After Bellator’s 11-year anniversary, we count down the 10 fighters with the most stoppage wins in company history.
With Bellator recently celebrating its 11-year anniversary, MMA Junkie takes a look at the 10 fighters with the most stoppage victories in the history of the organization.
Yamauchi has flourished into a top Bellator fighter in recent years, thriving across two weight classes. Lightweight has been his home of late, though, and en route to landing a top 10 spot on the stoppage list, Yamauchi has the most submission wins (eight) in company history.
9. [autotag]Brennan Ward[/autotag]
Brennan Ward at Bellator 140.
Age: 31
Debut: Bellator 81 on Nov. 16, 2012
Number of wins: Nine
Number of stoppages: Nine
If nothing else, Ward proved to be one of the most exciting fighters in Bellator history during his stay. Whether he gave it or took it, all 15 of Ward’s fights for the promotion ended inside the distance. He was on the winning end of nine of those fights.
MMA Junkie takes a look at the 10 winningest fighters in Bellator history.
With Bellator on hiatus during the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, MMA Junkie takes a look at the 10 winningest fighters in the history of the organization. Of note, all athletes included in this column fight at middleweight or below and have promotional debuts ranging from April 2010 to April 2015.
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10. [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag]
Michael Page
Age: 32
Debut: Bellator 93 on March 21, 2013
Number of fights: 14
Number of wins: 13
Many won’t like the quality of competition that led to Page landing a spot on the list, but he’s here nonetheless. “MVP” has put together a spectacular highlight reel with Bellator courtesy of a unique and dynamic offensive arsenal.
Page has nothing scheduled as far as his next fight, but the fan desire is to see him face another top welterweight.
9. [autotag]Pat Curran[/autotag]
Pat Curran
Age: 32
Debut: Bellator 14 on April 15, 2010
Number of fights: 18
Number of wins: 13
Despite having fought just three times in the past four years, former featherweight champion Curran finds himself in the thick of the pack among the biggest winners in Bellator history.
Curran was bounced from the ongoing featherweight grand prix in an opening-round bout against Adam Borics at Bellator 226 in September. He hasn’t not since addressed his future plans.
8. [autotag]Joe Warren[/autotag]
Joe Warren
Age: 43
Debut: Bellator 13 on April 8, 2010
Number of fights: 20
Number of wins: 13
Not only was Warren the first in Bellator history to win titles in two separate weight classes, but he’s also the longest-tenured fighter in the history of the organization, going back nearly a decade.
Although “The Baddest Man on the Planet” hasn’t fought since November 2018, he insists he’s not yet retired and is biding his time for the right moment to get back in the cage.
BKFC 11 has added David Rickels, Melvin Guillard, Nico Hernandez and a handful of other UFC, Bellator, and Strikeforce veterans.
The BKFC 11 lineup is taking shape.
In a press release recently issued, the promotion announced a handful of matchups for the March 14 event. The lineup includes former Bellator title challenger [autotag]David Rickels[/autotag], former UFC standout [autotag]Melvin Guillard[/autotag], Olympian [autotag]Nico Hernandez[/autotag], and more.
In the main event Hernandez, a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist for the U.S., takes on [autotag]Chauncey Wilson[/autotag] in a Wichita vs. Wichita matchup.
In the co-main event, Rickels will compete in his home state against an opponent to be named later. Rickels was the longest-tenured member of the Bellator roster prior to his departure in late January.
Guillard makes his return against [autotag]Dakota Cochrane[/autotag], and UFC alumnus [autotag]Josh Neer[/autotag] makes his promotional debut against [autotag]Ronnie Forney[/autotag]. BKFC heavyweight staple [autotag]Sam Shewmaker[/autotag] makes his sixth promotional appearance against former Bellator heavyweight [autotag]Josh Burns[/autotag]. Former UFC and Bellator fighter [autotag]Jake Lindsey[/autotag] also gets a homecoming against [autotag]Kenny Licea[/autotag].
BKFC 11 takes place March 14 at InTrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas and streams on Fite TV.
The official, up-to-date BKFC 11 lineup includes:
Nico Hernandez vs. Chauncey Wilson
David Rickels vs. TBA
Josh Burns vs. Sam Shewmaker
[autotag]Cody Carrillo[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jeremiah Page[/autotag]
[autotag]LJ Hermreck[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Joe Wilk[/autotag]
Kenny Licea vs. Jake Lindsey
Ronnie Forney vs. Josh Neer
[autotag]Christine Ferea[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Helen Peralta[/autotag]
Dakota Cochrane vs. Melvin Guillard
[autotag]Jacob Akin[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Miles MacDonald[/autotag]
After almost nine years with Bellator, David Rickels has a new home.
After almost nine years with Bellator, [autotag]David Rickels[/autotag] has a new home.
Bellator’s all-time leader in fights with 23, Rickels (21-6) recently became a free agent. After exploring the market, he has signed with BKFC according to an Instagram post from his management group, KO Reps, on Wednesday.
According to the post, Rickels will headline BKFC 11 on March 14 in his backyard of Wichita, Kan. No opponent as been named for Rickels yet.
In a statement to MMA Junkie, Rickels’ manager, Oren Hodak, confirmed the fighter’s departure from Bellator. Additionally, Hodak indicated Rickels’ MMA days are not over.
“Dave is excited to headline for BK on their debut in Wichita. It is an opportunity that we just could not pass up. MMA fights are still on the radar for ‘Caveman’ as we explore the world of free agency. When you have an athlete that is truly an entertainer inside and out of the cage, opportunities will always be there. We still have a great relationship with Bellator and will continue conversations with them as well. But for now his next epic walkout will be for BK.”
Rickels made his promotional debut at Bellator 40 in April 2011. He competed against a who’s-who of lightweights and welterweights. At Bellator 97 in July 2013, Rickels unsuccessfully contended for the Bellator lightweight title against Michael Chandler. Other opponents during his Bellator tenure included Patricky Freire, Michael Page and Melvin Guillard.
[lawrence-related id=482164,463894]
Nico Hernandez, an Olympic bronze medalist in boxing, also is expected to make his BKFC debut on the March 14 card.
A full recap of Bellator’s most significant footnotes and milestones from the events, fights and individual performances of 2019.
Bellator had its biggest and busiest year to date in 2019, with 24 numbered events that helped raise the promotion’s profile to a true position of prominence in MMA. During that time, many records were set and a host of historic moments were produced.
Now that the year has come to a close, here are some of 2019’s most significant fights and individual performances.
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GENERAL
Bellator president Scott Coker
Bellator held 24 numbered events (not including full European series shows) in 14 different cities across six countries and three continents. The 24 events are the most for the organization in a calendar year.
Those events had 128 main card fights across 11 different weight classes (not including catchweight bouts).
Those 128 main card fights combined for a total cage time of 19:48:08.
The longest event of the year (main card fights only) was Bellator 223 (1:49:02).
The shortest event of the year (main card fights only) was Bellator 214 (20:07).
Eight fighters missed weight for main card bouts. Those fighters went 4-3, while one bout was canceled.
Seven main or co-main event bouts were canceled due to a variety of reasons.
Betting favorites went 82-26 during Bellator main card fights. 14 fights had no odds available while three fights had even odds, and three ended in a no contest.
Six cards saw all the betting favorites win.
No fight cards had more underdogs win than favorites.
Bellator 225 was the first event in company history to have every fight end in a stoppage.
CHAMPIONSHIP FEATS
Ryan Bader
[autotag]Ryan Bader[/autotag] became the first simultaneous two-division champion in company history when he captured the heavyweight title at Bellator 214.
Bader joined Joe Warren as the second fighter in company history to win titles in two weight classes.
[autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jon Fitch[/autotag] at Bellator 220 marked the first title fight in company history to end in a draw.
[autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] became the second simultaneous two-division champion in company history when he captured the lightweight title at Bellator 221.
Freire became the third fighter in company history to win titles in two weight classes, joining Bader and Warren in that exclusive club.
[autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] became the first in company history to suffer five losses in title fights when he was defeated at Bellator 221.
Kyoji Horiguchi
[autotag]Kyoji Horiguchi[/autotag] became the first fighter in history to earn titles in Bellator and Rizin FF when he won the Bellator bantamweight title at Bellator 222.
Bader became the first champion in company history to register title defenses in two weight classes when he retained his heavyweight belt at Bellator 226.
Freire set a new mark for most championship-fight victories in company history with his eighth when he won at Bellator 228.
[autotag]Douglas Lima[/autotag] became the second fighter in company history to have three title reigns in a single weight class when he reclaimed the welterweight belt at Bellator 232. Chandler also accomplished the feat.
[autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag] became the second champion in company history to earn four consecutive title defenses when she won at Bellator 236. Ben Askren also accomplished the feat.
INDIVIDUAL FEATS
Matt Mitrione vs. Sergei Kharitonov at Bellator 215
[autotag]Matt Mitrione[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Sergei Kharitonov[/autotag] at Bellator 215 marked the third shortest no-contest in Bellator/UFC/WEC/Strikeforce/PRIDE combined history at just 15 seconds. Only Marius Zaromskis vs. Waachim Spiritwolf (six seconds) at Strikeforce Challengers 12 and Kevin Casey vs. Antonio Carlos Junior (11 seconds) at UFC Fight Night 80 were faster.
[autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] became the second fighter in history to earn a 10-fight Bellator winning streak when he won at Bellator 216. A.J. McKee also accomplished the feat.
[autotag]David Rickels[/autotag] became the third fighter in history to reach 15 Bellator victories when he won at Bellator 219. Patricio Freire and Chandler have also accomplished the feat.
[autotag]Jordan Young[/autotag] became the first fighter in company history to earn five consecutive victories by submission when he won at Bellator 224.
[autotag]Aviv Gozali[/autotag], 18, became the youngest fighter to earn a Bellator victory when he won at Bellator 225.
Gozali’s 11-second victory at Bellator 225 marked the fastest submission in company history.
Patricio Freire
Freire set a new mark for most victories in company history with his 18th when he won at Bellator 228.
[autotag]Haim Gozali[/autotag], 46, became the oldest fighter in Bellator history to earn a submission victory when he won at Bellator 234.
[autotag]Frank Mir[/autotag] earned his first non-UFC victory since August 2001 when he won at Bellator 231.
Lima became the first fighter in company history to claim three separate tournaments victories when he won the welterweight grand prix at Bellator 232.
[autotag]Saad Awad[/autotag] became the first in history to suffer 10 Bellator defeats when he lost at Bellator 232.
[autotag]Patrick Mix[/autotag] earned the first Suloev stretch submission finish in company history when he won at Bellator 232.
[autotag]Muhammed Lawal[/autotag] retired from MMA competition following his loss at Bellator 233.
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane
Macfarlane became the third fighter in history to earn a 10-fight Bellator winning streak when she won at Bellator 236. Page and McKee also accomplished the feat.
McKee extended his company record winning streak to 16 fights when he earned a victory at Bellator 236.
McKee set a new record for most stoppages in featherweight history with his 11th when he won at Bellator 236.
Chandler set a new record for most stoppages in company history with his 12th when he won at Bellator 237.
