2023 in Bellator MMA
{{Short description|Bellator mixed martial arts events in 2023}}
{{Infobox year in combat sports
| name = 2023 in Bellator MMA
| image = Bellator MMA Logo.svg
| image_size = 150px
| alt =
| caption =
| promotion = Bellator MMA
| first_date = {{Start date|2023|02|04}}
| first_date_aired =
| last_date = {{Start date|2023|11|17}}
| last_date_aired =
| total_events = 13
| total_fights = 179
| title_fights = 15
| preceded_by = 2022
| followed_by = 2024
}}
2023 in Bellator MMA was the fifteenth year in the history of Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States.
Events list
{{Main|List of Bellator MMA events}}
| class="sortable wikitable succession-box" style="font-size:90%;"
! scope="col" | # ! scope="col" | Event ! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Venue ! scope="col" | City ! scope="col" | Country ! scope="col" | Ref. |
| 13
|Bellator 301: Amosov vs. Jackson |{{dts|2023|November|17}} |rowspan=2|U.S. |
|---|
| 12
|Bellator 300: Nurmagomedov vs. Primus |{{dts|2023|October|07}} |
| 11
|Bellator 299: Eblen vs. Edwards |{{dts|2023|September|23}} |
| 10
|Bellator 298: Storley vs. Ward |{{dts|2023|August|11}} |U.S. |
| 9
|{{dts|2023|July|30}} |
| 8
|Bellator 297: Nemkov vs. Romero |{{dts|2023|June|16}} |U.S. |
| 7
|Bellator 296: Mousasi vs. Edwards |{{dts|2023|May|12}} |
| 6
|{{dts|2023|April|22}} |rowspan=2|Neal S. Blaisdell Arena |rowspan=2|Honolulu, Hawaii |rowspan=4|U.S. |
| 5
|Bellator 294: Carmouche vs. Bennett 2 |{{dts|2023|April|21}} |
| 4
|{{dts|2023|March|31}} |
| 3
|Bellator 292: Nurmagomedov vs. Henderson |{{dts|2023|March|10}} |
| 2
|Bellator 291: Amosov vs. Storley 2 |{{dts|2023|February|25}} |
| 1
|Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 |{{dts|2023|February|4}} |U.S. |
Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix Tournament
On September 28, 2022, Bellator president Scott Coker revealed in a The MMA Hour interview that a Lightweight World Grand Prix will take place in 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/9/28/23377359/scott-coker-announces-bellator-lightweight-grand-prix-for-2023|title=Scott Coker announces Bellator lightweight grand prix for 2023|date=September 28, 2022|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Jed Meshew}} On January 11, 2023, during an appearance on "The MMA Hour," Bellator president Scott Coker revealed the fighters taking part in the tournament. The lineup includes Usman Nurmagomedov, A.J. McKee, Tofiq Musayev, Alexandr Shabliy, Patricky Freire, Mansour Barnaoui, Benson Henderson, and Sidney Outlaw. The tournament kicked off at Bellator 292 on March 10 in San Jose, California.{{Cite web |last=Sherdog.com |title=Eight-Man Field Announced for Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix |url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/EightMan-Field-Announced-for-Bellator-Lightweight-Grand-Prix-188898 |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=Sherdog |language=en}}
{{#invoke:RoundN|main|columns=3|score-boxes=1|3rdplace=no
|team-width=200
|score-width=
|| {{nowrap|{{flagicon|RUS}} Usman Nurmagomedov (c)}} | SUB | {{flagicon|USA}} Benson Henderson | 1
|| {{flagicon|FRA}} Mansour Barnaoui | 5 | {{flagicon|USA}} Brent Primus{{efn|Primus replaced Sidney Outlaw after he was suspended for a positive drug test.}} | UD
|| {{flagicon|AZE}} Tofiq Musayev | 3 | {{flagicon|RUS}} Alexandr Shabliy | TKO
|| {{flagicon|BRA}} Roberto de Souza{{efn|de Souza replaced A. J. McKee after he withdrew due to medical issues. The bout took place at catchweight of 161 pounds.}}| 3 | {{flagicon|BRA}} Patricky Pitbull | TKO
|| {{nowrap|{{flagicon|RUS}} Usman Nurmagomedov (c)}}{{efn|Nurmagomedov's win was later overturned to a No Contest after he tested positive for a banned substance in a prescription drug. He was not stripped of the title due to the unintentional ingestion of the substance, but did receive a suspension.}} | UD | {{flagicon|USA}} Brent Primus |5
|| {{flagicon|RUS}} Alexandr Shabliy | UD | {{flagicon|BRA}} Patricky Pitbull | 5
|| {{flagicon|}} | |{{nowrap|{{flagicon|RUS}} Alexandr Shabliy}}{{efn|The conclusion to the tournament was cancelled following the acquisition of Bellator MMA by Professional Fighters League in November 2023. Shabliy and Nurmagomedov did however eventually face each other the next year in a Lightweight Title bout at Bellator Champions Series 4, where Nurmagomedov won by unanimous decision.}} |
{{Clear}}
{{notelist}}
Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Tournament
{{trim|{{#section-h:2022 in Bellator MMA|Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Tournament}}}}
Title fights
{{MMAtitle}}
{{MMAtitle card|Title fights in 2023}}
{{MMAtitle bout
|Middleweight
|Johnny Eblen (c)
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 49–46, 49–46)
|5
|5:00
|For the Bellator Middleweight World Championship.
}}
{{MMAtitle bout
|Heavyweight
|Ryan Bader (c)
|def.
|TKO (punches)
|1
|2:30
|For the Bellator Heavyweight World Championship.
}}
{{MMAtitle bout
|Welterweight
|Yaroslav Amosov (c)
|def.
|Logan Storley (ic)
|Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 50–45, 50–45)
|5
|5:00
|For the Bellator Welterweight World Championship.
}}
{{MMAtitle bout
|Lightweight
|Usman Nurmagomedov (c)
|def.
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|1
|2:37
|For the Bellator Lightweight World Championship.
}}
{{MMAtitle bout
|Women's Flyweight
|Liz Carmouche (c)
|def.
|Submission (arm-triangle choke)
|4
|4:29
|For the Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship.
}}
{{MMAtitle bout
|Bantamweight
|def.
|Raufeon Stots (ic)
|KO (knee)
|1
|1:20
|For the interim Bellator Bantamweight World Championship.
}}
{{MMAtitle bout
|Bantamweight
|Sergio Pettis (c)
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 50–45, 50–45)
|5
|5:00
|For the Bellator Bantamweight World Championship.
}}
{{MMAtitle bout
|Light Heavyweight
|Vadim Nemkov (c)
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 49–46, 49–46)
|5
|5:00
|For the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship
}}
{{MMAtitle bout
|Flyweight
|vs.
|Makoto Takahashi
|No Contest (accidental eye poke)
|1
|0:25
|For the inaugural Bellator Flyweight World Championship. Accidental eye poke rendered Takahashi unable to continue.
}}
{{MMAtitle bout
|Middleweight
|Johnny Eblen (c)
|def.
|KO (punches)
|3
|0:21
|For the Bellator Middleweight World Championship.
}}
{{MMAtitle bout
|Women's Flyweight
|Liz Carmouche (c)
|def.
|TKO (leg kick)
|5
|0:17
|For the Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship.
}}
{{MMAtitle bout
|Women's Featherweight
|Cris Cyborg (c)
|def.
|TKO (punches)
|1
|4:01
|For the Bellator Women's Featherweight World Championship.
}}
{{MMAtitle bout
|Lightweight
|Usman Nurmagomedov (c)
|vs.
|No Contest (overturned)
|5
|5:00
|For the Bellator Lightweight World Championship. Originally a unanimous decision win for Nurmagomedov; overturned after he tested positive for a banned substance.
}}
{{MMAtitle bout
|Bantamweight
|Patchy Mix (ic)
|def.
|Sergio Pettis (c)
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|2
|1:51
|For the Bellator Bantamweight World Championship.
}}
{{MMAtitle bout
|Welterweight
|def.
|Yaroslav Amosov (c)
|KO (punches)
|3
|2:08
|For the Bellator Welterweight World Championship.
}}
{{MMAtitle end|notes = yes}}
See also
- List of Bellator events
- List of current Bellator fighters
- 2023 in combat sports
- 2023 in UFC
- 2023 in ONE Championship
- 2023 in Absolute Championship Akhmat
- 2023 in Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki
- 2023 in Rizin Fighting Federation
- 2023 in AMC Fight Nights
- 2023 in Brave Combat Federation
- 2023 in Road FC
- 2023 in Professional Fighters League
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.bellator.com Bellator]
{{Bellator Tournament Events}}
{{2023 in mixed martial arts}}