ABOUT

ABOUT BELLATOR MMA

BELLATOR is a leading global MMA promotion featuring many of the best athletes in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, BELLATOR events take place in major cities around the world and can be seen on television in over 160 countries to an available audience of over one billion people. In the United States, BELLATOR events can be seen on SHOWTIME, while in The U.K., fans can watch on BBC iPlayer. BELLATOR MMA also has a dedicated channel on Pluto TV, which launched in 2020.

BELLATOR is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live events, fighter development/relations, sponsorship, international licensing, marketing, advertising and public relations. BELLATOR is based in Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant ViacomCBS, home to the world's premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

In June of 2015, BELLATOR 138 broke franchise records for ratings, peaking at more than 2.9 million viewers, making it one of the most watched MMA events on cable television in 2015. At Bellator 170 in January 2017, 2.2 million viewers tuned in for Tito Ortiz's first-round submission victory over Chael Sonnen, which marked the most watched BELLATOR fight on Spike TV in nearly a year. Later that same year, BELLATOR hosted its second pay-per-view ever at Madison Square Garden in New York, a card that featured Chael Sonnen defeating Wanderlei Silva, Matt Mitrione besting Fedor Emelianenko and Ryan Bader capturing the light heavyweight title from Phil Davis.

BELLATOR hosted an eight-man Heavyweight World Grand Prix in 2018, where Ryan Bader emerged victorious becoming the promotion’s first two-division champion. Following the success of that initial tournament, BELLATOR held the Welterweight World Grand Prix in 2019, which was won by Douglas Lima. A 16-man Featherweight World Grand Prix is set to culminate later this summer with Featherweight World Champion Patricio Pitbull taking on undefeated phenom A.J. McKee. Also currently in progress is the 2021 Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix, which is currently in the semi-final stage, leaving matchups between divisional kingpin Vadim Nemkov and Anthony “Rumble” Johnson as well as Ryan Bader and Corey Anderson.

The BELLATOR MMA European Series was launched in early 2019, and airs exclusively on the BBC Network in the UK. In addition to numerous cities throughout the UK, the series has held live events in Ireland, Italy and France.

To date, BELLATOR has hosted over 260 live events in eight countries and 34 states.

THE RULES

Bellator MMA is a Mixed Martial Arts Promotion that recognizes and values the importance of the independent regulation of our sport. Bellator events are sanctioned and supervised by either the State or Tribal Athletic Commission, or a national federation approved and appointed by the government in the jurisdiction where the event is being held. The presiding commission assigns and supervises the referees and judges that officiate each bout. This occurs entirely independent of Bellator.

Bellator bouts are contested using the Association of Combative Sports Commissions Unified Rules of MMA or a similar version of these rules as determined by the presiding commission. Links to these rules and regulations may be found below.

ABOUT BELLATOR MMA

THE RULES

Athlete Medical Requirements

MMA Weight Classes

MMA Rules and Regulations

Bellator Tournament Policies