Bellator parts ways with eight fighters, including Roger Huerta, Brandon Girtz, and more

Eight fighters are no longer on the roster, according to promotion officials.

(Editor’s note: A previous version of this story mistakenly included Gabriel Varga on the list from Bellator. Varga still is with the promotion. MMA Junkie regrets the error.)

Eight fighters have parted ways with Bellator, including a pair of notable veterans.

Bellator officials informed MMA Junkie that former UFC standout [autotag]Roger Huerta[/autotag] and longtime featherweight [autotag]Brandon Girtz[/autotag] are among those who have departed the promotion.

It is unclear if each fighter was released or the promotion simply elected not to re-sign them.

Scroll below to see the eight names who have parted ways with Bellator.

Bellator 240/Bellator Europe 7 post-event facts: Charlie Ward closes in on KO record

Check out all the facts and figures from Bellator 240/Bellator Europe 7, which took place Saturday in Dublin.

Bellator closed out a very busy weekend of fights on Saturday with the split-event showcase that was Bellator 240/Bellator Europe 7, which took place at 3Arena in Dublin.

There were a few noteworthy results to stem from the lineup, someone of which had historical significance. For more details, check below for 30 post-event facts to come out of Bellator 240/Bellator Europe 7.

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General

Betting favorites went 7-1 on the main card.

Betting favorites improved to 3-0 in Bellator main events this year.

Total fight time for the eight main card matchups was 1:26:54.

Bellator 240

[autotag]Brent Primus[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) has earned eight of his 10 career victories by stoppage.

Primus’ eight victories in Bellator lightweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Michael Chandler (14) and Patricky Freire (14).

Primus’ six stoppage victories in Bellator lightweight competition are third most in divisional history behind Chandler (nine) and Freire (nine).

[autotag]Chris Bungard[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) has suffered all three of his career stoppage losses by submission.

[autotag]Kiefer Crosbie[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) has earned three of his four Bellator victories by decision.

[autotag]Iamik Furtado[/autotag] (6-3 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) suffered the first decision loss of his career.

[autotag]Bec Rawlings[/autotag] (8-9 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) snapped her five-fight losing skid for her first victory since March 2016.

Rawlings improved to 1-3 since she returned to the women’s flyweight division in November 2017.

[autotag]Elina Kallionidou[/autotag] (7-4 MMA, 0-4 BMMA) remained winless in four career Bellator appearances.

Kallionidou has suffered all four of her career losses by decision.

[autotag]Ricky Bandejas[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) has earned nine of his 13 career victories by stoppage. That includes all three of his Bellator wins.

[autotag]Lewis Long[/autotag] (17-6 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) has suffered all six of his career losses by stoppage.

Bellator Europe 7

[autotag]Leah McCourt[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) failed to finish her opponent for the first time in her Bellator career.

[autotag]Judith Ruis[/autotag] (6-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) has suffered four of her five career losses by decision.

[autotag]Charlie Ward[/autotag] (8-4 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) improved to 5-1 since he returned to the middleweight division in November 2017. He’s 7-1 overall in his career at the weight class.

Ward’s five stoppage victories in Bellator middleweight competition are third most in divisional history behind Alexander Shlemenko (eight) and John Salter (six).

Ward’s five knockout victories in Bellator middleweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Shlemenko (six).

[autotag]Kyle Kurtz[/autotag] (10-8 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has suffered seven of his eight career losses by stoppage. He’s been finished by knockout in six of those defeats.

[autotag]Austin Clem[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) earned the first decision victory of his career.

[autotag]Aaron Chalmers[/autotag] (5-2 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) suffered the first decision loss of his career.

[autotag]Richard Kiely[/autotag] (3-3 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) has suffered all three of his career losses by stoppage.

[autotag]Georgi Karakhanyan[/autotag] (29-10-1 MMA, 7-8 BMMA) was successful in his Bellator lightweight debut.

Karakhanyan improved to 1-2 since he returned to Bellator for a third stint in March 2019.

[autotag]Paul Redmond[/autotag] (15-9 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) fell to 5-3 since he was released from the UFC in July 2015.

Redmond has suffered seven of his nine career losses by stoppage.

Redmond suffered his first submission loss since Dec. 31, 2013 – a span of 2,244 days (more than six years) and 12 fights.

[autotag]Richie Smullen[/autotag] (5-2-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) suffered the first decision loss of his career.

[autotag]Justin Moore[/autotag] (9-5 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) has suffered all five of his career losses by stoppage.

Paul Redmond vs. Ryan Scope added to Bellator Europe 7 in Dublin

Bellator Europe 7 card has another notable Irish name on the card.

Bellator Europe 7 card has another notable Irish name on the card.

Ex-UFC fighter [autotag]Paul Redmond[/autotag] (15-8 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) will take on [autotag]Ryan Scope[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) on Feb. 22 in Dublin, the promotion announced Monday.

Redmond is coming off a unanimous decision win over Charlie Leary at Bellator 217 in February, notching his second promotional victory. He was scheduled to take on Brandon Girtz at Bellator 227 in September but was forced out of the bout due to injury.

Scope came into his Bellator debut vs. Patricky Pitbull as a heavy underdog, but he managed to impress in a tightly contested split decision loss. He was then stopped by Peter Queally in his last outing in September. Scope looks to pick up his first promotional win when he takes on Redmond once again at 3Arena.

The current Bellator Europe 7 lineup includes:

  • James Gallagher vs. Cal Ellenor
  • Brent Primus vs. Peter Queally
  • Aaron Chalmers vs. Austin Clem
  • Leah McCourt vs. Judith Ruis
  • Oliver Enkamp vs. Lewis Long
  • Daniel Crawford vs. Philip Mulpeter
  • Chris Duncan vs. Ryan Roddy
  • Arunas Andriuskevicus vs. Karl Moore
  • Will Fleury vs. Justin Moore
  • Danni Neilan vs. Chiara Penco
  • Ezzoubair Bouarsa vs. Blaine O’Driscoll
  • Ranjeet Baria vs. Richie Smullen
  • Dylan Logan vs. Tom Mearns
  • Ciaran Clarke vs. Jamie Faulding
  • Ilias Bulaid vs. Diego Freitas
  • Asael Adjoudj vs. Constantin Blanita
  • Paul Redmond vs. Ryan Scope