2021 in Bellator MMA
Information
PromotionBellator MMA
First date airedApril 2, 2021 (2021-04-02)
Last date airedDecember 3, 2021 (2021-12-03)
Events
Total events18
Fights
Title fights13
← 2020
2022 →

2021 in Bellator MMA was the thirteenth year in the history of Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. Bellator held 18 events in 2021.

Background

The promotion went on a hiatus following Bellator 254 on December 10, 2020, which would be the final card to air on CBS Sports Network.[1] Beginning in April, Bellator's U.S broadcasts moved to the premium Showtime network.[2] Bellator 255, which took place on April 2, 2021, was the promotion's debut on Showtime, and the first MMA card to air on the network in over eight years; the last event being Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine on January 12, 2013.

Events list

Main article: List of Bellator events

Past events

# Event Date Venue City Country Atten. Ref.
18 Bellator 272: Pettis vs. Horiguchi December 3, 2021 Mohegan Sun Arena Uncasville, Connecticut U.S. [3]
17 Bellator 271: Cyborg vs. Kavanagh November 12, 2021 Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood Hollywood, Florida [4]
16 Bellator 270: Queally vs. Pitbull 2 November 5, 2021 3Arena Dublin Ireland [5]
15 Bellator 269: Fedor vs. Johnson October 23, 2021 VTB Arena Moscow Russia [6]
14 Bellator 268: Nemkov vs. Anglickas October 16, 2021 Footprint Center Phoenix, Arizona U.S. [7]
13 Bellator 267: Lima vs. MVP 2 October 1, 2021 Wembley Arena London England [8]
12 Bellator 266: Davis vs. Romero September 18, 2021 SAP Center San Jose, California U.S. [9]
11 Bellator 265: Kongo vs. Kharitonov August 20, 2021 Sanford Pentagon Sioux Falls, South Dakota [10]
10 Bellator 264: Mousasi vs. Salter August 13, 2021 Mohegan Sun Arena Uncasville, Connecticut [11]
9 Bellator 263: Pitbull vs. McKee July 31, 2021 The Forum Inglewood, California [12]
8 Bellator 262: Velasquez vs. Kielholtz July 16, 2021 Mohegan Sun Arena Uncasville, Connecticut [13]
7 Bellator 261: Johnson vs. Moldavsky June 25, 2021 [14]
6 Bellator 260: Lima vs. Amosov June 11, 2021 [15]
5 Bellator 259: Cyborg vs. Smith 2 May 21, 2021 0 [16]
4 Bellator 258: Archuleta vs. Pettis May 7, 2021 [17]
3 Bellator 257: Nemkov vs. Davis 2 Apr 16, 2021 [18]
2 Bellator 256: Bader vs. Machida 2 Apr 9, 2021 [19]
1 Bellator 255: Pitbull vs. Sanchez 2 Apr 2, 2021 [20]

Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix Tournament

Current featherweight champion, Patrício Freire, is a participant and if he were to lose, the victor will be declared lineal champion until he loses or wins the tournament and becomes undisputed champion.

 
Opening roundQuarterfinalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
              
 
 
 
 
 United States A. J. McKee KO
 
 
 
 Armenia Georgi Karakhanyan 1
 
 United States A. J. McKee SUB
 
 
 
 United States Derek Campos 3
 
 United States Derek Campos UD
 
 
 
 United States Daniel Straus 3
 
 United States A. J. McKee SUB
 
 
 
 United States Darrion Caldwell 1
 
 United States Darrion Caldwell UD
 
 
 
 United States Henry Corrales 3
 
 United States Darrion Caldwell SUB
 
 
 
 Hungary Ádám Borics 1
 
 Hungary Ádám Borics TKO
 
 
 
 United States Pat Curran 2
 
 United States A. J. McKee SUB
 
 
 
 Brazil Patrício Pitbull (c) 1
 
 Brazil Patrício Pitbull (c) UD
 
 
 
 United States Juan Archuleta 5
 
 Brazil Patrício Pitbull (c) KO
 
 
 
 Portugal Pedro Carvalho 1
 
 Portugal Pedro Carvalho SUB
 
 
 
 United States Sam Sicilia 2
 
 Brazil Patrício Pitbull (c) SUB
 
 
 
 United States Emmanuel Sanchez 1
 
 United States Emmanuel Sanchez SUB
 
 
 
 United States Tywan Claxton 2
 
 United States Emmanuel Sanchez UD
 
 
 
 Germany Daniel Weichel 5
 
 Germany Daniel Weichel UD
 
 
 United Kingdom Saul Rogers 3
 

Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Russia Vadim Nemkov (c) UD
 
 
 
 United States Phil Davis 5
 
 Russia Vadim Nemkov (c) SUB
 
 
 
 Lithuania Julius Anglickas[a] 4
 
 United States Anthony Johnson KO
 
 
 
 Brazil Jose Augusto 2
 
 Russia Vadim Nemkov (c) UD
 
 
 
 United States Corey Anderson 5[b]
 
 United States Corey Anderson TKO
 
 
 
 Turkmenistan Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov 3
 
 United States Corey Anderson TKO
 
 
 
 United States Ryan Bader 1
 
 United States Ryan Bader UD
 
 
 Brazil Lyoto Machida 5
 
  1. ^ Julius Anglickas replaced an injured Anthony Johnson.[21]
  2. ^ Original final match was held at Bellator 277 and ended in a No Contest;[22] A rematch final took place November 18, 2022 at Bellator 288.[23]

Title fights

Title fights in 2021
Weight class Method Round Time Event Notes
Featherweight Patrício Pitbull (c) def. Emmanuel Sanchez Technical Submission (guillotine choke) 1 3:35 Bellator 255 [a]
Light Heavyweight Vadim Nemkov (c) def. Phil Davis Decision (unanimous) (48–47, 48–47, 48–47) 5 5:00 Bellator 257 [b]
Bantamweight Sergio Pettis def. Juan Archuleta (c) Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 49–46, 49–46) 5 5:00 Bellator 258 [c]
Women's Featherweight Cris Cyborg (c) def. Leslie Smith TKO (punches) 5 4:51 Bellator 259 [d]
Welterweight Yaroslav Amosov def. Douglas Lima (c) Decision (unanimous) (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) 5 5:00 Bellator 260 [e]
Heavyweight Valentin Moldavsky def. Timothy Johnson Decision (unanimous) (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) 5 5:00 Bellator 261 [f]
Women's Flyweight Juliana Velasquez (c) def. Denise Kielholtz Decision (split) (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) 5 5:00 Bellator 262 [g]
Featherweight A. J. McKee def. Patrício Pitbull (c) Technical Submission (guillotine choke) 1 1:57 Bellator 263 [h]
Middleweight Gegard Mousasi (c) def. John Salter TKO (punches) 3 2:07 Bellator 264 [i]
Light Heavyweight Vadim Nemkov (c) def. Julius Anglickas Submission (kimura) 4 4:25 Bellator 268 [j]
Lightweight Patricky Pitbull def. Peter Queally TKO (punches) 2 1:05 Bellator 270 [k]
Women's Featherweight Cris Cyborg (c) def. Sinead Kavanagh KO (punches) 1 1:32 Bellator 271 [l]
Bantamweight Sergio Pettis (c) def. Kyoji Horiguchi KO (spinning backfist) 4 3:24 Bellator 272 [m]
  1. ^ For the Bellator Featherweight World Championship
  2. ^ For the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship
  3. ^ For the Bellator Bantamweight World Championship
  4. ^ For the Bellator Women's Featherweight World Championship.
  5. ^ For the Bellator Welterweight World Championship.
  6. ^ For the interim Bellator Heavyweight World Championship.
  7. ^ For the Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship.
  8. ^ For the Bellator Featherweight World Championship
  9. ^ For the Bellator Middleweight World Championship.
  10. ^ For the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship
  11. ^ For the vacant Bellator Lightweight World Championship.
  12. ^ For the Bellator Women's Featherweight World Championship.
  13. ^ For the Bellator Bantamweight World Championship.

See also

References

  1. ^ Steven Marrocco (February 3, 2021). "Bellator targets April 9 for 2021 return in familiar venue". mmafighting.com.
  2. ^ Brent Brookhouse (2021-02-09). "Bellator set for Showtime debut in April as star-studded Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix headlines slate". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
  3. ^ Martin, Damon (2021-10-20). "Sergio Pettis defends bantamweight title against Kyoji Horiguchi at Bellator event on Dec. 3". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  4. ^ Heck, Mike (2021-10-06). "Cris Cyborg vs. Sinead Kavanagh featherweight title fight set for Bellator 271". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-10-06.
  5. ^ "Bellator zeroes in on James Gallagher vs. Patchy Mix grudge match in Ireland". MMA Junkie. 2021-07-21. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  6. ^ Lee, Alexander K. (2021-06-25). "Bellator announces Fedor Emelianenko return bout on Oct. 23 in Moscow, opponent to be determined". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-06-25.
  7. ^ "Sources: Nemkov-Johnson among Bellator semis". ESPN.com. 2021-07-31. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
  8. ^ "Bellator London fight card: Douglas Lima vs. Michael 'Venom' Page 2 to headline return to England". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  9. ^ Helwani, Ariel. "Yoel Romero's Bellator debut is set (again)". arielhelwani.substack.com. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
  10. ^ "Bellator 265 heads to South Dakota, adds Alejandra Lara vs. DeAnna Bennett matchup". MMA Junkie. 2021-07-19. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  11. ^ "Gegard Mousasi to defend title vs. John Salter at Bellator 264 in Connecticut". MMA Junkie. 2021-06-25. Retrieved 2021-06-25.
  12. ^ Cruz, Guilherme (2021-06-10). "Patricio Pitbull vs. AJ McKee grand prix final set for July 30 Bellator event". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  13. ^ "Velasquez to defend Bellator title vs. Kielholtz". ESPN.com. 2021-05-21. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  14. ^ Heck, Mike (2021-05-07). "Tim Johnson vs. Valentin Moldavsky set for promotion's first interim heavyweight title fight at Bellator 261". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  15. ^ "Bellator 260 set for June with Douglas Lima vs. Yaroslav Amosov headliner". MMA Junkie. 2021-04-15. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  16. ^ Anderson, Jay (2 April 2021). "Cris Cyborg vs. Leslie Smith 2 Announced for Bellator 259". Cageside Press. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  17. ^ Nolan King (February 9, 2021). "Bellator 258 set for May 7, headlined by Juan Archuleta vs. Sergio Pettis title fight". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  18. ^ Bohn, Mike (17 April 2021). "Bellator 257 post-event facts: Is 6-foot-8 Steve Mowry a contender?". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  19. ^ Bohn, Mike (11 April 2021). "Bellator 256 post-event facts: Lyoto Machida falls to 0-4 in rematches". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  20. ^ Bohn, Mike (3 April 2021). "Bellator 255 post-event facts: Patricio 'Pitbull' hits new milestones on epic resume". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  21. ^ King, Nolan (18 September 2021). "With Anthony Johnson out, Julius Anglickas joins Bellator grand prix to fight Vadim Nemkov Title". MMAjunkie.com. Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  22. ^ Anderson, Jay (15 April 2022). "Bellator 277: Clash of Heads Leads to No Contest in Vadim Nemkov vs. Corey Anderson". Cageside Press. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  23. ^ Al-Shatti, Shaun (29 August 2022). "Corey Anderson vs. Vadim Nemkov 2 headlines championship doubleheader at Bellator 288". MMA Fighting. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.

External links

Bellator MMA events
2021 in mixed martial arts
Categories