2023 in Bellator MMA

Bellator mixed martial arts events in 2023

2023 in Bellator MMA was the fifteenth year in the history of Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States.

2023 in Bellator MMA
Information
PromotionBellator MMA
First dateFebruary 4, 2023 (2023-02-04)
Last dateNovember 17, 2023 (2023-11-17)
Events
Total events13
Fights
Total fights179
Title fights15
← 2022
2024 →

Events list

# Event Date Venue City Country Ref.
13 Bellator 301: Amosov vs. Jackson November 17, 2023 Wintrust Arena Chicago, Illinois U.S. [1]
12 Bellator 300: Nurmagomedov vs. Primus October 7, 2023 Pechanga Arena San Diego, California [2]
11 Bellator 299: Eblen vs. Edwards September 23, 2023 3Arena Dublin Ireland [3]
10 Bellator 298: Storley vs. Ward August 11, 2023 Sanford Pentagon Sioux Falls, South Dakota U.S. [4]
9 Bellator MMA x Rizin 2 July 30, 2023 Saitama Super Arena Saitama Japan [5]
8 Bellator 297: Nemkov vs. Romero June 16, 2023 Wintrust Arena Chicago, Illinois U.S. [6]
7 Bellator 296: Mousasi vs. Edwards May 12, 2023 Accor Arena Paris France [7]
6 Bellator 295: Stots vs. Mix April 22, 2023 Neal S. Blaisdell Arena Honolulu, Hawaii U.S. [8]
5 Bellator 294: Carmouche vs. Bennett 2 April 21, 2023 [9]
4 Bellator 293: Golm vs. James March 31, 2023 Pechanga Resort and Casino Temecula, California [10]
3 Bellator 292: Nurmagomedov vs. Henderson March 10, 2023 SAP Center San Jose, California [11]
2 Bellator 291: Amosov vs. Storley 2 February 25, 2023 3Arena Dublin Ireland [12]
1 Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 February 4, 2023 Kia Forum Inglewood, California U.S. [13]

Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix Tournament

On September 28, 2022, Bellator president Scott Coker revealed in a The MMA Hour interview that a Lightweight World Grand Prix will take place in 2023.[14] On January 11, 2023, during an appearance on "The MMA Hour," Bellator president Scott Coker revealed the fighters taking part in the tournament. The lineup includes Usman Nurmagomedov, A.J. McKee, Tofiq Musayev, Alexandr Shabliy, Patricky Freire, Mansour Barnaoui, Benson Henderson, and Sidney Outlaw. The tournament kicked off at Bellator 292 on March 10 in San Jose, California.[15]

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
  Usman Nurmagomedov (c) SUB
 
 
 
  Benson Henderson 1
 
  Usman Nurmagomedov (c)[c] UD
 
 
 
  Brent Primus 5
 
  Mansour Barnaoui 5
 
 
 
  Brent Primus[a] UD
 
 
 
 
 
  Alexandr Shabliy[d]
 
  Tofiq Musayev 3
 
 
 
  Alexandr Shabliy TKO
 
  Alexandr Shabliy UD
 
 
 
  Patricky Pitbull 5
 
  Roberto de Souza[b] 3
 
 
  Patricky Pitbull TKO
 

[16]

  1. ^ Primus replaced Sidney Outlaw after he was suspended for a positive drug test.
  2. ^ de Souza replaced A. J. McKee after he withdrew due to medical issues. The bout took place at catchweight of 161 pounds.
  3. ^ Nurmagomedov's win was later overturned to a No Contest after he tested positive for a banned substance in a prescription drug. He was not stripped of the title due to the unintentional ingestion of the substance, but did receive a suspension.
  4. ^ The conclusion to the tournament was cancelled following the acquisition of Bellator MMA by Professional Fighters League in November 2023. Shabliy and Nurmagomedov did however eventually face each other the next year in a Lightweight Title bout at Bellator Champions Series 4, where Nurmagomedov won by unanimous decision.

Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Tournament

{{#section-h:2022 in Bellator MMA|Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Tournament}}

Title fights

Title fights in 2023
Weight class Method Round Time Event Notes
Middleweight Johnny Eblen (c) def. Anatoly Tokov Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 49–46, 49–46) 5 5:00 Bellator 290 [a]
Heavyweight Ryan Bader (c) def. Fedor Emelianenko TKO (punches) 1 2:30 Bellator 290 [b]
Welterweight Yaroslav Amosov (c) def. Logan Storley (ic) Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 50–45, 50–45) 5 5:00 Bellator 291 [c]
Lightweight Usman Nurmagomedov (c) def. Benson Henderson Submission (rear-naked choke) 1 2:37 Bellator 292 [d]
Women's Flyweight Liz Carmouche (c) def. DeAnna Bennett Submission (arm-triangle choke) 4 4:29 Bellator 294 [e]
Bantamweight Patchy Mix def. Raufeon Stots (ic) KO (knee) 1 1:20 Bellator 295 [f]
Bantamweight Sergio Pettis (c) def. Patrício Pitbull Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 50–45, 50–45) 5 5:00 Bellator 297 [g]
Light Heavyweight Vadim Nemkov (c) def. Yoel Romero Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 49–46, 49–46) 5 5:00 Bellator 297 [h]
Flyweight Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Makoto Takahashi No Contest (accidental eye poke) 1 0:25 Bellator MMA x Rizin 2 [i]
Middleweight Johnny Eblen (c) def. Fabian Edwards KO (punches) 3 0:21 Bellator 299 [j]
Women's Flyweight Liz Carmouche (c) def. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane TKO (leg kick) 5 0:17 Bellator 300 [k]
Women's Featherweight Cris Cyborg (c) def. Cat Zingano TKO (punches) 1 4:01 Bellator 300 [l]
Lightweight Usman Nurmagomedov (c) vs. Brent Primus No Contest (overturned) 5 5:00 Bellator 300 [m]
Bantamweight Patchy Mix (ic) def. Sergio Pettis (c) Submission (rear-naked choke) 2 1:51 Bellator 301 [n]
Welterweight Jason Jackson def. Yaroslav Amosov (c) KO (punches) 3 2:08 Bellator 301 [o]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Bellator MMA | Bellator 301". 17 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Bellator 300: Historic event set for Oct. 7 in San Diego with 4 title fights". MMA Junkie. 2023-08-09. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  3. ^ "Edwards beats Mousasi to set up Bellator title shot". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  4. ^ "Bellator 298 - Storley vs. Ward".
  5. ^ "Bellator MMA | BELLATOR x RIZIN: Pitbull vs. McKee". 30 July 2023.
  6. ^ Martin, Damon (2023-03-27). "Vadim Nemkov vs. Yoel Romero, Sergio Pettis vs. Patricio Pitbull headlines Bellator 297". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  7. ^ "Bellator Paris: Fabian Edwards to fight Gegard Mousasi in May middleweight title eliminator". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  8. ^ Sherdog.com. "Bellator Set for April Doubleheader in Hawaii with Carmouche vs. Bennett, Mix vs. Stots". Sherdog. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  9. ^ "Bellator MMA returning again to Hawaii in April". KHON2. 2023-02-15. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  10. ^ "Marcelo Golm vs. Daniel James, Cat Zingano vs. Leah McCourt headline Bellator 293 on March 31". MMA Junkie. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  11. ^ Lee, Alexander K. (2023-01-11). "Bellator 8-man Lightweight World Grand Prix lineup announced, Usman Nurmagomedov defends title against Benson Henderson at Bellator 292 on March 10". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  12. ^ Mike Bohn (2022-09-26). "Bellator announces return to Dublin on Feb. 24; Scott Coker promises 'amazing fight card'". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
  13. ^ "Emelianenko to fight Bader in retirement bout". ESPN.com. 2022-11-18. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  14. ^ Jed Meshew (September 28, 2022). "Scott Coker announces Bellator lightweight grand prix for 2023". mmafighting.com.
  15. ^ Sherdog.com. "Eight-Man Field Announced for Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix". Sherdog. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  16. ^ "Bellator San Diego: Nurmagomedov vs. Shabliy Full Results". cagesidepress.com.

External links