2021 in Bellator MMA

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.

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

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, all Bellator cards will air exclusively on the premium Showtime network.[2] Bellator 255, taking place on April 2, 2021, will be 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 round
QuarterfinalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
              
 
 
 
 
 A. J. McKee KO
 
 
 
 Georgi Karakhanyan 1
 
 A. J. McKee SUB
 
 
 
 Derek Campos 3
 
 Derek Campos UD
 
 
 
 Daniel Straus 3
 
 A. J. McKee SUB
 
 
 
 Darrion Caldwell 1
 
 Darrion Caldwell UD
 
 
 
 Henry Corrales 3
 
 Darrion Caldwell SUB
 
 
 
 Ádám Borics 1
 
 Ádám Borics TKO
 
 
 
 Pat Curran 2
 
 A. J. McKee SUB
 
 
 
 Patricio Freire (c) 1
 
 Patricio Freire (c) UD
 
 
 
 Juan Archuleta 5
 
 Patricio Freire (c) KO
 
 
 
 Pedro Carvalho 1
 
 Pedro Carvalho SUB
 
 
 
 Sam Sicilia 2
 
 Patricio Freire (c) SUB
 
 
 
 Emmanuel Sanchez 1
 
 Emmanuel Sanchez SUB
 
 
 
 Tywan Claxton 2
 
 Emmanuel Sanchez UD
 
 
 
 Daniel Weichel 5
 
 Daniel Weichel UD
 
 
 Saul Rogers 3
 

Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament
 
Quarter-finals
Semi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Vadim Nemkov (c) UD
 
 
 
 Phil Davis 5
 
 Vadim Nemkov (c) SUB
 
 
 
 Julius Anglickas[lower-alpha 1] 4
 
 Anthony Johnson KO
 
 
 
 Jose Augusto 2
 
 Vadim Nemkov (c) NC[lower-alpha 2]
 
 
 
 Corey Anderson 3
 
 Corey Anderson TKO
 
 
 
 Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov 3
 
 Corey Anderson TKO
 
 
 
 Ryan Bader 1
 
 Ryan Bader UD
 
 
 Lyoto Machida 5
 
  1. Julius Anglickas replaced an injured Anthony Johnson.[21]
  2. Original final match ended in a No Contest; A rematch final is expected to happen.[22]

Title fights
Title fights in 2021
Weight class Method Round Time Event Notes
Featherweight Patricio Freire (c) def. Emmanuel Sanchez Technical Submission (guillotine choke) 1 3:35 Bellator 255 [lower-alpha 1]
Light Heavyweight Vadim Nemkov (c) def. Phil Davis Decision (unanimous) (48–47, 48–47, 48–47) 5 5:00 Bellator 257 [lower-alpha 2]
Bantamweight Sergio Pettis def. Juan Archuleta (c) Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 49–46, 49–46) 5 5:00 Bellator 258 [lower-alpha 3]
Women's Featherweight Cris Cyborg (c) def. Leslie Smith TKO (punches) 5 4:51 Bellator 259 [lower-alpha 4]
Welterweight Yaroslav Amosov def. Douglas Lima (c) Decision (unanimous) (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) 5 5:00 Bellator 260 [lower-alpha 5]
Heavyweight Valentin Moldavsky def. Timothy Johnson Decision (unanimous) (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) 5 5:00 Bellator 261 [lower-alpha 6]
Women's Flyweight Juliana Velasquez (c) def. Denise Kielholtz Decision (split) (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) 5 5:00 Bellator 262 [lower-alpha 7]
Featherweight A. J. McKee def. Patricio Freire (c) Technical Submission (guillotine choke) 1 1:57 Bellator 263 [lower-alpha 8]
Middleweight Gegard Mousasi (c) def. John Salter TKO (punches) 3 2:07 Bellator 264 [lower-alpha 9]
Light Heavyweight Vadim Nemkov (c) def. Julius Anglickas Submission (kimura) 4 4:25 Bellator 268 [lower-alpha 10]
Lightweight Patricky Pitbull def. Peter Queally TKO (punches) 2 1:05 Bellator 270 [lower-alpha 11]
Women's Featherweight Cris Cyborg (c) def. Sinead Kavanagh KO (punches) 1 1:32 Bellator 271 [lower-alpha 12]
Bantamweight Sergio Pettis (c) def. Kyoji Horiguchi KO (spinning backfist) 4 3:24 Bellator 272 [lower-alpha 13]
  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 (2021-09-18). "With Anthony Johnson out, Julius Anglickas joins Bellator grand prix to fight Vadim Nemkov Title". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
  22. Anderson, Jay; Anderson, Jay (2022-04-15). "Bellator 277: Clash of Heads Leads to No Contest in Vadim Nemkov vs. Corey Anderson". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
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