More Bellator MMA news
After Bellator President Scott Coker Insults Jamahal Hill and Jiri Prochazka, UFC Fans Give Him a Stern Reminder About Dana White’s Roster
Fans lash out at the Bellator MMA president Scott Coker as he claims that Vadim Nemkov was a fighter better than those in the UFC.
“Looked Like a Punching Bag”: 46-Year-Old Yoel Romero’s Loss Against Fedor Emelianenko’s Protege at Bellator 297 Has Fans Demanding Ex-UFC Star’s Retirement
Fans react to ex-UFC star Yoel Romero losing to Vadim Nemkov at Bellator 297 and failing to capture the light heavyweight championship.
46-Year-Old Ex-UFC Star Yoel Romero’s Peculiar Fear Leaves Fans Dumbfounded After Cuban Pulls Bizarre Stunt at Bellator Face-Off -“Was the Conference on a Hot Air Balloon”
Fans share their reacts Yoel Romero not attending the press conference for Bellator 297, held at the Willis Tower, for his fear of heights.
“I Don’t See It as a Rivalry Necessarily” – Undefeated Dagestani Star Makes a Surprising Claim About Conor McGregor-Khabib Nurmagomedov Rivalry Ahead of Bellator 297 Clash
The Conor McGregor-Khabib Nurmagomedov rivalry does not make Russian and Irish fighters rivals by default, claims a Bellator 297 star.
“Training Is Therapy”: Two-Division UFC GOAT Reveals a Glimpse of His Success Journey With a Special Fitness Initiative
Georges St Pierre is a multitalented king and he has launched a new program that is going to incorporate his personal training ideas
After Winning $1,000,000 at Bellator Grand Prix via Vicious KO, Patchy Mix Reveals He Has Been Working on It “For Months”
Patchy Mix emerged victorious at the Bellator Grand Prix and revealed how he trained specifically for the fight-ending finish.
Patchy Mix Receives a 3-Word Heartwarming Response From UFC Star Merab Dvalishvili After Winning $1,000,000 at Bellator Grand Prix
UFC star Merab Dvalishvili sent a congratulatory message to Bellator's Patchy Mix after the latter's impressive knockout victory.
“Tony Khan Gotta Step Up” – Fight Fans React as MMA Promotion Goes Up for Sale After UFC-WWE Merger
Fight fans give their opinions and suggestions on the latest news of Bellator MMA being sold just after the UFC-WWE merger took place.
After Conor McGregor Gives Him Free Pass for Recent Antics, Dillon Danis Throws Massive Insult at Nate Diaz
Controversy king Dillon Danis makes yet another ballsy comment on Nate Diaz's stance on Leon Edwards' recent win with just two words.
Benson Henderson Recalls His 3-Year-Old Kid Forced Him to Let Go of “Bad Habit” That Had Even “Scared” His Mother: “I Had to Cut It Out”
Benson Henderson reminsices having toothpicks during fights Recalls an incident when he swallowed a toothpick while surprising his mother.
“What an Insane Career” – UFC World Erupts as Nate Diaz Conqueror and Former World Champion Benson Henderson Retires After 17 Years
Twitter floods in with appreciation as the former UFC & WEC champion Benson Henderson retires from the sport after 17 illustrious years.
“Just Join the UFC”: Fans React as “Absolute Monster” Usman Nurmagomedov Retires Benson Henderson at Bellator 292
Fans react to Lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov defeating Benson Henderson via submission in the very first round at Bellator 292.
About Bellator MMA
History
Bellator MMA is one of the world's largest mixed martial arts promotions and is recognised as the closest competitor to the UFC. The term Bellator has its origin in Latin language which translates to 'warrior' in English.
Bjorn Rebney founded the company in 2008 and ran it until 2014, before departing and handing the reins to Scott Coker. Presently, the company has successfully hosted 242 numbered events.
The former Strikeforce executive made the move after his contract with Zuffa expired. Following Coker’s arrival, Bellator MMA pivoted to a more traditional North American approach to the sport. This is a departure from the organization's tournament format during its initial phase.
Bellator's tournament format
Bellator MMA has played host to a variety of tournaments under its older format, with 11 seasons of Bellator Fighting Championship held in 4 years from 2009 to 2014. The tournaments saw fighters of specific weight classes compete for a shot at the divisional title.
Also in 2013, the promotion aired a single-season series called Fight Master: Bellator MMA where Randy Couture, Frank Shamrock, Greg Jackson, and Joe Warren served as coaches.
Like all American martial arts organizations, the rules for fights in the Bellator promotion are exactly the same with eye gouges and groin strikes deemed as illegal offenses for which fighters can incur point penalties or be disqualified.
Along with MMA, Bellator has a kickboxing promotion which has hosted 12 events since its inception in 2016.
Some big names who are part of Bellator MMA
At present, the company is home to some of the biggest MMA names including former UFC Champions like Cris Cyborg, Frank Mir, and Lyoto Machida. Current Bellator Champions include Ryan Bader, Douglas Lima, Patricio Freire, and Ilima-Lei Macfarlane. Additionally, the promotion is home to big names such as Fedor Emelianenko, Gegard Mousasi, and Cat Zingano.
via Imago
Patricio Freire after becoming a two-division Bellator MMA champion
Currently, there are 7 divisions for male fighters in Bellator. These are heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight, lightweight, featherweight and bantamweight. The promotion offers 2 divisions for its female talent at Featherweight and flyweight.
List of Champions at Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA has 5 world champions across 9 divisions. 2 fighters are double champions and 2 divisional titles are vacant at present.
| Division | Name | Date Won | Title Defenses |
| Heavyweight | Ryan Bader | January 26, 2019 | 1 |
| Light Heavyweight | Ryan Bader | June 24, 2017 | 1 |
| Middleweight | Vacant | Since February 10, 2020 | - |
| Welterweight | Douglas Lima | October 26,2019 | 0 |
| Lightweight | Patricio Freire | May 11, 2019 | 0 |
| Featherweight | Patricio Freire | April 21,2017 | 3 |
| Bantamweight | Vacant | Since November 27, 2019 | 0 |
| Women’s Featherweight | Cris Cyborg | January 25, 2020 | 0 |
| Women’s Flyweight | Ilima-Lei Macfarlane | November 3,2017 | 4 |
