2020 in Bellator MMA


2020 in Bellator MMA was the twelfth year in the history of Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. Bellator held 18 events in 2020.

Background

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Bellator would go on hiatus after its 240th numbered event on February 22, 2020. The promotion would resume holding events with Bellator 242 on July 24.
On September 11, 2020, it was announced that Bellator telecasts would move to CBS Sports Network, starting October 1, after Viacom's re-merger with CBS Corporation in 2019. Prior to the announcement, CBS Sports Network debuted the recap series Bellator MMA: Recharged on April 25, 2020.
Bellator 248, which was held on October 10, would be the first MMA event to be held by a major promotion in France since the sport was legalized in January.

[|Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix] Tournament

Bellator 238

Bellator 238: Budd vs. Cyborg took place on January 25, 2020 at The Forum in Inglewood, California. The event aired live on DAZN.
Background
The event featured a Bellator Women's Featherweight World Championship bout between the champion Julia Budd and former Strikeforce, Invicta, and UFC champion Cris Cyborg.
'''Results'''

Bellator 239

Bellator 239: Ruth vs. Amosov took place on February 21, 2020 at WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma.
The event aired live on Paramount Network and DAZN.
The event featured a welterweight bout between Ed Ruth and undefeated Yaroslav Amosov.
'''Results'''

Bellator 240

Bellator Dublin/Bellator 240 took place on February 22, 2020 at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.
Background
This was the first event of the second year of the Bellator European Series. The event was to be headlined by a bantamweight bout between James Gallagher and Cal Ellenor. However, on February 4, it was announced that Gallagher pulled out of the event due to a back injury, thus a women's featherweight bout between Leah McCourt and Judith Ruis was bumped to the main event.
The fights billed as Bellator 240 will be held on tape-delay on Paramount Network and DAZN and will feature a lightweight bout between former Bellator Lightweight World Champion Brent Primus and Peter Queally. However, Queally pulled out due to injury. Primus instead fought Chris Bungard.
'''Results'''

Bellator 241 (Cancelled)

Bellator 241: Pitbull vs. Carvalho was a scheduled event to take place on March 13, 2020 at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. The event was scheduled to be live on DAZN.
Background
The event was expected to feature a Bellator Featherweight World Championship bout between the champion Patrício Freire and Pedro Carvalho.
A heavyweight between former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett and Ronny Markes was expected for the event. The original meeting was scheduled for Bellator 235, but Barnett was pulled out an hour before the fight due to illness and the fight was rebooked for this event. Reports came out stating that Barnett was pulled due to a failed drug test, but Mike Mazzulli, head of the Mohegan Tribe Athletic Department, announced that the reports were false. However on March 4, it was announced that Barnett was officially off the card, which Mazzulli announced that a failed medical test was the reason for Barnett's removal and Bellator then announced that Matt Mitrione would replace Barnett against Markes.
On March 13, the day of the event, Bellator President Scott Coker announced that the event would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
'''Cancelled Fight card'''

Bellator 242 (Cancelled)

Bellator 242: Bader vs. Nemkov was a scheduled event to take place on May 9, 2020 at SAP Center in San Jose, California. The event was scheduled to be live on Paramount Network and DAZN.
Background
The event was expected to feature a Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship bout between the champion Ryan Bader and Vadim Nemkov.
On March 30, Bellator announced that the event would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
'''Cancelled Fight card'''

Bellator London 3 (Cancelled)

Bellator London: Gallagher vs. Ellenor was a scheduled event to take place on May 16, 2020 at SSE Arena in London, England as part of the Bellator European Fight Series. The event was scheduled to be live on Channel 5.
Background
The event was expected to feature a bantamweight bout between rivals James Gallagher and Cal Ellenor.
On March 30, Bellator announced that the event would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
'''Cancelled Fight card'''

Bellator 243 (Cancelled)

Bellator 243: Carmouche vs. Bohm was a scheduled event to take place on May 29, 2020 at Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California. The event was scheduled to be live on Paramount Network and DAZN.
Background
The event was expected to feature a women's flyweight bout between former UFC title contender Liz Carmouche and Mandy Bohm.
On March 30, Bellator announced that the event would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
'''Cancelled Fight card'''

Bellator 244 (Cancelled)

Bellator 244: Chandler vs. Henderson 2 was a scheduled event to take place on June 6, 2020 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. The event was scheduled to be live on DAZN.
Background
The event was expected to feature a rematch between former Bellator world champion Michael Chandler and former UFC and WEC world champion Benson Henderson, with Chandler having won the first bout.
Additionally, a semi-final matchup in the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix between former bantamweight champ Darrion Caldwell and A.J. McKee was scheduled for the card.
On April 21, Bellator announced that the event would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
'''Cancelled Fight card'''

Bellator 242

Bellator 242: Bandejas vs. Pettis took place on July 24, 2020 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
The event aired live on Paramount Network and DAZN.
Bellator 242 marked the organization's return to live events following a shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was held behind closed doors without fans in attendance.
'''Results'''

Bellator 243

Chandler vs. Henderson 2 was initially scheduled to take place at Bellator 244 on June 6, 2020 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. However, the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was announced that the bout was rescheduled as the main event of Bellator 243 set to take place on August 7 from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
The event aired live on Paramount Network and DAZN.
Background
The event featured a lightweight rematch between former three-time Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler and former WEC and UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson. To set up for Bellator Lightweight Title contention.
'''Results'''

Bellator 244

Bader vs. Nemkov was initially scheduled to take place at Bellator 242 on May 9, 2020 at SAP Center in San Jose, California. However, the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was announced that the bout was rescheduled as the main event for Bellator 244 set to take place on August 21 from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
The event aired live on Paramount Network and DAZN.
Background
The event featured a men's light heavyweight championship match between the current two-division champion Ryan Bader and the number one contender Vadim Nemkov.
'''Results'''

Bellator 245

Bellator 245: Davis vs. Machida II took place on September 11, 2020 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Background
The event featured a light heavyweight bout between former Bellator Light Heavyweight World Champion Phil Davis and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida. The two previously met at UFC 163 where Davis won by a controversial split decision.
'''Results'''

Bellator 246

Bellator 246: Archuleta vs. Mix took place on September 12, 2020 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Background
The event featured a bout for the vacant Bellator Bantamweight World Championship between former featherweight title challenger Juan Archuleta and Patchy Mix.
At the weigh-ins, DeAnna Bennett and Keoni Diggs both missed weight for their respective bouts. Bennett weighed in at 131.7 pounds, 5.7 pounds over the non-title flyweight limit of 126.0 pounds, and Diggs weighed in at 157 pounds, 1 pound over the non-title lightweight limit of 156 pounds. Both bouts proceeded at catchweights and both fighters were fined a percentage of their respective purses, a percentage that went to their opponents.
This would be the last Bellator event to air on Paramount Network.
'''Results'''

Bellator Milan 2

Bellator Milan: Edwards vs. van Steenis was a mixed martial arts event scheduled for September 26, 2020 from Milan, Italy and marked the organization's eighth European Series event.
The event aired on Channel 5 in the United Kingdom and featured a middleweight bout between Fabian Edwards and Costello van Steenis.
'''Results'''

Bellator 247

Bellator 247: Jackson vs. Kielholtz was a mixed martial arts event held on October 1, 2020 from Milan, Italy.
Background
This was the first Bellator MMA event to air on CBS Sports Network.
The event was expected to feature a welterweight bout between Paul Daley and Derek Anderson. The day of the weigh-ins, Daley notified Bellator officials that he would not make weight. Daley weighed in anyway, 2.5 pounds over the welterweight weight limit of 171 lb. Daley was hospitalized and Bellator announced that the bout was canceled. The women's flyweight bout between Kate Jackson and Denise Kielholtz was bumped to the main event.
'''Results'''