The hits keep on coming for Bellator MMA. The promotion capped off its Featherweight World Grand Prix in July by crowning a new champion when AJ McKee stopped two-division king Patricio Pitbull in the first round by submission. McKee is arguably the hottest fighter in the division now with a perfect 18-0 record while streaking to the title — and collecting the $1 million prize.
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The Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix finals are set as champion Vadim Nemkov will take on Corey Anderson later this year or in early 2022. Nemkov survived an early blow from late replacement Julius Anglickas to score a fourth-round submission in the semifinals while Anderson finished current heavyweight champ Ryan Bader in under a minute.
Now, it’s time for some fall fights. arguably the greatest heavyweight of all time is back in his homeland when Fedor Emelianenko takes on Tim Johnson in Russia on Oct. 23. Emelianenko, 45, is 3-2 in his last five fights dating back to 2017 and has not competed since a New Year’s Eve 2019 TKO of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Johnson, meanwhile, is coming off a loss to an Emelianenko protege in Valentin Moldavsky for the interim heavyweight title.
And as the calendar turns to November, the promotion makes its return to Dublin, Ireland, for a vacant lightweight title bout. Patricio Pitbull, who held both the lightweight and featherweight titles simultaneously, vacated the 155-pound title after losing the featherweight strap, which opened the opportunity for his brother to fight for it. He takes on Peter Queally in a rematch from earlier this year that ended after a nasty cut opened on Pitbull via elbows. The main event will take place from the 3Arena in Dublin on Nov. 5.
Be sure to check back in on this page to stay up to date on the upcoming Bellator events throughout the remainder of the year.
Upcoming Bellator MMA schedule
| Bellator 269 | Oct. 23 | Fedor Emelianenko vs. Tim Johnson | Heavyweights | Moscow, Russia | Showtime |
| Bellator 270 | Nov. 5 | Peter Queally vs. Patricky Pitbull | Vacant lightweight title | Dublin, Ireland | Showtime |
| Bellator 271 | Nov. 12 | Cris Cyborg (c) vs. Sinead Kavanagh | Women’s featherweight title | Hollywood, Florida | Showtime |
| Bellator 272 | Dec. 3 | Sergio Pettis (c) vs. Kyoji Horiguchi | Bantamweight title | Uncasville, Connecticut | Showtime |
