| | Upcoming |
| | None... |
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| | Results |
25 Jan 25 | Road to Dubai Champions Series: Nurmagomedov vs Hughes |
14 Sep 24 | Bellator Champions Series 5: McCourt vs. Collins |
08 Sep 24 | Bellator Champions Series 4: Nurmagomedov vs. Shabliy |
22 Jun 24 | Bellator Champions Series 3: Jackson vs. Kuramagomedov |
17 May 24 | Bellator Champions Series 2: Mix vs. Magomedov 2 |
The Bellator MMA (formerly known as "Bellator Fighting Championships") promotion was started in 2008 by Bjorn Rebney and Brad Epstein as a tournament based alternative to other MMA organizations such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Strikeforce. Prior to 2015, when president Scott Coker made the decision to drop the 8-man tournament format, Bellator fighters participated in a series of tournament bouts in a set weight class over a season (usually between 10 and 13 events over 3 or 4 months). The winners of these tournaments were crowned Bellator champions, with the winners of successive tournaments in the same weight class earning the spot of no. 1 contender.