Bellator mixed martial arts events in 2021
2021 in Bellator MMA Promotion Bellator MMA First date aired April 2, 2021 (2021-04-02 ) Last date aired December 3, 2021 (2021-12-03 ) Total events 18 Title fights 13
2021 in Bellator MMA was the thirteenth year in the history of Bellator MMA , a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. Bellator held 18 events in 2021.
The promotion went on a hiatus following Bellator 254 on December 10, 2020, which would be the final card to air on CBS Sports Network .[ 1] Beginning in April, Bellator's U.S broadcasts moved to the premium Showtime network.[ 2] Bellator 255, which took place on April 2, 2021, was the promotion's debut on Showtime, and the first MMA card to air on the network in over eight years; the last event being Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine on January 12, 2013.
#
Event
Date
Venue
City
Country
Atten.
Ref.
18
Bellator 272: Pettis vs. Horiguchi
December 3, 2021
Mohegan Sun Arena
Uncasville, Connecticut
U.S.
[ 3]
17
Bellator 271: Cyborg vs. Kavanagh
November 12, 2021
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
Hollywood, Florida
[ 4]
16
Bellator 270: Queally vs. Pitbull 2
November 5, 2021
3Arena
Dublin
Ireland
[ 5]
15
Bellator 269: Fedor vs. Johnson
October 23, 2021
VTB Arena
Moscow
Russia
[ 6]
14
Bellator 268: Nemkov vs. Anglickas
October 16, 2021
Footprint Center
Phoenix, Arizona
U.S.
[ 7]
13
Bellator 267: Lima vs. MVP 2
October 1, 2021
Wembley Arena
London
England
[ 8]
12
Bellator 266: Davis vs. Romero
September 18, 2021
SAP Center
San Jose, California
U.S.
[ 9]
11
Bellator 265: Kongo vs. Kharitonov
August 20, 2021
Sanford Pentagon
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
[ 10]
10
Bellator 264: Mousasi vs. Salter
August 13, 2021
Mohegan Sun Arena
Uncasville, Connecticut
[ 11]
9
Bellator 263: Pitbull vs. McKee
July 31, 2021
The Forum
Inglewood, California
[ 12]
8
Bellator 262: Velasquez vs. Kielholtz
July 16, 2021
Mohegan Sun Arena
Uncasville, Connecticut
[ 13]
7
Bellator 261: Johnson vs. Moldavsky
June 25, 2021
[ 14]
6
Bellator 260: Lima vs. Amosov
June 11, 2021
[ 15]
5
Bellator 259: Cyborg vs. Smith 2
May 21, 2021
0
[ 16]
4
Bellator 258: Archuleta vs. Pettis
May 7, 2021
[ 17]
3
Bellator 257: Nemkov vs. Davis 2
Apr 16, 2021
[ 18]
2
Bellator 256: Bader vs. Machida 2
Apr 9, 2021
[ 19]
1
Bellator 255: Pitbull vs. Sanchez 2
Apr 2, 2021
[ 20]
Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix Tournament [ edit ]
Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament [ edit ]
^ Julius Anglickas replaced an injured Anthony Johnson.[ 21]
^ Original final match was held at Bellator 277 and ended in a No Contest;[ 22] A rematch final took place November 18, 2022 at Bellator 288 .[ 23]
Title fights in 2021
Weight class
Method
Round
Time
Event
Notes
Featherweight
Patrício Pitbull (c)
def.
Emmanuel Sanchez
Technical Submission (guillotine choke)
1
3:35
Bellator 255
[ a]
Light Heavyweight
Vadim Nemkov (c)
def.
Phil Davis
Decision (unanimous) (48–47, 48–47, 48–47)
5
5:00
Bellator 257
[ b]
Bantamweight
Sergio Pettis
def.
Juan Archuleta (c)
Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 49–46, 49–46)
5
5:00
Bellator 258
[ c]
Women's Featherweight
Cris Cyborg (c)
def.
Leslie Smith
TKO (punches)
5
4:51
Bellator 259
[ d]
Welterweight
Yaroslav Amosov
def.
Douglas Lima (c)
Decision (unanimous) (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
5
5:00
Bellator 260
[ e]
Heavyweight
Valentin Moldavsky
def.
Timothy Johnson
Decision (unanimous) (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
5
5:00
Bellator 261
[ f]
Women's Flyweight
Juliana Velasquez (c)
def.
Denise Kielholtz
Decision (split) (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
5
5:00
Bellator 262
[ g]
Featherweight
A. J. McKee
def.
Patrício Pitbull (c)
Technical Submission (guillotine choke)
1
1:57
Bellator 263
[ h]
Middleweight
Gegard Mousasi (c)
def.
John Salter
TKO (punches)
3
2:07
Bellator 264
[ i]
Light Heavyweight
Vadim Nemkov (c)
def.
Julius Anglickas
Submission (kimura)
4
4:25
Bellator 268
[ j]
Lightweight
Patricky Pitbull
def.
Peter Queally
TKO (punches)
2
1:05
Bellator 270
[ k]
Women's Featherweight
Cris Cyborg (c)
def.
Sinead Kavanagh
KO (punches)
1
1:32
Bellator 271
[ l]
Bantamweight
Sergio Pettis (c)
def.
Kyoji Horiguchi
KO (spinning backfist)
4
3:24
Bellator 272
[ m]
^ Steven Marrocco (February 3, 2021). "Bellator targets April 9 for 2021 return in familiar venue" . mmafighting.com.
^ Brent Brookhouse (2021-02-09). "Bellator set for Showtime debut in April as star-studded Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix headlines slate" . CBS Sports . Retrieved 2021-02-09 .
^ Martin, Damon (2021-10-20). "Sergio Pettis defends bantamweight title against Kyoji Horiguchi at Bellator event on Dec. 3" . MMA Fighting . Retrieved 2021-10-20 .
^ Heck, Mike (2021-10-06). "Cris Cyborg vs. Sinead Kavanagh featherweight title fight set for Bellator 271" . MMA Fighting . Retrieved 2021-10-06 .
^ "Bellator zeroes in on James Gallagher vs. Patchy Mix grudge match in Ireland" . MMA Junkie . 2021-07-21. Retrieved 2021-07-21 .
^ Lee, Alexander K. (2021-06-25). "Bellator announces Fedor Emelianenko return bout on Oct. 23 in Moscow, opponent to be determined" . MMA Fighting . Retrieved 2021-06-25 .
^ "Sources: Nemkov-Johnson among Bellator semis" . ESPN.com . 2021-07-31. Retrieved 2021-08-01 .
^ "Bellator London fight card: Douglas Lima vs. Michael 'Venom' Page 2 to headline return to England" . CBSSports.com . Retrieved 2021-07-27 .
^ Helwani, Ariel. "Yoel Romero's Bellator debut is set (again)" . arielhelwani.substack.com . Retrieved 2021-08-13 .
^ "Bellator 265 heads to South Dakota, adds Alejandra Lara vs. DeAnna Bennett matchup" . MMA Junkie . 2021-07-19. Retrieved 2021-07-20 .
^ "Gegard Mousasi to defend title vs. John Salter at Bellator 264 in Connecticut" . MMA Junkie . 2021-06-25. Retrieved 2021-06-25 .
^ Cruz, Guilherme (2021-06-10). "Patricio Pitbull vs. AJ McKee grand prix final set for July 30 Bellator event" . MMA Fighting . Retrieved 2021-06-11 .
^ "Velasquez to defend Bellator title vs. Kielholtz" . ESPN.com . 2021-05-21. Retrieved 2021-05-21 .
^ Heck, Mike (2021-05-07). "Tim Johnson vs. Valentin Moldavsky set for promotion's first interim heavyweight title fight at Bellator 261" . MMA Fighting . Retrieved 2021-05-08 .
^ "Bellator 260 set for June with Douglas Lima vs. Yaroslav Amosov headliner" . MMA Junkie . 2021-04-15. Retrieved 2021-04-15 .
^ Anderson, Jay (2 April 2021). "Cris Cyborg vs. Leslie Smith 2 Announced for Bellator 259" . Cageside Press . Retrieved 3 April 2021 .
^ Nolan King (February 9, 2021). "Bellator 258 set for May 7, headlined by Juan Archuleta vs. Sergio Pettis title fight" . Yahoo Sports . Retrieved February 9, 2021 .
^ Bohn, Mike (17 April 2021). "Bellator 257 post-event facts: Is 6-foot-8 Steve Mowry a contender?" . MMA Junkie . Retrieved 26 April 2021 .
^ Bohn, Mike (11 April 2021). "Bellator 256 post-event facts: Lyoto Machida falls to 0-4 in rematches" . MMA Junkie . Retrieved 26 April 2021 .
^ Bohn, Mike (3 April 2021). "Bellator 255 post-event facts: Patricio 'Pitbull' hits new milestones on epic resume" . MMA Junkie . Retrieved 26 April 2021 .
^ King, Nolan (18 September 2021). "With Anthony Johnson out, Julius Anglickas joins Bellator grand prix to fight Vadim Nemkov Title" . MMAjunkie.com . Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2021 .
^ Anderson, Jay (15 April 2022). "Bellator 277: Clash of Heads Leads to No Contest in Vadim Nemkov vs. Corey Anderson" . Cageside Press . Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022 .
^ Al-Shatti, Shaun (29 August 2022). "Corey Anderson vs. Vadim Nemkov 2 headlines championship doubleheader at Bellator 288" . MMA Fighting . Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022 .