At the time of its inception in 2008, CEO Bjorn Rebney founded Bellator Fighting Championships as a tournament based organization.
Under Bjorn Rebney's sole leadership, Bellator MMA would strictly adhere to these rules during the first four years of its operation.
[1] In November 2012, CEO Bjorn Rebney announced the introduction of a "championship rematch clause".
[2] The next major change occurred during Bellator's 2013 Summer Series when it was announced that all three tournaments would be shorter, four-man affairs instead of the standard eight.
This allowed officials to grant title shots to replacement fighters when tournament winners were injured, or otherwise unavailable, through a complex voting and points system.
[6] Neither of these changes would ever be implemented, however, as one week later Bellator MMA and its founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney parted ways, bringing about an end to the organization's tournament based model.
Fabian Edwards at PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants on Oct 19, 2024 156 to 170 lbs (70 to 77 kg) 1. def.
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane at Bellator 300 on Oct 7, 2023 Under 115 pounds (52 kg) Originally, all title challengers were determined through these tournaments with the winners earning the right to challenge the reigning champion at that weight class or, if necessary, be allowed to compete for an interim or vacant title.
(April 8, 2010 - June 24, 2010) (August 12, 2010 - October 28, 2010) ^ 1: Tournament determined the inaugural Bellator Heavyweight Champion.
[23] ^ 2: Shlemenko next faced Season Six tournament winner Maiquel Falcão for the vacant middleweight title.
(March 9, 2012 - May 25, 2012) ^ 1: Falcão next faced Season Five tournament winner Alexander Shlemenko for the vacant middleweight title.
^ 2: After an extended layoff due to injury, Jansen would choose to forfeit his title shot for the opportunity to take an immediate fight upon his return.
[24] (January 17, 2013 - April 4, 2013) ^ 1: Newton next faced 2013 Summer Series tournament winner Muhammed Lawal for the Interim Light Heavyweight title.
^ 2: After repeated visa issues prevented Khasbulaev from returning to the USA to claim his title shot, the fighter was granted his release from the promotion in December 2014.
[25] ^ 3: Lima next faced Season Nine tournament winner Rick Hawn for the vacant welterweight title.
^ 1: Lawal next faced Season Eight tournament winner Emanuel Newton for the Interim Light Heavyweight title.
^ 2: Silva next faced Season Nine tournament winner Joe Warren for the Interim Bantamweight title.
^ 2: Hawn next faced Season Eight tournament winner Douglas Lima for the vacant welterweight title.
[26] ^ 4: Warren next faced 2013 Summer Series tournament winner Rafael Silva for the Interim Bantamweight title.
(February 28, 2014 – May 17, 2014) ^ 1: Despite initial assurances to the contrary,[27][28] Bellator's new management would not honor the title shots Volkov, Weichel and Held earned while under the tournament format.
^ 3: Jackson would end up leaving Bellator MMA for the UFC and never claim his title shot.
Current welterweight champion, Rory MacDonald, is a participant and will defend the title until the end of the tournament.
Current featherweight champion, Patrício Freire, is a participant and will defend the title until the end of the tournament.
Current Light Heavyweight champion, Vadim Nemkov, is a participant and will defend the title until the end of the tournament.
Current Lightweight champion, Usman Nurmagomedov, is a participant and will defend the title until the end of the tournament.