Bellator 259

The event featured a Bellator Women's Featherweight Championship bout between the champion Cris Cyborg and Leslie Smith.

[2] On May 13, it was announced that Mattos had pulled out from the bout after contracting COVID-19 and was replaced by former Titan FC Bantamweight Champion Danny Sabatello.

[5] A women's flyweight bout between Valerie Loureda and Hannah Guy was set for Bellator 258, but was moved to this event.

[7] Two additional lightweight bouts were added to the preliminary portion of the card, as Saad Awad took on Nate Andrews,[8] while Aviv Gozali faced Sean Felton.

Both their bouts proceeded at catchweight and they were fined a percentage of their purses, which went to their respective opponents, Darrion Caldwell and Janay Harding.