Paige VanZant [https://www.instagram.com/paigevanzant/] didn’t have to spend too much time testing the waters of free agency. It looks like the former UFC flyweight has found a new home after ending her contract with the UFC. VanZant shared a post on her Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/p/CDzNrMtHURd/] that showed her inking a new contract. She also let her fans know that the news of her next fight is coming very soon. https://www.instagram.com/p/CDzNrMtHURd/ Paige VanZant didn’t make it clear as to where she is headed. The highly followed Instagram star last fought inside the Octagon at the main card of UFC 251. Amanda Ribas stopped [https://www.essentiallysports.com/ufc-251-news-watch-amanda-ribas-destroys-paige-vanzant-with-brapper-armbar-submission-at-ufc-251-fight-island/] her in the very first round via submission. The fight was the last one on her UFC contract. Even before the fight, VanZant had made it clear that she plans on testing free agency once her contract ends. UFC supremo Dana White even gave her a nod of approval for the same. However, Dana’s comments on the former ‘Dancing With the Stars’ contestant also led to a slight rift between the two. Ariel Helwani [https://twitter.com/arielhelwani/status/1293629724837765122] has reported that VanZant’s contract is with none other than Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. THERE WERE REPORTS OF TALKS BETWEEN PAIGE VANZANT AND BKFC TWO WEEKS AGO A couple of weeks ago, there were reports that ’12 Gauge’ is in talks with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. However, Eric Kowal [https://twitter.com/MyMMANews/status/1288460489048100864] of MyMMANews.com, who also works with BKFC said that there were only talks. Anything concrete was yet not finalized between the two parties. Apart from BKFC, Bellator was also one of the promotions that were in contention to be VanZant’s landing spot. CEO Scott Coker [https://www.essentiallysports.com/mma-news-bellator-president-scott-coker-reveals-big-news-regarding-paige-vanzant/] said that he was going to do his best to have a business conversation with the Oregon native. VanZant’s husband, Austin Vanderford, is also signed with Bellator where he competes in the welterweight division. The way in which Paige VanZant has handled her free agency has garnered her a lot of praise. Former UFC champ and current Vice-President of ONE Championship, Miesha Tate, used her as an example to highlight the progress [https://www.essentiallysports.com/ufc-news-theres-women-like-paige-vanzant-miesha-tate-happy-with-how-womens-mma-is-progressing/] of women’s MMA. 

It seems like Paige VanZant is out of the waters of free agency. The former UFC
star has given a major update on her Instagram.

Rishabh Singh is an MMA author at EssentiallySports since 2020. An engineer in
the making, his love for combat sports began by watching Anderson Silva light
people up inside the Octagon. When he isn't busy in his technical pursuits, he
is an avid reader with a love for sports in general and sporting history in
particular. Rishabh is a curious individual who is often fascinated by most
things under the sun.

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Rishabh Singh

blockquote

script

“Contract Signed” – Paige VanZant Drops Big News

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<h2><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-335454" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20200807182845/bellatot-1.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="630" /></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">History</h2>
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. 
<h2><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-257245" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20200425201918/cokr.jpg" alt="Scott Coker" width="1200" height="675" /></h2>
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 <a href="https://www.si.com/mma/2014/09/04/scott-coker-bellator-format-changing">departure</a> from the organization's tournament format during its initial phase. 
<h2>Bellator's tournament format</h2>
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 <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2013/4/23/4257460/bellator-books-june-19-summer-series-start-with-king-mo-reality-show">Fight Master: Bellator MMA</a> 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 <a href="http://www.bellator.com/articles/43lpt8/scott-coker-launches-bellator-kickboxing">inception</a> in 2016.
<h2>Some big names who are part of Bellator MMA</h2>
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.

[caption id="attachment_256194" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]<img class="wp-image-256194 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20200423224443/patricio-freire-bellator-221-4.png" alt="" width="1000" height="667" /> Patricio Freire after becoming a two-division Bellator MMA champion[/caption]

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. 
<h2>List of Champions at Bellator MMA</h2>
Bellator MMA has 5 <a href="http://www.bellator.com/fighters">world champions</a> across 9 divisions. 2 fighters are double champions and 2 divisional titles are vacant at present. 

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-335406" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20200807180128/cris-c.jpg" alt="Cris Cyborg" width="1200" height="800" />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Division</td>
<td>Name</td>
<td>Date Won</td>
<td>Title Defenses</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Heavyweight</td>
<td>Ryan Bader</td>
<td><a href="http://www.bellator.com/events/m3b3su/bellator-214-fedor-vs-bader">January 26, 2019</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.espn.in/mma/fighter/history/_/id/2335530/ryan-bader">1</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Light Heavyweight</td>
<td>Ryan Bader</td>
<td><a href="http://www.bellator.com/events/65su78/bellator-180-davis-vs-bader">June 24, 2017</a></td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Middleweight</td>
<td>Vacant</td>
<td>Since February 10, 2020</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Welterweight</td>
<td>Douglas Lima</td>
<td><a href="http://www.bellator.com/events/a7efkd/bellator-232-macdonald-vs-lima-2">October 26,2019</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.espn.in/mma/fighter/history/_/id/2500691/douglas-lima">0</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lightweight</td>
<td>Patricio Freire</td>
<td><a href="http://www.bellator.com/events/jjumh6/bellator-221-chandler-vs-pitbull">May 11, 2019</a></td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Featherweight</td>
<td>Patricio Freire</td>
<td><a href="http://www.bellator.com/events/8t7jed/bellator-178-straus-vs-pitbull-4">April 21,2017</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.espn.in/mma/fighter/history/_/id/2532870/patricio-freire">3</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bantamweight</td>
<td>Vacant</td>
<td>Since November 27, 2019</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Women’s Featherweight</td>
<td>Cris Cyborg</td>
<td><a href="http://www.bellator.com/events/5r5vxq/bellator-238-budd-vs-cyborg">January 25, 2020</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.espn.in/mma/fighter/history/_/id/2354564/cris-cyborg">0</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Women’s Flyweight</td>
<td>Ilima-Lei Macfarlane</td>
<td><a href="http://www.bellator.com/events/v1400o/bellator-186-bader-vs-vassell">November 3,2017</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.espn.in/mma/fighter/history/_/id/3924103/ilima-lei-macfarlane">4</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Bellator MMA

History Bellator MMA is one of the world&#8217;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 &#8216;warrior&#8217; 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&#8217;s tournament format during its initial phase.  Bellator&#8217;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. 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 &#8211;  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

Bellator MMA Archives

Bellator MMA Archives - EssentiallySports

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It seems like Paige VanZant is out of the waters of free agency. The former UFC star has given a major update on her Instagram.

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“Contract Signed” – Paige VanZant Drops Big News

There were reports of talks between Paige VanZant and BKFC two weeks ago