2021 in Bellator MMA

Last updated
2021 in Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA Logo.svg
Information
Promotion Bellator 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.

Contents

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

Past events

#EventDateVenueCityCountryAtten.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

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

Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
Flag of Russia.svg Vadim Nemkov (c) UD
 
 
 
Flag of the United States.svg Phil Davis 5
 
Flag of Russia.svg Vadim Nemkov (c) SUB
 
 
 
Flag of Lithuania.svg Julius Anglickas [lower-alpha 1] 4
 
Flag of the United States.svg Anthony Johnson KO
 
 
 
Flag of Brazil.svg Jose Augusto 2
 
Flag of Russia.svg Vadim Nemkov (c) UD
 
 
 
Flag of the United States.svg Corey Anderson 5 [lower-alpha 2]
 
Flag of the United States.svg Corey Anderson TKO
 
 
 
Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov 3
 
Flag of the United States.svg Corey Anderson TKO
 
 
 
Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Bader 1
 
Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Bader UD
 
 
Flag of Brazil.svg 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 classMethodRoundTimeEventNotes
Featherweight Patrício Pitbull (c)def. Emmanuel Sanchez Technical Submission (guillotine choke)13:35 Bellator 255 [lower-alpha 1]
Light Heavyweight Vadim Nemkov (c)def. Phil Davis Decision (unanimous) (48–47, 48–47, 48–47)55:00 Bellator 257 [lower-alpha 2]
Bantamweight Sergio Pettis def. Juan Archuleta (c)Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 49–46, 49–46)55:00 Bellator 258 [lower-alpha 3]
Women's Featherweight Cris Cyborg (c)def. Leslie Smith TKO (punches)54:51 Bellator 259 [lower-alpha 4]
Welterweight Yaroslav Amosov def. Douglas Lima (c)Decision (unanimous) (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)55:00 Bellator 260 [lower-alpha 5]
Heavyweight Valentin Moldavsky def. Timothy Johnson Decision (unanimous) (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)55:00 Bellator 261 [lower-alpha 6]
Women's Flyweight Juliana Velasquez (c)def. Denise Kielholtz Decision (split) (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)55:00 Bellator 262 [lower-alpha 7]
Featherweight A. J. McKee def. Patrício Pitbull (c)Technical Submission (guillotine choke)11:57 Bellator 263 [lower-alpha 8]
Middleweight Gegard Mousasi (c)def. John Salter TKO (punches)32:07 Bellator 264 [lower-alpha 9]
Light Heavyweight Vadim Nemkov (c)def. Julius Anglickas Submission (kimura)44:25 Bellator 268 [lower-alpha 10]
Lightweight Patricky Pitbull def. Peter Queally TKO (punches)21:05 Bellator 270 [lower-alpha 11]
Women's Featherweight Cris Cyborg (c)def. Sinead Kavanagh KO (punches)11:32 Bellator 271 [lower-alpha 12]
Bantamweight Sergio Pettis (c)def. Kyoji Horiguchi KO (spinning backfist)43:24 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

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