Bellator MMA in 2020


2020 is the twelfth year in the history of Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States.

Background

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Bellator would go on haitus after its 240th numbered event on February 22, 2020. The promotion would resume holding events with Bellator 242 on July 24.

[|Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix] Tournament

Event list

Bellator 238

Bellator 238: Budd vs. Cyborg took place on January 25, 2020 at The Forum in Inglewood, California. The event aired live on DAZN.
Background
The event featured a Bellator Women's Featherweight World Championship bout between the champion Julia Budd and former Strikeforce, Invicta, and UFC champion Cris Cyborg.
Results

Bellator 239

Bellator 239: Ruth vs. Amosov took place on February 21, 2020 at WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma. The event aired live on Paramount Network and DAZN.
The event featured a welterweight bout between Ed Ruth and undefeated Yaroslav Amosov.
Results

Bellator Dublin 2/Bellator 240

Bellator Dublin/Bellator 240 took place on February 22, 2020 at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.
Background
This was the first event of the second year of the Bellator European Series. The event was to be headlined by a bantamweight bout between James Gallagher and Cal Ellenor. However, on February 4, it was announced that Gallagher pulled out of the event due to a back injury, thus a women's featherweight bout between Leah McCourt and Judith Ruis was bumped to the main event.
The fights billed as Bellator 240 will be held on tape-delay on Paramount Network and DAZN and will feature a lightweight bout between former Bellator Lightweight World Champion Brent Primus and Peter Queally. However, Queally pulled out due to injury. Primus instead fought Chris Bungard.
Results

Bellator 241 (Cancelled)

Bellator 241: Pitbull vs. Carvalho was a scheduled event to take place on March 13, 2020 at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. The event was scheduled to be live on DAZN.
Background
The event was expected to feature a Bellator Featherweight World Championship bout between the champion Patrício Freire and Pedro Carvalho.
A heavyweight between former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett and Ronny Markes was expected for the event. The original meeting was scheduled for Bellator 235, but Barnett was pulled out an hour before the fight due to illness and the fight was rebooked for this event. Reports came out stating that Barnett was pulled due to a failed drug test, but Mike Mazzulli, head of the Mohegan Tribe Athletic Department, announced that the reports were false. However on March 4, it was announced that Barnett was officially off the card, which Mazzulli announced that a failed medical test was the reason for Barnett's removal and Bellator then announced that Matt Mitrione would replace Barnett against Markes.
On March 13, the day of the event, Bellator President Scott Coker announced that the event would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
Cancelled Fight card

Bellator 242 (Cancelled)

Bellator 242: Bader vs. Nemkov was a scheduled event to take place on May 9, 2020 at SAP Center in San Jose, California. The event was scheduled to be live on Paramount Network and DAZN.
Background
The event was expected to feature a Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship bout between the champion Ryan Bader and Vadim Nemkov.
On March 30, Bellator announced that the event would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
Cancelled Fight card

Bellator London 3 (Cancelled)

Bellator London: Gallagher vs. Ellenor was a scheduled event to take place on May 16, 2020 at SSE Arena in London, England as part of the Bellator European Fight Series. The event was scheduled to be live on Channel 5.
Background
The event was expected to feature a bantamweight bout between rivals James Gallagher and Cal Ellenor.
On March 30, Bellator announced that the event would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
Cancelled Fight card

Bellator 243 (Cancelled)

Bellator 243: Carmouche vs. Bohm was a scheduled event to take place on May 29, 2020 at Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California. The event was scheduled to be live on Paramount Network and DAZN.
Background
The event was expected to feature a women's flyweight bout between former UFC title contender Liz Carmouche and Mandy Bohm.
On March 30, Bellator announced that the event would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
Cancelled Fight card

Bellator 244 (Cancelled)

Bellator 244: Chandler vs. Henderson 2 was a scheduled event to take place on June 6, 2020 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. The event was scheduled to be live on DAZN.
Background
The event was expected to feature a rematch between former Bellator world champion Michael Chandler and former UFC and WEC world champion Benson Henderson, with Chandler having won the first bout.
Additionally, a semi-final matchup in the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix between former bantamweight champ Darrion Caldwell and A.J. McKee was scheduled for the card.
On April 21, Bellator announced that the event would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
Cancelled Fight card

Bellator 242

Bellator 242: Bandejas vs. Pettis took place on July 24, 2020 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The event aired live on Paramount Network and DAZN.
Bellator 242 marked the organization's return to live events following a shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was held behind closed doors without fans in attendance.
Results

Bellator 243

Bellator 243: Chandler vs. Henderson 2 was initially scheduled to take place as Bellator 244 on June 6, 2020 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. However, the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was announced that the event be rescheduled as Bellator 243 on August 7 from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Background
The event will feature a men's lightweight rematch between former three-time Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler and former WEC and UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson.
Fight card

Bellator 244

Bellator 244: Bader vs. Nemkov is scheduled to take place on August 21, 2020 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Background
The event will feature a men's light heavyweight championship match between the current champion Ryan Bader and the number one contender Vadim Nemkov.
Fight card

Bellator 245

Bellator 245: Machida vs. Davis II will take place on September 11, 2020 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Background
Fight card

Bellator Dublin 3

Bellator Dublin: Queally vs. Pitbull will take place on October 3, 2020 at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.
Background
The event will feature a lightweight bout between Peter Queally and Patricky Freire.
Fight card

Bellator Milan 2

Bellator Milan
Background
Fight card'''