Bellator Fighting Championships (Bellator) is a mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion based in the United States. "Bellator", which is Latin for "Warrior", is organized into seasons with each event hosting the rounds of championship knockout tournaments for three-five weight divisions.[2]
[edit] History
In its first season, Bellator broadcast its fights nationally in the United States through an exclusive television agreement with ESPN Deportes. Bellator's events also were broadcast to countries around the world through a collection of broadcast agreements.
Due to its success in its first season, Bellator returned for a second season on April 8, 2010 with a bigger audience on NBC, FOX Sports Net, Telemundo,[3] Mun2[4] and The Score.[5]
In December 2010, it was announced that Bellator had secured a TV deal to air their events live on the FX channel beginning in 2011,[6] but the deal fell through. Later that month Bellator announced it will instead be broadcasted live on the MTV2 and Tr3s channels. The deal is for three years and it began airing Bellator's fourth season in March 2011.[7]
CEO Bjorn Rebney has said he would like to get it on pay-per-view.[8]
The rules used on Bellator fighting championships events were, to an extent, originally established by the New Jersey Athletic Control Board.[9] The "Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts" that New Jersey established has been adopted in other states that regulate mixed martial arts, including Nevada, Louisiana, and California, and are the same as used by other mixed martial arts promotions, most notably Zuffa. Unlike promotions which use a polygonal cage, Bellator Fighting Championships use a circular cage.
[edit] Tournaments rules
In the first season each tournament winner would be able to earn up to $175,000 for three wins. Fighters eliminated from tournament competition would also be compensated, with opening-round winners receiving $25,000, semifinalists getting $50,000, and finalists netting $100,000. Non-tournament bouts and female fights were also promoted in the first season.[10]
For the second season Bellator changed the accumulated winnings from $175,000 to $100,000.
[edit] Weight divisions
For its Tournaments, Bellator currently uses eight weight classes under the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts:
- Bellator has also held bouts in various weight classes for women.
[edit] Bellator Events
[edit] Tournaments
Bellator Fighting Championships: Season One (April 3, 2009 - June 19, 2009)
Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Two (April 8, 2010 - June 24, 2010)
Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Three (August 12, 2010 - October 28, 2010)
Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Four (March 5, 2011 - May 21, 2011)
Bellator Fighting Championships: 2011 Summer Series (June 25, 2011 - August 27, 2011)
Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Five (September 10, 2011 - November 26, 2011)
Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Six (March 9, 2012 - TBA)
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| Middleweight |
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[edit] Current Champions
[edit] Notable Bellator fighters
- Heavyweight
Cole Konrad (current Bellator Heavyweight Champion, Season 3 Heavyweight Tournament Winner)
Thiago Santos (Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament Finalist)- Eric Prindle (Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament Finalist)
Neil Grove (Season 3 Heavyweight Tournament Runner-Up)
- Light Heavyweight
Christian M'Pumbu (current Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion, Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament Winner)- Richard Hale (Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament Runner-Up)
- Middleweight
Hector Lombard (current Bellator Middleweight Champion, Season 1 Middleweight Tournament Winner)
Alexander Shlemenko (Season 2 & 5 Middleweight Tournament Winner)- Vitor Vianna (Season 5 Middleweight Tournament Runner-Up)
- Bryan Baker (Season 2 Middleweight Tournament Runner-Up)
- Jared Hess (Season 1 Middleweight Tournament Runner-Up)
- Welterweight
- Ben Askren (current Bellator Welterweight Champion, Season 2 Welterweight Tournament Winner)
- Lyman Good (former Bellator Welterweight Champion, Season 1 Welterweight Tournament Winner)
- Douglas Lima (Season 5 Welterweight Tournament Winner)
- Ben Saunders (Season 5 Welterweight Tournament Runner-Up)
- Jay Hieron (Season 4 Welterweight Tournament Winner)
- Rick Hawn (Season 4 Welterweight Tournament Runner-Up)
- Dan Hornbuckle (Season 2 Welterweight Tournament Runner-Up)
Omar De La Cruz (Season 1 Welterweight Tournament Runner-Up)
- Lightweight
- Michael Chandler (current Bellator Lightweight Champion, Season 4 Lightweight Tournament Winner)
- Eddie Alvarez (former Bellator Lightweight Champion, Season 1 Lightweight Tournament Winner)
- Patricky Freire (Season 4 Lightweight Tournament Runner-Up)
- Pat Curran (Season 2 Lightweight Tournament Winner)
- Toby Imada (Seasons 1 & 2 Lightweight Tournament Runner-Up)
- Featherweight
- Joe Warren (current Bellator Featherweight Champion, Season 2 Featherweight Tournament Winner)
- Joe Soto (former Bellator Featherweight Champion, Season 1 Featherweight Tournament Winner)
- Pat Curran (Summer Series 2011 Featherweight Tournament Winner)
- Marlon Sandro (Summer Series 2011 Featherweight Tournament Runner-Up)
- Patricio Freire (Season 2 Featherweight Tournament Runner-Up, Season 4 Featherweight Tournament Winner)
- Daniel Straus (Season 4 Featherweight Tournament Runner-Up)
Yahir Reyes (Season 1 Featherweight Tournament Runner-Up)
- Bantamweight
- Zach Makovsky (current Bellator Bantamweight Champion, Season 3 Bantamweight Tournament Winner)
- Eduardo Dantas (Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament Winner)
- Alexis Vila (Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament Runner-Up)
- West, EdEd West (Season 3 Bantamweight Tournament Runner-Up)
- Women's Flyweight (115 lbs.)
- Zoila Gurgel (current Bellator Women's Flyweight Champion, Season 3 Women's Tournament Winner)
Megumi Fujii (Season 3 Women's Tournament Runner-Up)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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N/A
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Heavyweight
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Light Heavyweight
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Middleweight
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Lightweight
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Women's 115 lbs
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Hector Lombard
Jared Hess
Omar De La Cruz
Yahir Reyes
Alexander Shlemenko
Patricio Freire
Neil Grove
Megumi Fujii
Christian M'Pumbu
10% 3Q 2005) 
