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List of Bellator MMA champions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bellator MMA (formerly known as "Bellator Fighting Championships") is an American mixed martial arts promotion, and the following is a history of its champions in each weight class.

At the time of its inception in 2008, CEO Bjorn Rebney founded Bellator Fighting Championships as a tournament based organization. The inaugural champion for each weight class was determined by the winner of an eight-man tournament. All subsequent title challengers were required to first win an eight-man tournament in a specific weight class in order to earn the right to challenge that division's reigning champion. Dethroned champions were required to re-enter the tournaments in order to attempt to regain their title. Under Bjorn Rebney's sole leadership, Bellator MMA would strictly adhere to these rules during the first four years of its operation.

The first changes to this format would begin to appear not long after Viacom, Inc. purchased a controlling stake in the organization.[1] In November 2012, CEO Bjorn Rebney announced the introduction of a "championship rematch clause". This would allow Bellator to schedule an immediate title-fight rematch if officials deemed the fight necessary.[2] The next major change occurred during Bellator's 2013 Summer Series when it was announced that all three tournaments would be shorter, four-man affairs instead of the standard eight.[3] Though originally stated to return to the eight-man only tournaments afterwards, officials instead decided to add two additional four-man tournaments to the existing tournament lineup in an effort to provide a more consistent flow of title challengers for their champions to face.[4]

Two additional rule changes would be announced. The first was the "tournament champion replacement clause" introduced in August 2013. This allowed officials to grant title shots to replacement fighters when tournament winners were injured, or otherwise unavailable, through a complex voting and points system.[5] Then, in June 2014, CEO Bjorn Rebney made an announcement stating that any fighter who had previously won a Bellator tournament would maintain permanent eligibility to fight for a title without having to re-enter another tournament.[6] Neither of these changes would ever be implemented, however, as one week later Bellator MMA and its founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney parted ways, bringing about an end to the organization's tournament based model.[7][8]

Current champions

[edit]
Men[9]
Division Champion Since Defenses
Heavyweight United States Ryan Bader Jan 26, 2019 3
Light Heavyweight United States Corey Anderson Mar 22, 2024 0
Middleweight United States Johnny Eblen Jun 24, 2022 3
Welterweight Russia Ramazan Kuramagomedov June 22, 2024 0
Lightweight Russia Usman Nurmagomedov Nov 18, 2022 2
Featherweight Brazil Patrício Pitbull Apr 15, 2022 2
Bantamweight United States Patchy Mix Nov 17, 2023 1
Women[9]
Division Champion Since Defenses
Women's Featherweight Brazil Cris Cyborg Jan 25, 2020 5
Women's Flyweight United States Liz Carmouche Apr 22, 2022 3

Men's championship history

[edit]

Heavyweight World Championship

[edit]

206 to 265 lbs (93 to 120 kg)

No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 United States Cole Konrad
def. Neil Grove 		Bellator 32
Kansas City, MO, US 		Oct 14, 2010 699 days 1. def. Eric Prindle at Bellator 70 on May 25, 2012
Konrad vacated the title on September 12, 2012 when he retired from MMA competition.[10]
2 Russia Alexander Volkov
def. Rich Hale 		Bellator 84
Hammond, IN, US 		Dec 14, 2012 337 days
3 Russia Vitaly Minakov Bellator 108
Atlantic City, NJ, US 		Nov 15, 2013 911 days 1. def. Cheick Kongo at Bellator 115 on Apr 4, 2014
Minakov was stripped of the title on May 14, 2016 after failing to make title defenses.[11]
4 United States Ryan Bader
def. Fedor Emelianenko 		Bellator 214
Inglewood, CA, US 		Jan 26, 2019 2,122 days
(incumbent)

NC. vs. Cheick Kongo at Bellator 226 on Sep 7, 2019
1. def. interim champion Valentin Moldavsky at Bellator 273 on Jan 29, 2022
2. def. Cheick Kongo at Bellator 280 on May 6, 2022
3. def. Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator 290 on Feb 4, 2023

— Russia Valentin Moldavsky
def. Timothy Johnson for interim title 		Bellator 261
Uncasville, CT, US 		Jun 25, 2021 —

Light Heavyweight World Championship

[edit]

186 to 205 lbs (84 to 93 kg)

No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 Democratic Republic of the Congo Christian M'Pumbu
def. Rich Hale 		Bellator 45
Lake Charles, LA, US 		May 21, 2011 650 days
2 Slovakia Attila Végh Bellator 91
Rio Rancho, NM, US 		Feb 28, 2013 387 days
— United States Emanuel Newton
def. Muhammed Lawal for interim title 		Bellator 106
Long Beach, CA, US 		Nov 2, 2013 —
3 United States Emanuel Newton Bellator 113
Mulvane, KS, US 		Mar 21, 2014 343 days 1. def. Joey Beltran at Bellator 124 on Sep 12, 2014
2. def. Linton Vassell at Bellator 130 on Oct 24, 2014
4 United Kingdom Liam McGeary Bellator 134
Uncasville, CT, US 		Feb 27, 2015 617 days 1. def. Tito Ortiz at Bellator 142: Dynamite 1 on Sep 19, 2015
5 United States Phil Davis Bellator 163
Uncasville, CT, US 		Nov 4, 2016 232 days
6 United States Ryan Bader Bellator 180
New York City, NY, US 		Jun 24, 2017 1,155 days 1. def. Linton Vassell at Bellator 186 on Nov 3, 2017
7 Russia Vadim Nemkov Bellator 244
Uncasville, CT, US 		Aug 21, 2020 1244 days

1. def. Phil Davis at Bellator 257 on Apr 16, 2021
2. def. Julius Anglickas at Bellator 268 on Oct 16, 2021
NC. vs. Corey Anderson at Bellator 277 on Apr 15, 2022
3. def. Corey Anderson at Bellator 288 on Nov 18, 2022
4. def. Yoel Romero at Bellator 297 on Jun 16, 2023

Nemkov vacated the title after announcing his move to Heavyweight on January 17, 2024.[12]
8 United States Corey Anderson
def. Karl Moore 		Bellator Champions Series 1
Belfast, Northern Ireland 		Mar 22, 2024 240 days
(incumbent)

Middleweight World Championship

[edit]

171 to 185 lbs (77 to 84 kg)

No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 Australia Héctor Lombard
def. Jared Hess 		Bellator 12
Hollywood, FL, US 		Jun 19, 2009 1,040 days

1. def. Alexander Shlemenko at Bellator 34 on Oct 28, 2010

Lombard vacated the title on April 24, 2012 when he left Bellator for the UFC.[13]
2 Russia Alexander Shlemenko
def. Maiquel Falcão 		Bellator 88
Duluth, GA, US 		Feb 7, 2013 597 days

1. def. Brett Cooper at Bellator 98 on Sep 7, 2013
2. def. Doug Marshall at Bellator 109 on Nov 22, 2013
3. def. Brennan Ward at Bellator 114 on Mar 28, 2014

3 United States Brandon Halsey Bellator 126
Phoenix, AZ, US 		Sep 26, 2014 230 days
Halsey was stripped of the title on May 14, 2015 after failing to make weight for his title defense against Kendall Grove at Bellator 137.[14]
4 Brazil Rafael Carvalho
def. Brandon Halsey 		Bellator 144
Uncasville, CT, US 		Oct 23, 2015 945 days

1. def. Melvin Manhoef at Bellator 155 on May 20, 2016
2. def. Melvin Manhoef at Bellator 176 on Apr 8, 2017
3. def. Alessio Sakara at Bellator 190 on Dec 9, 2017

5 Netherlands Gegard Mousasi Bellator 200
London, England 		May 25, 2018 394 days

1. def. Rory MacDonald at Bellator 206 on Sep 29, 2018

6 United States Rafael Lovato Jr. Bellator 223
London, England 		Jun 22, 2019 233 days
Lovato vacated the title on February 10, 2020 when it was revealed he had been diagnosed with a cerebral cavernoma.[15]
7 Netherlands Gegard Mousasi (2)
def. Douglas Lima 		Bellator 250
Uncasville, CT, US 		Oct 29, 2020 604 days
(998 days)

1. def. John Salter at Bellator 264 on Aug 13, 2021
2. def. Austin Vanderford at Bellator 275 on Feb 25, 2022

8 United States Johnny Eblen Bellator 282
Uncasville, CT, US 		Jun 24, 2022 877 days
(incumbent)

1. def. Anatoly Tokov at Bellator 290 on Feb 4, 2023
2. def. Fabian Edwards at Bellator 299 on Sep 23, 2023
3. def. Fabian Edwards at PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants on Oct 19, 2024

Welterweight World Championship

[edit]

156 to 170 lbs (70 to 77 kg)

No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 United States Lyman Good
def. Omar de la Cruz 		Bellator 11
Uncasville, CT, US 		Jun 12, 2009 485 days
2 United States Ben Askren Bellator 33
Philadelphia, PA, US 		Oct 21, 2010 1,120 days

1. def. Jay Hieron at Bellator 56 on Oct 29, 2011
2. def. Douglas Lima at Bellator 64 on Apr 6, 2012
3. def. Karl Amoussou at Bellator 86 on Jan 24, 2013
4. def. Andrey Koreshkov at Bellator 97 on Jul 31, 2013

Askren vacated the title on November 14, 2013 when he left Bellator for the ONE FC.[16]
3 Brazil Douglas Lima
def. Rick Hawn 		Bellator 117
Council Bluffs, IA, US 		Apr 18, 2014 455 days
4 Russia Andrey Koreshkov Bellator 140
Uncasville, CT, US 		Jul 17, 2015 482 days

1. def. Benson Henderson at Bellator 153 on Apr 22, 2016

5 Brazil Douglas Lima (2) Bellator 164
Tel Aviv, Israel 		Nov 10, 2016 437 days
(892 days)

1. def. Lorenz Larkin at Bellator NYC on Jun 24, 2017

6 Canada Rory MacDonald Bellator 192
Inglewood, CA, US 		Jan 20, 2018 644 days

1. drew with Jon Fitch at Bellator 220 on Apr 27, 2019
2. def. Neiman Gracie at Bellator 222 on Jun 14, 2019

7 Brazil Douglas Lima (3) Bellator 232
Uncasville, CT, US 		Oct 26, 2019 594 days
(1,486 days)
8 Ukraine Yaroslav Amosov Bellator 260
Uncasville, CT, US 		Jun 11, 2021 890 days

1. def. interim champion Logan Storley at Bellator 291 on Feb 25, 2023

— United States Logan Storley
def. Michael Page for the interim title 		Bellator 281
London, England 		May 13, 2022 —
9 Jamaica Jason Jackson Bellator 301
Chicago, IL, US 		Nov 17, 2023 218 days
10 Russia Ramazan Kuramagomedov Bellator Champions Series 3
Dublin, Ireland 		Jun 22, 2024 148 days
(incumbent)

Lightweight World Championship

[edit]

146 to 155 lbs (66 to 70 kg)

No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 United States Eddie Alvarez
def. Toby Imada 		Bellator 12
Hollywood, FL, US 		Jun 19, 2009 883 days 1. def. Pat Curran at Bellator 39 on April 2, 2011
2 United States Michael Chandler Bellator 58
Hollywood, FL, US 		Nov 19, 2011 715 days 1. def. Rick Hawn at Bellator 85 on Jan 17, 2013
2. def. David Rickels at Bellator 97 on Jul 31, 2013
3 United States Eddie Alvarez (2) Bellator 106
Long Beach, CA, US 		Nov 2, 2013 290 days
(1,123 days)
— United States Will Brooks
def. Michael Chandler for interim title 		Bellator 120
Southaven, MS, US 		May 17, 2014 —
Alvarez vacated the title on August 19, 2014 when he left Bellator for the UFC.[17]
Brooks was not promoted to champion, due to his desire not to renew with the event and the possibility of losing the last two champions of the division to a rival organization.[18]
4 United States Will Brooks
def. Michael Chandler for undisputed title 		Bellator 131
San Diego, CA, US 		Nov 15, 2014 546 days 1. def. Dave Jansen at Bellator 136 on Apr 10, 2015
2. def. Marcin Held at Bellator 145 on Nov 6, 2015
Brooks vacated the title on May 14, 2016 when he left Bellator for the UFC.[11]
5 United States Michael Chandler (2)
def. Patricky Pitbull 		Bellator 157
St. Louis, MO, US 		Jun 24, 2016 365 days
(1,080 days) 		1. def. Benson Henderson at Bellator 165 on Nov 19, 2016
6 United States Brent Primus
 Bellator NYC
New York City, NY, US 		Jun 24, 2017 539 days
7 United States Michael Chandler (3) Bellator 212
Honolulu, HI, US 		Dec 14, 2018 149 days
(1,229 days)
8 Brazil Patrício Pitbull Bellator 221
Rosemont, IL, US 		May 11, 2019 879 days
Patrício vacated the title on October 6, 2021.[19]
9 Brazil Patricky Pitbull
def. Peter Queally 		Bellator 270
Dublin, Ireland 		Nov 5, 2021 378 days
10 Russia Usman Nurmagomedov Bellator 288
Chicago, IL, US 		Nov 18, 2022 730 days
(incumbent) 		1. def. Benson Henderson at Bellator 292 on Mar 10, 2023
NC. vs. Brent Primus at Bellator 300 on Oct 7, 2023
2. def. Alexandr Shabliy at Bellator Champions Series 4 on Sep 8, 2024

Featherweight World Championship

[edit]

136 to 145 lbs (61 to 66 kg)

No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 United States Joe Soto
def. Yahir Reyes 		Bellator 10
Ontario, CA, US 		Jun 5, 2009 454 days
2 United States Joe Warren Bellator 27
San Antonio, TX, US 		Sep 2, 2010 554 days
3 United States Pat Curran Bellator 60
Hammond, IN, US 		Mar 9, 2012 604 days

1. def. Patrício Pitbull at Bellator 85 on Jan 17, 2013
2. def. Shahbulat Shamhalaev at Bellator 95 on Apr 4, 2013

4 United States Daniel Straus Bellator 106
Long Beach, CA, US 		Nov 2, 2013 133 days
5 United States Pat Curran (2) Bellator 112
Hammond, IN, US 		Mar 14, 2014 176 days
(780 days)
6 Brazil Patrício Pitbull Bellator 123
Uncasville, CT, US 		Sep 5, 2014 428 days

1. def. Daniel Straus at Bellator 132 on Jan 16, 2015
2. def. Daniel Weichel at Bellator 138 on Jun 19, 2015

7 United States Daniel Straus (2) Bellator 145
St. Louis, MO, US 		Nov 6, 2015 532 days
(665 days)
8 Brazil Patrício Pitbull (2) Bellator 178
Uncasville, CT, US 		Apr 21, 2017 1,562 days
(1,990 days)

1. def. Daniel Weichel at Bellator 203 on Jul 14, 2018
2. def. Emmanuel Sanchez at Bellator 209 on Nov 15, 2018
3. def. Juan Archuleta at Bellator 228 on Sep 28, 2019
4. def. Pedro Carvalho at Bellator 252 on Nov 12, 2020
5. def. Emmanuel Sanchez at Bellator 255 on Apr 2, 2021

9 United States A. J. McKee Bellator 263
Inglewood, CA, US 		Jul 31, 2021 259 days
10 Brazil Patrício Pitbull (3) Bellator 277
San Jose, CA, US 		Apr 15, 2022 947 days
(incumbent)

1. def. Ádám Borics at Bellator 286 on Oct 1, 2022
2. def. Jeremy Kennedy at Bellator Champions Series 1 on Mar 22, 2024

Bantamweight World Championship

[edit]

126 to 135 lbs (57 to 61 kg)

No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 United States Zach Makovsky
def. Ed West 		Bellator 32
Kansas City, MO, US 		Oct 14, 2010 547 days
2 Brazil Eduardo Dantas Bellator 65
Atlantic City, NJ, US 		Apr 13, 2012 911 days 1. def. Marcos Galvão at Bellator 89 on Feb 14, 2013
2. def. Anthony Leone at Bellator 111 on Mar 8, 2014
- United States Joe Warren
def. Rafael Silva for interim title 		Bellator 118
Atlantic City, NJ, US 		May 2, 2014 —
3 United States Joe Warren Bellator 128
Thackerville, OK, US 		Oct 10, 2014 169 days
4 Brazil Marcos Galvão Bellator 135
Thackerville, OK, US 		Mar 27, 2015 448 days
5 Brazil Eduardo Dantas (2) Bellator 156
Fresno, CA, US 		Jun 17, 2016 477 days
(1,338 days) 		1. def. Joe Warren at Bellator 166 on Dec 2, 2016
6 United States Darrion Caldwell Bellator 184
Thackerville, OK, US 		Oct 6, 2017 617 days 1. def. Leandro Higo at Bellator 195 on Mar 2, 2018
7 Japan Kyoji Horiguchi Bellator 222
New York City, NY, US 		Jun 14, 2019 166 days
Horiguchi vacated the title on November 27, 2019 for the division not to stagnate when he announced he was injured.[20]
8 United States Juan Archuleta
def. Patchy Mix 		Bellator 246
Uncasville, CT, US 		Sep 12, 2020 237 days
9 United States Sergio Pettis Bellator 258
Uncasville, CT, US 		May 7, 2021 925 days 1. def. Kyoji Horiguchi at Bellator 272 on Dec 3, 2021
2. def. Patrício Pitbull at Bellator 297 on Jun 16, 2023
— United States Raufeon Stots
def. Juan Archuleta for the interim title 		Bellator 279
Honolulu, HI, US 		Apr 23, 2022 — 1. def. Danny Sabatello at Bellator 289 on Dec 9, 2022
— United States Patchy Mix
def. interim champion Raufeon Stots 		Bellator 295
Honolulu, HI, US 		Apr 22, 2023 —
10 United States Patchy Mix Bellator 301
Chicago, IL, US 		Nov 17, 2023 366 days
(incumbent) 		1. def. Magomed Magomedov at Bellator Champions Series 2 on May 17, 2024

Flyweight World Championship

[edit]

116 to 125 lbs (53 to 57 kg)

No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
Kyoji Horiguchi and Makoto Takahashi fought for the inaugural title on July 30, 2023, at Bellator MMA x Rizin 2. The fight ended in a no-contest after an unintentional eye poke rendered Takahashi unable to continue.[21]

Women's championship history

[edit]

Women's Featherweight World Championship

[edit]

126 to 145 lbs (57 to 66 kg)

No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 Canada Julia Budd
def. Marloes Coenen 		Bellator 174
Thackerville, OK, US 		Mar 3, 2017 1,058 days

1. def. Arlene Blencowe at Bellator 189 on Dec 1, 2017
2. def. Talita Nogueira at Bellator 202 on Jul 13, 2018
3. def. Olga Rubin at Bellator 224 on Jul 12, 2019

2 Brazil Cris Cyborg Bellator 238
Inglewood, CA, US 		Jan 25, 2020 1,758 days
(incumbent)

1. def. Arlene Blencowe at Bellator 249 on Oct 15, 2020
2. def. Leslie Smith at Bellator 259 on May 21, 2021
3. def. Sinead Kavanagh at Bellator 271 on Nov 12, 2021
4. def. Arlene Blencowe at Bellator 279 on Apr 23, 2022
5. def. Cat Zingano at Bellator 300 on Oct 7, 2023

Women's Flyweight World Championship

[edit]

116 to 125 lbs (53 to 57 kg)

No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 United States Ilima-Lei Macfarlane
def. Emily Ducote 		Bellator 186
University Park, PA, US 		Nov 3, 2017 1,133 days

1. def. Alejandra Lara at Bellator 201 on Jun 29, 2018
2. def. Valérie Létourneau at Bellator 213 on Dec 15, 2018
3. def. Veta Arteaga at Bellator 220 on Apr 27, 2019
4. def. Kate Jackson at Bellator 236 on Dec 21, 2019

2 Brazil Juliana Velasquez Bellator 254
Uncasville, CT, US 		Dec 10, 2020 498 days

1. def. Denise Kielholtz at Bellator 262 on Jul 16, 2021

3 United States Liz Carmouche Bellator 278
Honolulu, HI, US 		Apr 23, 2022 940 days
(incumbent)

1. def. Juliana Velasquez at Bellator 289 on Dec 9, 2022
2. def. DeAnna Bennett at Bellator 294 on April 21, 2023
3. def. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane at Bellator 300 on Oct 7, 2023

Defunct titles

[edit]

Women's Strawweight World Championship

[edit]

Under 115 pounds (52 kg)

No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 United States Zoila Gurgel
def. Megumi Fujii 		Bellator 34
Hollywood, FL, US 		Oct 28, 2010 831 days
Gurgel vacated the title on February 5, 2013 when she sign with Invicta FC. The title was subsequently deactivated.[22]

Tournament winners

[edit]

Originally, all title challengers were determined through these tournaments with the winners earning the right to challenge the reigning champion at that weight class or, if necessary, be allowed to compete for an interim or vacant title.

Bellator Fighting Championships: Season One

[edit]

(April 3, 2009 - June 19, 2009)

Weight Division Champion Runner-up Event Date
Middleweight[1] Australia Hector Lombard United States Jared Hess Bellator 12 Jun 19, 2009
Welterweight[2] United States Lyman Good Dominican Republic Omar De La Cruz Bellator 11 Jun 12, 2009
Lightweight[3] United States Eddie Alvarez United States Toby Imada Bellator 12 Jun 19, 2009
Featherweight[4] United States Joe Soto Mexico Yahir Reyes Bellator 10 Jun 5, 2009

^ 1: Tournament determined the inaugural Bellator Middleweight Champion.
^ 2: Tournament determined the inaugural Bellator Welterweight Champion.
^ 3: Tournament determined the inaugural Bellator Lightweight Champion.
^ 4: Tournament determined the inaugural Bellator Featherweight Champion.

Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Two

[edit]

(April 8, 2010 - June 24, 2010)

Weight Division Champion Runner-up Event Date
Middleweight Russia Alexander Shlemenko United States Bryan Baker Bellator 23 Jun 24, 2010
Welterweight United States Ben Askren United States Dan Hornbuckle Bellator 22 Jun 17, 2010
Lightweight United States Pat Curran United States Toby Imada Bellator 21 Jun 10, 2010
Featherweight United States Joe Warren Brazil Patrício Pitbull Bellator 23 Jun 24, 2010

Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Three

[edit]

(August 12, 2010 - October 28, 2010)

Weight Division Champion Runner-up Event Date
Heavyweight[1] United States Cole Konrad South Africa Neil Grove Bellator 32 Oct 14, 2010
Bantamweight[2] United States Zach Makovsky Philippines Ed West Bellator 32 Oct 14, 2010
Women's Strawweight[3] United States Zoila Gurgel Japan Megumi Fujii Bellator 34 Oct 28, 2010

^ 1: Tournament determined the inaugural Bellator Heavyweight Champion.
^ 2: Tournament determined the inaugural Bellator Bantamweight Champion.
^ 3: Tournament determined the inaugural Bellator Women's Strawweight Champion.

Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Four

[edit]

(March 5, 2011 - May 21, 2011)

Weight Division Champion Runner-up Event Date
Light Heavyweight[1] Democratic Republic of the Congo Christian M'Pumbu United States Rich Hale Bellator 45 May 21, 2011
Welterweight United States Jay Hieron United States Rick Hawn Bellator 43 May 7, 2011
Lightweight United States Michael Chandler Brazil Patricky Pitbull Bellator 44 May 14, 2011
Featherweight Brazil Patrício Pitbull United States Daniel Straus Bellator 45 May 21, 2011

^ 1: Tournament determined the inaugural Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion.

Bellator Fighting Championships: 2011 Summer Series

[edit]

(June 25, 2011 - August 20, 2011)

Weight Division Champion Runner-up Event Date
Featherweight United States Pat Curran (2) Brazil Marlon Sandro Bellator 48 Aug 20, 2011

Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Five

[edit]

(September 27, 2011 - November 26, 2011)

Weight Division Champion Runner-up Event Date
Heavyweight[1] United States Eric Prindle Brazil Thiago Santos Bellator 62 Mar 23, 2012
Middleweight[2] Russia Alexander Shlemenko (2) Brazil Vitor Vianna Bellator 57 Nov 12, 2011
Welterweight Brazil Douglas Lima United States Ben Saunders Bellator 57 Nov 12, 2011
Bantamweight Brazil Eduardo Dantas Cuba Alexis Vila Bellator 59 Nov 26, 2011

^ 1: Following a no contest in the finals at Bellator 59, a rematch between Prindle and Santos was cancelled at Bellator 61, and again at Bellator 62 when Santos was unable to make weight. Prindle was awarded the tournament victory.[23]
^ 2: Shlemenko next faced Season Six tournament winner Maiquel Falcão for the vacant middleweight title.

Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Six

[edit]

(March 9, 2012 - May 25, 2012)

Weight Division Champion Runner-up Event Date
Middleweight[1] Brazil Maiquel Falcão Sweden Andreas Spång Bellator 69 May 18, 2012
Welterweight France Karl Amoussou United States Bryan Baker Bellator 72 Jul 20, 2012
Lightweight United States Rick Hawn United States Brent Weedman Bellator 70 May 25, 2012
Featherweight United States Daniel Straus Brazil Marlon Sandro Bellator 68 May 11, 2012
Bantamweight Brazil Marcos Galvão Brazil Luis Nogueira Bellator 73 Aug 24, 2012

^ 1: Falcão next faced Season Five tournament winner Alexander Shlemenko for the vacant middleweight title.

Bellator Fighting Championships: 2012 Summer Series

[edit]

(June 22, 2012 - July 24, 2012)

Weight Division Champion Runner-up Event Date
Light Heavyweight Slovakia Attila Vegh United States Travis Wiuff Bellator 73 Aug 24, 2012

Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Seven

[edit]

(September 28, 2012 - December 14, 2012)

Weight Division Champion Runner-up Event Date
Heavyweight[1] Russia Alexander Volkov United States Richard Hale Bellator 84 Dec 14, 2012
Welterweight Russia Andrey Koreshkov United States Lyman Good Bellator 82 Nov 30, 2012
Lightweight[2] United States Dave Jansen Poland Marcin Held Bellator 93 Mar 21, 2013
Featherweight Russia Shahbulat Shamhalaev United States Rad Martinez Bellator 90 Feb 21, 2013

^ 1: Tournament determined the new Bellator Heavyweight champion.
^ 2: After an extended layoff due to injury, Jansen would choose to forfeit his title shot for the opportunity to take an immediate fight upon his return.[24]

Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Eight

[edit]

(January 17, 2013 - April 4, 2013)

Weight Division Champion Runner-up Event Date
Light Heavyweight[1] United States Emanuel Newton Russia Mikhail Zayats Bellator 94 Mar 28, 2013
Middleweight United States Doug Marshall United States Brett Cooper Bellator 95 April 4, 2013
Welterweight[3] Brazil Douglas Lima (2) United States Ben Saunders Bellator 100 Sep 20, 2013
Lightweight United States David Rickels United States Saad Awad Bellator 94 Mar 28, 2013
Featherweight[2] Russia Magomedrasul Khasbulaev United States Mike Richman Bellator 95 Apr 4, 2013

^ 1: Newton next faced 2013 Summer Series tournament winner Muhammed Lawal for the Interim Light Heavyweight title.
^ 2: After repeated visa issues prevented Khasbulaev from returning to the USA to claim his title shot, the fighter was granted his release from the promotion in December 2014.[25]
^ 3: Lima next faced Season Nine tournament winner Rick Hawn for the vacant welterweight title.

Bellator Fighting Championships: 2013 Summer Series

[edit]

(June 19, 2013 - July 31, 2013)
All three tournaments were shortened, four-man tournaments instead of the standard eight.

Weight Division Champion Runner-up Event Date
Heavyweight Russia Vitaly Minakov United States Ryan Martinez Bellator 97 Jul 31, 2013
Light Heavyweight[1] United States Muhammed Lawal United States Jacob Noe Bellator 97 Jul 31, 2013
Bantamweight[2] Brazil Rafael Silva United States Anthony Leone Bellator 102 Oct 4, 2013

^ 1: Lawal next faced Season Eight tournament winner Emanuel Newton for the Interim Light Heavyweight title.
^ 2: Silva next faced Season Nine tournament winner Joe Warren for the Interim Bantamweight title.

Bellator MMA: Season Nine

[edit]

(September 7, 2013 - November 22, 2013)

Weight Division Champion Runner-up Event Date
Heavyweight[1] France Cheick Kongo Australia Peter Graham Bellator 107 November 8, 2013
Middleweight United States Brennan Ward Denmark Mikkel Parlo Bellator 107 Nov 8, 2013
Welterweight[2] United States Rick Hawn (2) United States Ron Keslar Bellator 109 Nov 22, 2013
Lightweight[3] United States Will Brooks Russia Alexander Sarnavskiy Bellator 109 Nov 22, 2013
Featherweight Brazil Patrício Pitbull (2) United States Justin Wilcox Bellator 108 Nov 15, 2013
Bantamweight[1][4] United States Joe Warren (2) United States Travis Marx Bellator 107 Nov 8, 2013

^ 1: Tournament was a shortened, four-man tournament instead of the standard eight.
^ 2: Hawn next faced Season Eight tournament winner Douglas Lima for the vacant welterweight title.
^ 3: Brooks next faced former champion Michael Chandler for the Interim Lightweight Championship at Bellator 120. Chandler was originally scheduled for an immediate rematch with champion Eddie Alvarez at the event.[26]
^ 4: Warren next faced 2013 Summer Series tournament winner Rafael Silva for the Interim Bantamweight title.

Bellator MMA: Season Ten

[edit]

(February 28, 2014 – May 17, 2014)

Weight Division Champion Runner-up Event Date
Heavyweight[1] Russia Alexander Volkov (2) Bulgaria Blagoy Ivanov Bellator 120 May 17, 2014
Light Heavyweight[2][3] United States Quinton Jackson United States Muhammed Lawal Bellator 120 May 17, 2014
Middleweight[2] United States Brandon Halsey United States Brett Cooper Bellator 122 July 25, 2014
Welterweight Russia Andrey Koreshkov (2) United States Adam McDonough Bellator 122 Jul 25, 2014
Lightweight[1] Poland Marcin Held Brazil Patricky Pitbull Bellator 126 Sep 26, 2014
Featherweight[1] Germany Daniel Weichel United States Desmond Green Bellator 119 May 9, 2014

^ 1: Despite initial assurances to the contrary,[27][28] Bellator's new management would not honor the title shots Volkov, Weichel and Held earned while under the tournament format.
^ 2: Tournament was a shortened, four-man tournament instead of the standard eight.
^ 3: Jackson would end up leaving Bellator MMA for the UFC and never claim his title shot.[29]

Bellator MMA: 2014 Summer Series

[edit]

(June 6, 2014 – July 25, 2014)

Weight Division Champion Runner-up Event Date
Light Heavyweight United Kingdom Liam McGeary United States Kelly Anundson Bellator 124 Sep 14, 2014

Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1

[edit]

(September 19, 2015)
A one night, four-man light heavyweight tournament.

Weight Division Champion Runner-up Event Date
Light Heavyweight United States Phil Davis France Francis Carmont Bellator 142: Dynamite 1 Sep 19, 2015

Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament

[edit]

(January 20, 2018 - January 26, 2019)
Year long, eight-man heavyweight tournament to crown a new heavyweight champion.

Weight Division Champion Runner-up Event Date
Heavyweight United States Ryan Bader Russia Fedor Emelianenko Bellator 214: Fedor vs. Bader Jan 26, 2019

Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix Tournament

[edit]

(September 29, 2018 - October 26, 2019)
Year long, eight-man welterweight tournament. Current welterweight champion, Rory MacDonald, is a participant and will defend the title until the end of the tournament. If he loses, the winner will be declared the new linear champion.

Weight Division Champion Runner-up Event Date
Welterweight Brazil Douglas Lima (3) Canada Rory MacDonald Bellator 232 Oct 26, 2019

Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix Tournament

[edit]

(September 28, 2019 - July 31, 2021)
Year long, sixteen-man featherweight tournament. Current featherweight champion, Patrício Freire, is a participant and will defend the title until the end of the tournament. If he loses, the winner will be declared the new linear champion.

Weight Division Champion Runner-up Event Date
Featherweight United States A. J. McKee Brazil Patrício Pitbull Bellator 263 Jul 31, 2021

Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament

[edit]

(April 9, 2021 - November 18, 2022)
Year long, eight-man Light Heavyweight tournament. Current Light Heavyweight champion, Vadim Nemkov, is a participant and will defend the title until the end of the tournament. If he loses, the winner will be declared the new linear champion.

Weight Division Champion Runner-up Event Date
Light Heavyweight Russia Vadim Nemkov United States Corey Anderson Bellator 288 Nov 18, 2022

Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Tournament

[edit]

(April 22, 2022 - April 22, 2023)
Year long, ten-man Bantamweight tournament.

Weight Division Champion Runner-up Event Date
Bantamweight United States Patchy Mix United States Raufeon Stots Bellator 295 April 22, 2023

Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix Tournament

[edit]

(March 10, 2023 - Present)
Year long, eight-man Bantamweight tournament. Current Lightweight champion, Usman Nurmagomedov, is a participant and will defend the title until the end of the tournament. If he loses, the winner will be declared the new linear champion.

Weight Division Champion Runner-up Event Date
Lightweight TBD TBD TBD

Champions by nationality

[edit]

The division champions includes only linear champions. Interim champions who have never become linear champions will be listed as interim champions. Fighters with multiple title reigns in a specific division will also be counted once. Tournaments runners-up are not included.

Country Division champions Interim champions Tournament champions Total
United States United States 26 2 29 55
Brazil Brazil 9 — 9 18
Russia Russia 5 1 9 15
Canada Canada 2 — — 2
Cuba Cuba 1 — 1 2
Democratic Republic of the Congo D.R. Congo 1 — 1 2
United Kingdom United Kingdom 1 — 1 2
Slovakia Slovakia 1 — 1 2
Japan Japan 1 — — 1
Netherlands Netherlands 1 — — 1
Ukraine Ukraine 1 — — 1
France France — — 2 2
Germany Germany — — 1 1
Poland Poland — — 1 1

Records

[edit]

Most wins in title bouts

[edit]

The following includes all fighters with three or more championship and/or interim championship title wins. Fighters with the same number of title wins are arranged in order of less title bouts losses. Tournament championships are not included.

Title wins Champion Weight class V D NC L
13 Brazil Patrício Pitbull Lightweight
Featherweight
Bantamweight 		1
12
0		 0
0
0		 0
0
0		 0
3
1
6 United States Michael Chandler Lightweight 6 0 0 5
United States Ryan Bader Heavyweight
Light Heavyweight 		4
2		 0
0		 1
0		 0
1
Brazil Cris Cyborg Women's Featherweight 6 0 0 0
5 Brazil Eduardo Dantas Bantamweight 5 0 0 2
United States Ilima-Lei Macfarlane Women's Flyweight 5 0 0 2
Netherlands Gegard Mousasi Middleweight 5 0 0 2
United States Ben Askren Welterweight 5 0 0 0
Russia Vadim Nemkov Light Heavyweight 5 0 1 0
4
Brazil Douglas Lima Middleweight
Welterweight 		0
4		 0
0		 0
0		 1
4
United States Pat Curran Lightweight
Featherweight 		0
4		 0
0		 0
0		 1
2
Russia Alexander Shlemenko Middleweight 4 0 0 2
Canada Julia Budd Women's Featherweight 4 0 0 1
United States Emanuel Newton Light Heavyweight 4 0 0 1
Brazil Rafael Carvalho Middleweight 4 0 0 1
United States Will Brooks Lightweight 4 0 0 0
United States Liz Carmouche Women's Flyweight 4 0 0 0
United States Johnny Eblen Middleweight 4 0 0 0

Most consecutive title defenses

[edit]

The following includes all Bellator champions who were able to consecutively defend their title two times or more. Fighters with the same number of title defenses are listed chronologically.

Defenses Champion Weight class Span Days
5 Brazil Patrício Pitbull Featherweight Apr 21, 2017 – July 31, 2021 1562
Brazil Cris Cyborg Women's Featherweight Jan 25, 2020 – present 1758
4 United States Ben Askren Welterweight Oct 21, 2010 – July 31, 2013 1014
United States Ilima-Lei Macfarlane Women's Flyweight Nov 3, 2017 – Dec 10, 2020 1133
Russia Vadim Nemkov Light Heavyweight Aug 21, 2020 – Jan 17, 2024 1251
3 Russia Alexander Shlemenko Middleweight Feb 7, 2013 – Sep 26, 2014 596
Brazil Rafael Carvalho Middleweight Oct 23, 2015 – May 25, 2018 945
Canada Julia Budd Women's Featherweight Mar 3, 2017 – Jan 25, 2020 1058
United States Ryan Bader Heavyweight Jan 26, 2019 - present 2122
United States Liz Carmouche Women's Flyweight April 22, 2022 - present 940
United States Johnny Eblen Middleweight June 24, 2022 - present 877

Multi-division champions

[edit]

Fighters who have won championships in multiple weight classes.[30] Tournament champions are not included.

Interim title
No. Champion Division Won Lost Defenses Reign Total Reign
1 United States Joe Warren Featherweight Sep 2, 2010
(Bellator 27) 		Mar 9, 2012
(Bellator 60) 		0 554 days 723 days
Bantamweight May 2, 2014
(Bellator 118) 		Oct 10, 2014
(Bellator 128) 		0 –
Oct 10, 2014
(Bellator 128) 		Mar 27, 2015
(Bellator 135) 		0 169 days
2 United States Ryan Bader Light Heavyweight Jun 24, 2017
(Bellator 180) 		Aug 21, 2020
(Bellator 244) 		1 1154 days
3276 days
Heavyweight Jan 26, 2019
(Bellator 214) 		present 3 2122 days
3 Brazil Patrício Pitbull Featherweight Sep 5, 2014
(Bellator 123) 		Nov 6, 2015
(Bellator 145) 		2 428 days 3816 days
Apr 21, 2017
(Bellator 178) 		Jul 31, 2021
(Bellator 263) 		5 1562 days
Apr 15, 2022
(Bellator 277) 		present 2 947 days
Lightweight May 11, 2019
(Bellator 221) 		Oct 6, 2021
(Vacated) 		0 879 days

Simultaneous two division champions

[edit]

This table, different from the previous one, only counts the periods in which the fighter loaded the titles simultaneously and the defenses in that period of time.

No. Champion Division Span Defenses Simultaneous Reign
1 United States Ryan Bader Heavyweight Jan 26, 2019 – Aug 21, 2020 0 573 days
Light Heavyweight 1
2 Brazil Patrício Pitbull Lightweight May 11, 2019 – Jul 31, 2021 0 812 days
Featherweight 3

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Whitman, Mike. "Viacom Buys Stake in Bellator; Promotion Headed to Spike by 2013". Sherdog.com. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  2. ^ "Bellator announces championship-rematch clause with move to Spike TV". MMAjunkie.com. November 26, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  3. ^ "Bellator's 'Summer Series' returns with three four-man tournaments". MMAjunkie.com. April 10, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  4. ^ Erickson, Matt (May 4, 2013). "Rebney open to holding four-man tourneys in Bellator's regular season". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  5. ^ "Bellator institutes 'tournament champion replacement clause' for title fights". MMAjunkie.com. August 13, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  6. ^ Critchfield, Tristen. "New Bellator Rule Allows Former Tourney Winners to Fight for Title at Any Time". Sherdog.com. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  7. ^ Stupp, Dann (June 18, 2014). "Bellator announces departure of executives Bjorn Rebney and Tim Danaher". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  8. ^ Marrocco, Steven (August 18, 2014). "Scott Coker: Bellator moving to monthly events in 2015; Spike TV to remain focus". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  9. ^ a b "Bellator Fighters". bellator.com. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  10. ^ "Bellator confirms retirement of heavyweight champ Cole Konrad; title's future to be decided". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on September 16, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  11. ^ a b Mike Sloan (May 14, 2016). "Bellator cuts lightweight champ Will Brooks, strips Heavyweight champ Vitaly Minakov". sherdog.com. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  12. ^ "Vadim Nemkov officially vacates Bellator light heavyweight title". MMA Junkie. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  13. ^ "Bellator Champ Hector Lombard Jumps to the UFC". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  14. ^ Mike Sloan (May 14, 2015). "Bellator 137 Weigh-in Results: Brandon Halsey Misses Weight, Stripped of Title". sherdog.com. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  15. ^ "Rafael Lovato Jr. relinquishes Bellator middleweight title due to ongoing medical condition". MMAFighting.com. February 10, 2020.
  16. ^ "Bellator releases welterweight champion Ben Askren". mmajunkie.com. November 14, 2013. Archived from the original on November 14, 2013.
  17. ^ Alexander, Mookie (August 19, 2014). "Bellator releases lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez". BloodyElbow.com. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  18. ^ Steven Rondina, Mookie. "Bellator Lightweight Champ Will Brooks Released, Fight for Vacant Title Booked". Bleacherreport. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  19. ^ Mike Heck (October 6, 2021). "Patricio Pitbull vacates lightweight title; Peter Queally vs. Patricky Pitbull elevated to title fight at Bellator 270". MMAFighting.com. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  20. ^ "Kyoji Horiguchi Vacates Bellator Bantamweight Title Due to Injury". November 27, 2019.
  21. ^ "Inaugural Bellator Flyweight Title Fight Fizzles After Accidental Eye Poke". cagesidepress.com.
  22. ^ Whitman, Mike. "Zoila Frausto Gurgel Signs with Invicta FC, Makes April Debut Against Jennifer Maia". sherdog.com. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  23. ^ "Bellator 62 weigh-in results: Thiago Santos heavy, Eric Prindle awarded tournament win". mmajunkie.com. March 22, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  24. ^ Marrocco, Steven (September 15, 2014). "Sidelined 18 months, tourney champ Dave Jansen returns at Bellator 130 vs. Rick Hawn". MMAJunkie.com. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  25. ^ Raimondi, Marc (January 27, 2015). "'One of the saddest stories in MMA':Where has former Bellator standout Frodo Khasbulaev been?". mmafighting.com. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  26. ^ Stupp, Dann (May 10, 2014). "Bellator 120 to remain on PPV, Chandler meets replacement Brooks for interim title". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  27. ^ "Scott Coker: Bellator moving to monthly events in 2015; Spike TV to remain focus". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  28. ^ "Four title fights highlight Bellator's first three events of 2015". mmafighting.com. November 15, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  29. ^ "After 3-0 Bellator run, 'Rampage' Jackson re-signs with UFC for expected 2015 return". mmajunkie.com. December 21, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  30. ^ "MMA All-time Record Holders". sportsillustrated. Archived from the original on May 17, 2012.
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