Bellator Champions Series: Belfast – Make your predictions for two title fights

We want your predictions for Friday’s Bellator Champions Series event in Belfast.

We want your predictions for Friday’s Bellator Champions Series: Belfast event in Chicago.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the Bellator Champions Series: Belfast main card staff predictions we release Thursday ahead of the event. Bellator Champions Series: Belfast takes place Friday at SSE Arena in Belfast. Broadcast details will be announced Wednesday.

Make your picks for the main card fights below.

Photos: UFC, Bellator and more MMA ring card girls through the years

Check out these photos of UFC Octagon Girls, Bellator ring card girls and more MMA personalities who remind us what round it is.

Check out these photos of UFC Octagon Girls, Bellator ring card girls and more MMA personalities who remind us what round it is.

Fabian Edwards hopes Johnny Eblen stays champion: ‘Even a loss confirmed that I can beat that guy’

Fabian Edwards is eager to run things back with Johnny Eblen.

[autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] is eager to run things back with [autotag]Johnny Eblen[/autotag].

Edwards (12-3 MMA, 8-3 BMMA) meets Aaron Jeffery (14-4 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) March 22 at Bellator Champions Series: Belfast at SSE Arena, in what he projects to be a title eliminator.

Edwards is coming off a knockout loss to middleweight champion Eblen (15-0 MMAA, 10-0 BMMA) this past September at Bellator 299. One judge had him up two rounds, and Edwards thinks he was en route to winning before he got caught in Round 3.

“Even a loss confirmed that I can beat that guy,” Edwards told MMA Junkie Radio. “I gave him a nasty cut. I felt like I was winning that fight. I defended the takedowns, he never landed anything before the fight was ended.

“He never landed anything I thought was too powerful. I’ve been working for the past six months to get back to that title fight and Bellator say I’m one fight away from it now so, I’m excited.”

Eblen squeaked past Impa Kasanganay at PFL vs. Bellator: Champions in February. Edwards is not a fan of Eblen as a person – branding him as fake, but is glad to see him remain unbeaten.

“He needs to keep that belt,” Edwards said. “When I’d seen that he won the fight against Impa, I was like, ‘OK, I don’t like the guy, but I’m happy he kept it,’ because I feel like it’s part of my story for him to keep the belt, for me to come back and take it off him.”

After seeing his performance against Kasanganay, Edwards wasn’t impressed at all by Eblen.

“He looked terrible,” Edwards said. “He looked like he hadn’t improved one bit. I know he’s the champ and all of that so you have to give him credit, but people can’t look at me and say skill for skill, he’s the best guy in the fighting world. I feel like he hasn’t improved in the areas he needs to improve on.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 302.

Alexander Shabliy says Bellator not honoring $1 million grand prix prize vs. Usman Nurmagomedov

Alexander Shabliy is feeling short-changed heading into his Bellator title fight headliner vs. lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov.

[autotag]Alexander Shabliy[/autotag] is feeling short-changed heading into his Bellator Champions Series: Paris headliner vs. lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov.

Prior to PFL’s buyout of the Bellator brand, the matchup between Shabliy (24-3 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) and Nurmagomedov (17-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) was slated to serve as the $1 million final for the Bellator grand prix, which began with eight fights.

There was uncertainty about the bout’s status following the merger of the two companies, but a degree of resolution happened when it followed through with the original final matchup for May 17 at Accor Arena in Paris. There’s a huge difference now, however, because Shabliy claims he has been given no assurances that the winner of his clash with Nurmagomedov will still be rewarded with the seven-figure prize.

“There was a lot of uncertainty with the whole situation going on with the merger,” Shabliy told MMA Junkie through an interpreter. “We were sure that, since I was participating in the grand prix and going strong, that I deserved the title shot. I should have an opportunity to finish the business regardless of the merger, the way it was gonna go. I didn’t care which way it was gonna go – whether it was gonna be Usman or possibly Brent Primus or AJ McKee – but I definitely knew we should finish up the grand prix, go all the way where I can have a shot at the title and get the champion belt possibly. Now, about a month ago, we learned it’s gonna be Usman, and I’m excited. I’m looking forward to it because, as I said, I put hard work in, and I definitely want to finish this grand prix and possibly get the belt and the title.”

“As of now, I don’t like the situation, the way it’s going, because after the merger, I believe the PFL, since they are the main company, they should honor all the conditions. As of now, it looks like we’re just fighting for the belt and the title. I’m not confident in the prize money guarantee, and I think the PFL should follow through with the obligations that they acquired from the Bellator league. They try to compete with UFC and be a responsible league; I think they should follow through on that. Again, I put my work in. We worked hard in a lot of camps, and I think they should honor the money prize, as well.”

Shabliy, 30, understands that it’s a moment of change as PFL tries to figure out its plans for integrating Bellator and its large roster of athletes, but he believes that any previous promises should be fulfilled.

“Right now, the way it looks, I’m not quite happy,” Shabliy said. “If (PFL is) trying to look serious as the UFC, as a good competitor out in the market, they have to honor this. Right now, it looks like they’re letting us down on that. I’m sticking with Bellator for now, but I hope they honor their side of the deal.”

PFL officials did not immediately respond to MMA Junkie’s request for comment on Shabliy’s claim. For now, the fighter will keep focused on the task at hand, and that’s derailing the undefeated and highly-touted Nurmagomedov.

“I think I have something to offer him,” Shabliy said. “When I fight my fights, I don’t leave it to the judges. I try to finish every round of every fight dominating. In that sense, I think I’m a little more decisive, if you will. So I will go in there and fight until the end. Just analyze that, the way we finished our previous (common) opponents.”

Why Scott Coker passed on PFL after Bellator sale: ‘I’m an entrepreneur at heart’

Longtime Bellator boss Scott Coker revealed the reason he didn’t go to the PFL after its purchase of his former promotion from Viacom.

[autotag]Scott Coker[/autotag] and combat sports are as comfortable together as an old pair of shoes. The idea of the MMA world without Coker seems almost unnatural.

So when he wasn’t part of the crew from Bellator that made the move to the PFL after the sale this past fall, a few eyebrows were raised. Some people wondered either why the Bellator boss didn’t go to the PFL, or at the very least what was up his sleeve next.

We now know Coker will stay in the MMA game with a new event called Fight Night at the Tech, which premieres May 18 at Tech CU Arena in San Jose, Calif. Coker will be an executive producer and will work alongside former Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez.

And that venture and the idea of being his own boss again seem to be big factors in his decision to not move over to the PFL.

“I’ll tell you honestly: I thought about it,” Coker told MMA Junkie Radio. “The opportunity was there. But how I felt was, it’s time to go. It’s time for me, for myself, to be an entrepreneur. I love that the most. I worked for Viacom and Paramount for nine years (as Bellator president). It was a great experience. I’m glad I did it. Paramount was very good to me. I learned a lot over there. But I’m an entrepreneur at heart. It’s really the first job (working for someone other than myself) I took as an adult.”

Many of Bellator’s fighters now are in the PFL, as are some of its executives and behind-the-scenes personnel. Others went different directions, some of their own choosing, and some because they weren’t asked to stay on with the PFL.

Coker was the Bellator frontman from June 2014 until November 2023, when the PFL’s acquisition was finalized. Prior to his long run with Bellator, Coker was the CEO of Strikeforce, a promotion the UFC acquired from him in 2011.

Coker said despite his close ties to the success Bellator built, he knew well in advance the direction he mostly likely would take if Bellator ever was sold.

“I worked hard. I think we built some great value in that company,” Coker said. “When Strikeforce built, it had value. Somebody wanted to come buy it. When Bellator built, it had value. Somebody wanted to come buy it. This is something that is natural in business. But I always felt like if they sold the company one day, I always told myself I would go back and be an entrepreneur – and that’s really what I wanted to do.”

2024 MMA retirement tracker: A list of those who hung up the gloves

The MMA world already has said goodbye to a number of retiring fighters in 2024, with more surely to come for the rest of the year.

MMA is a constantly evolving sport with a revolving door of athletes entering and exiting. Currently, fighters from the era who helped make the sport so popular are beginning to trickle away from competition and hang up their gloves in order to move on to the next chapter in life.

If there’s one thing that’s well known about combat sports retirements, though, it’s that they often don’t last long. The urge to compete, and perhaps more importantly get a payday, will continue to drive fighters back even well beyond their expiration dates.

2024 has already seen a number of notable fighters announcing they are done with the sport, and we have a list of those who have opted to walk away this year (the list will update as new retirements are announced).

Usman Nurmagomedov, Patchy Mix title fights set as full 2024 Bellator Champions Series schedule announced

Bellator has announced its full 2024 schedule of Champions Series events, including Usman Nurmagomedov and Patchy Mix’s next title fights.

Two of Bellator’s most exciting champions have their next fights set as the promotion announced its full 2024 schedule of Champions Series, beginning in March.

Bellator Champions Series: Paris will take place on May 17 at Accor Arena in Paris, France, the promotion announced in a press release. The event will feature two title fights, with lightweight champion [autotag]Usman Nurmagomedov[/autotag] and bantamweight champion [autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag] looking to defend their titles.

In the main event, Nurmagomedov (17-0) will look to record his second title defense as he takes on Alexander Shabliy. Nurmagomedov won the title at Bellator 288 by defeating Paticky Freire by unanimous decision. His first title defense against Brent Primus was later overturned to a no contest. Shabliy (23-3), has not tasted defeat since 2016, winning nine consecutive fights.

In the co-feature, Mix (19-1) will put his 135-pound title on the line for the first time when he meets Magomed Magomedov. Mix unified the title in a second-round submission victory over Sergio Pettis in November at Bellator 301. Magomedov (20-3) gets a crack at gold following a first-round submission win over Danny Sabatelly in July.

The promotion also announced its full 2024 schedule of Champions Series events:

  • Friday, March 22 – Bellator Champions Series: Belfast at SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland
  • Friday, May 17 – Bellator Champions Series: Paris at Accor Arena in Paris, France
  • Saturday, June 22 – Bellator Champions Series: Dublin at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland
  • Saturday, September 7 – Bellator Champions Series: San Diego at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, Calif.
  • Saturday, September 14 – Bellator Champions Series: London at OVO Wembley in London, England
  • Saturday, October 12 – Bellator Champions Series: Chicago at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill.
  • Saturday, November 16 – Bellator Champions Series: Paris at ADIDAS Arena in Paris, France
  • Tuesday, December 31 – Bellator Champions Series – TBD

A U.S. distribution partner for the events will be announced soon, according to the press release.

The current BCS: Paris lineup includes:

  • Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Alexander Shabliy – for lightweight title
  • Patchy Mix vs. Magomed Magomedov – for bantamweight title
  • Gregory Babene vs. Costello van Steenis
  • Louis Sutherland vs. Slim Trabelsi
  • Mansour Barnaoui vs. Yusuke Yachi

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USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, March 5: Muhammad Mokaev, Umar Nurmagomedov climb

Check out the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings following UFC Fight Night 238 in Las Vegas.

UFC Fight Night 238 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas was the sole source of rankings moves in this week’s update.

First, in the bantamweight division, [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] turned in a dominant performance against Bekzat Almakhan after getting clipped early, still earning multiple 10-8 scores on the official cards. Entering the week at No. 15, Nurmagomedov jumps up to No. 12.

In the next fight, [autotag]Muhammad Mokaev[/autotag] picked up a key win in the flyweight division, earning a unanimous nod over Alex Perez. Mokaev entered the week at #6, and exits one spot higher, breaking into the top 5.

Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC, PFL, Bellator fights announced in the past week (Feb. 26-March 3)

Check out the UFC, PFL and Bellator fights that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC, PFL, and Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Feb. 26-March 3.

PFL vs. Bellator: Champions: Best photos from Riyadh

Check out these photos from the fights at PFL vs. Bellator: Champions in Saudi Arabia.

Check out these photos from the fights at PFL vs. Bellator: Champions, which took place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photos courtesy of PFL)

(The gallery will be updated throughout the event.)