is so often the case when it comes to Benson Henderson fights, this one was incredibly close. For three rounds, we watched Henderson relentlessly pursue the takedown, effectively shutting down Pitbull’s offense as he did, while Pitbull denied all of those takedown attempts, depriving Henderson of the opportunity to rack up points in the judges’ eyes.

Tom Taylor - September 20, 2017

This Saturday, Bellator MMA will return to San Jose, California with Bellator 183. The card is a pretty stacked one. In the main event, we’ll see former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson take on long-time Bellator staple Patricky Freire. In the co-main event, meanwhile, we’ll see a pair of knockout-addicted UFC veterans collide, as England’s Paul Daley takes on recent Bellator title challenger Lorenz Larkin. Elsewhere on the card, we’ll witness the Bellator debut of former UFC heavyweight Roy “Big Country” Nelson, who takes on Javy Ayala.

Russell Ess - September 19, 2017

Bellator will be using their 'Flying Cage' for #Bellator183 & Bellator Kickboxing 7 on Saturday. Here's a look at the flying cage in action: pic.twitter.com/6ihLQPNxm2 — Simon Head (@simonhead) September 19, 2017

bjpenndotcom - July 19, 2017

This past weekend at Bellator 181, Brandon Girtz stepped into the cage for a highly anticipated rubber match with Derek Campos. That trilogy saw the two men tied at 1 win apiece, as Campos won the pair’s first fight by unanimous decision in 2013, before Girtz then evened the score in 2015 as he knocked Campos out in the first round. This past weekend in the pair’s trilogy fight, Campos picked up a 2nd round TKO win after the doctor stopped the fight due to a horrendous cut on Girtz forehead, a cut that many quickly realized looked like the Michael Jordan ‘Jumpman’ logo.

Chris Taylor - July 14, 2017

Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion and perennial middleweight contender Gegard Mousasi will make his Bellator MMA debut this October. Bellator officials broke the news during tonight’s broadcast on Spike TV stating that Gegard Mousasi (42-6-2 MMA) will make is promotional debut against former Bellator middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko (56-9 MMA) on October 20 live from the Mohegan Sun Casino.

bjpenndotcom - May 20, 2017

Wow. Paul Daley just went for Michael Page in the front row and they had a scuffle. Pandemonium. #Bellator179 pic.twitter.com/hhA2usDDgN — Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) May 19, 2017

bjpenndotcom - May 19, 2017

Former UFC welterweight veteran Rory MacDonald stepped into the Bellator MMA cage for the first time on May 19th in the United Kingdom as he fought heavy handed knockout artist Paul ‘Semtex’ Daley. Going into the fight, there was much question about where MacDonald, a fighter who was near the pinnacle of combat sports when he fought for the UFC welterweight title, would fall in the Bellator MMA rankings. When the ‘Red King’ stepped into the Octagon with Daley, he was all business as he dominated the fight in the first round, controlling Daley on the ground and negating his knockout ability. In the second round it was more of the same as MacDonald quickly took Daley down. This time however, rather than dominate Daley throughout the entire round, MacDonald secured a rear naked choke, securing his first Bellator MMA win.