2020 in Bellator MMA was the twelfth year in the history of Bellator MMA, a

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, inc ...

promotion based in the United States. Bellator held 18 events in 2020.

Background

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Bellator would go on hiatus after its 240th numbered event on February 22, 2020. The promotion would resume holding events with Bellator 242 on July 24. On September 11, 2020, it was announced that Bellator telecasts would move to

CBS Sports Network CBS Sports Network (a.k.a. CBSSN) is an American pay television network owned by the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global. When it launched in 2002 as the National College Sports Network (later College Sports Television also known a ...

, starting October 1, after Viacom's re-merger with

CBS Corporation The second incarnation of CBS Corporation (the first being a short-lived rename of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation) was an American multinational media conglomerate with interests primarily in commercial broadcasting, publishing, and ...

in 2019. Prior to the announcement, CBS Sports Network debuted the recap series ''Bellator MMA: Recharged'' on April 25, 2020. Bellator 248, which was held on October 10, would be the first MMA event to be held by a major promotion in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

since the sport was legalized in January.Bellator to Hold First Major MMA Event in France on Saturday, October 10 at Accor Arena in Paris
/ref>

Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix Tournament

Bellator 238

Bellator 238: Budd vs. Cyborg took place on January 25, 2020 at The Forum in Inglewood, California. The event aired live on

DAZN DAZN ( "da zone") is a global sports entertainment platform. Different to traditional linear and satellite broadcasting, DAZN is an over-the-top (OTT) streaming service meaning that it is delivered directly to viewers via the internet. The ...

. Background The event featured a Bellator Women's Featherweight World Championship bout between the champion

Julia Budd Julia Olivia Budd (born July 4, 1983) is a Canadian kickboxer and mixed martial artist competing in the Women's Featherweight division of Professional Fighters League (PFL). She has fought in MMA promotions '' Strikeforce'' and ''Invicta Fighti ...

and former

Strikeforce Strike Force may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Games * ''Strike Force'' (video game), a 1991 arcade game *'' Commandos: Strike Force'', a 2006 video game *'' Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce'', a 2009 video game *''Marvel Strike Force'', ...

, Invicta, and

UFC The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

champion

Cris Cyborg Cristiane Justino Venâncio (born July 9, 1985), known professionally by her ring name Cris Cyborg (and formerly by her married name Cristiane Santos), is a Brazilian-American mixed martial artist who as of January 2021 competes in Bellator MM ...

. Results

Bellator 239

Bellator 239: Ruth vs. Amosov took place on February 21, 2020 at

WinStar World Casino WinStar World Casino and Resort is an American tribal casino and hotel located in Thackerville, Oklahoma, near the Oklahoma–Texas state line. It is owned and operated by the Chickasaw Nation. The casino opened as the WinStar Casinos in 2004, ...

Thackerville, Oklahoma Thackerville is a town in Love County, Oklahoma. It is located in South Central Oklahoma. The population was 445 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Ardmore, Oklahoma Micropolitan Statistical Area. Geography Thackerville is located at (33. ...

. The event aired live on

Paramount Network Paramount Network is an American basic cable television channel owned by the MTV Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Media Networks. The network's headquarters are located at the Paramount Pictures studio lot in Los Angeles. The channel was ...

and

. The event featured a welterweight bout between

Ed Ruth Edward Lee Ruth (born October 21, 1990) is an American former professional mixed martial artist and freestyle and folkstyle wrestler. He competed in the Middleweight division of Bellator MMA. As a folkstyle wrestler, he was a three-time NCAA ...

and undefeated Yaroslav Amosov. Results

Bellator 240

Bellator Dublin/Bellator 240 took place on February 22, 2020 at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. Background This was the first event of the second year of the Bellator European Series. The event was to be headlined by a bantamweight bout between James Gallagher and Cal Ellenor. However, on February 4, it was announced that Gallagher pulled out of the event due to a back injury, thus a women's featherweight bout between

Leah McCourt Leah McCourt (born 21 June 1992) is a Northern Irish professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Featherweight division of Bellator MMA. She is a former IMMAF World and European Amateur champion and International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu F ...

and Judith Ruis was bumped to the main event. The fights billed as Bellator 240 will be held on tape-delay on

and

and will feature a lightweight bout between former Bellator Lightweight World Champion

Brent Primus Brent Primus (born April 12, 1985) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing for Bellator MMA, where he is the former Bellator Lightweight World Champion. As of November 1, 2022, he is #6 in the Bellator Lightweight Rankings. Bac ...

and Peter Queally. However, Queally pulled out due to injury. Primus instead fought Chris Bungard. Results

Bellator 241 (Cancelled)

Bellator 241: Pitbull vs. Carvalho was a scheduled event to take place on March 13, 2020 at

Mohegan Sun Casino Mohegan Sun is an American casino, owned and operated by the Mohegan Tribe on of their reservation, along the banks of the Thames River in Uncasville, Connecticut. It has of gambling space. It is in the foothills of southeastern Connecticut, ...

Uncasville, Connecticut Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut, United States. It is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River where it flows into the Thames River. The name is now applied more generally to all of the ea ...

. The event was scheduled to be live on

. Background The event was expected to feature a Bellator Featherweight World Championship bout between the champion

Patrício Freire Patricio in Spanish, or Patrício in Portuguese, is a male given name equivalent to Patrick in English. The Spanish name is pronounced with the stress on the same first i as Portuguese, but an accent is not needed because this follows normal ru ...

and Pedro Carvalho. A heavyweight between former

UFC Heavyweight Champion Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions are fighters who have won UFC championships. Historical notes At the time of the UFC's inception in 1993, mixed martial arts was not sanctioned in the United States, and did not include weight classe ...

Josh Barnett Joshua Lawrence Barnett (born November 10, 1977) is an American mixed martial artist, submission grappler, professional wrestler and color commentator currently signed to Bellator MMA, where he competes in their Heavyweight division. Barnett p ...

and

Ronny Markes Ronny Markes (born April 21, 1988), is a Brazilian mixed martial artist currently competing in the Heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 2007, Markes has formerly competed for the UFC, King of the Cage, PFL, Bellator MMA, and M ...

was expected for the event. The original meeting was scheduled for Bellator 235, but Barnett was pulled out an hour before the fight due to illness and the fight was rebooked for this event. Reports came out stating that Barnett was pulled due to a failed drug test, but Mike Mazzulli, head of the Mohegan Tribe Athletic Department, announced that the reports were false. However on March 4, it was announced that Barnett was officially off the card, which Mazzulli announced that a failed medical test was the reason for Barnett's removal and Bellator then announced that

Matt Mitrione Matthew Steven Mitrione (born July 15, 1978) is an American mixed martial artist and former American football player, who competed for both the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and most recently for Bellator MMA. Prior to embarking on an MM ...

would replace Barnett against Markes. On March 13, the day of the event, Bellator President Scott Coker announced that the event would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Cancelled Fight card

Bellator 242 (Cancelled)

Bellator 242: Bader vs. Nemkov was a scheduled event to take place on May 9, 2020 at

SAP Center The SAP Center at San Jose (originally known as San Jose Arena and the HP Pavilion at San Jose) is an indoor arena located in San Jose, California. Its primary tenant is the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League, for which the arena h ...

San Jose, California San Jose, officially San José (; ; ), is a major city in the U.S. state of California that is the cultural, financial, and political center of Silicon Valley and largest city in Northern California by both population and area. With a 2020 popu ...

. The event was scheduled to be live on

and

. Background The event was expected to feature a

Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship Bellator MMA (formerly known as "Bellator Fighting Championships") is an American mixed martial arts promotion, and the following is a history of its champions in each weight class. At the time of its inception in 2008, CEO Bjorn Rebney founded ...

bout between the champion

Ryan Bader Arizona State Sun Devils Ryan DuWayne Bader (born June 7, 1983) is an American mixed martial artist currently signed to Bellator MMA where he is the current Bellator Heavyweight Champion, the former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion, an ...

and

Vadim Nemkov Vadim Aleksandrovich Nemkov (russian: Вадим Александрович Немков; born 20 June 1992) is a Russian professional mixed martial artist and a four-time Combat Sambo World Champion. He currently competes in the Light Heavyweig ...

. On March 30, Bellator announced that the event would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Cancelled Fight card

Bellator London 3 (Cancelled)

Bellator London: Gallagher vs. Ellenor was a scheduled event to take place on May 16, 2020 at SSE Arena in

London, England London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major s ...

as part of the Bellator European Fight Series. The event was scheduled to be live on Channel 5. Background The event was expected to feature a bantamweight bout between rivals James Gallagher and Cal Ellenor. On March 30, Bellator announced that the event would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Cancelled Fight card

Bellator 243 (Cancelled)

Bellator 243: Carmouche vs. Bohm was a scheduled event to take place on May 29, 2020 at

Pechanga Resort and Casino The Pechanga Resort Casino is a Native American casino on the Pechanga Indian Reservation adjacent to the city of Temecula, California. Pechanga Resort Casino is one of the largest casino/resorts in the United States, with more than 5,400 slot ...

Temecula, California Temecula (; es, Temécula, ; Luiseño: ''Temeekunga'') is a city in southwestern Riverside County, California, United States. The city had a population of 110,003 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and was Municipal corporation, i ...

. The event was scheduled to be live on

and

. Background The event was expected to feature a women's flyweight bout between former UFC title contender

Liz Carmouche Liz Carmouche (born February 19, 1984) is an American mixed martial arts fighter currently signed to Bellator MMA, where she is the current Bellator Women's Flyweight World Champion. Carmouche competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC ...

and Mandy Bohm. On March 30, Bellator announced that the event would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Cancelled Fight card

Bellator 244 (Cancelled)

Bellator 244: Chandler vs. Henderson 2 was a scheduled event to take place on June 6, 2020 at

Wintrust Arena Wintrust Arena at McCormick Square, previously referred to as DePaul Arena or McCormick Place Events Center, is a 10,387-seat sports venue in the Near South Side community area of Chicago that opened in 2017. It is the current home court for ...

Chicago, Illinois (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

. The event was scheduled to be live on

. Background The event was expected to feature a rematch between former Bellator world champion

Michael Chandler Michael Chandler (born April 24, 1986) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Lightweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional competitor since 2009, Chandler first gained n ...

and former UFC and WEC world champion Benson Henderson, with Chandler having won the first bout. Additionally, a semi-final matchup in the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix between former bantamweight champ

Darrion Caldwell Darrion Caldwell (born December 19, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist and graduated collegiate wrestler, who currently competes in the bantamweight division of Bellator MMA, where he is the former Bellator Bantamweight World Champion ...

and A.J. McKee was scheduled for the card. On April 21, Bellator announced that the event would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Cancelled Fight card

Bellator 242

Bellator 242: Bandejas vs. Pettis took place on July 24, 2020 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in

. The event aired live on

and

. Bellator 242 marked the organization's return to live events following a shutdown due to the

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickly ...

pandemic and was held behind closed doors without fans in attendance. Results

Bellator 243

Chandler vs. Henderson 2 was initially scheduled to take place at Bellator 244 on June 6, 2020 at

Chicago, Illinois (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

. However, the event was postponed due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

. It was announced that the bout was rescheduled as the main event of Bellator 243 set to take place on August 7 from the Mohegan Sun Arena in

. The event aired live on

and

. Background The event featured a lightweight rematch between former three-time Bellator lightweight champion

and former WEC and

UFC lightweight champion Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions are fighters who have won UFC championships. Historical notes At the time of the UFC's inception in 1993, mixed martial arts was not sanctioned in the United States, and did not include weight classe ...

Benson Henderson. To set up for Bellator Lightweight Title contention. Results

Bellator 244

Bader vs. Nemkov was initially scheduled to take place at Bellator 242 on May 9, 2020 at

. However, the event was postponed due to the

. It was announced that the bout was rescheduled as the main event for Bellator 244 set to take place on August 21 from the Mohegan Sun Arena in

. The event aired live on

and

. Background The event featured a men's light heavyweight championship match between the current two-division champion

and the number one contender

. Results

Bellator 245

Bellator 245: Davis vs. Machida II took place on September 11, 2020 at Mohegan Sun Arena in

Uncasville Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut, United States. It is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River where it flows into the Thames River. The name is now applied more generally to all of the ...

, Connecticut. Background The event featured a light heavyweight bout between former Bellator Light Heavyweight World Champion Phil Davis and former

UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions are fighters who have won UFC championships. Historical notes At the time of the UFC's inception in 1993, mixed martial arts was not sanctioned in the United States, and did not include weight classe ...

Lyoto Machida (born 30 May 1978), is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and karateka, who currently competes in the Light heavyweight division. He formerly competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was a former UFC Light ...

. The two previously met at

UFC 163 ''UFC 163: Aldo vs. Korean Zombie'' was a mixed martial arts event held on August 3, 2013, at the HSBC Arena (Rio de Janeiro), HSBC Arena in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Background The main event was expected to feature current UFC Featherweight Champ ...

where Davis won by a controversial split decision. Results

Bellator 246

Bellator 246: Archuleta vs. Mix took place on September 12, 2020 at Mohegan Sun Arena in

. Background The event featured a bout for the vacant

Bellator Bantamweight World Championship Bellator MMA (formerly known as "Bellator Fighting Championships") is an American mixed martial arts promotion, and the following is a history of its champions in each weight class. At the time of its inception in 2008, CEO Bjorn Rebney founded B ...

between former featherweight title challenger Juan Archuleta and

Patchy Mix Patrick "Patchy" Mix (born August 16, 1993) is an American professional mixed martial artist, currently signed to Bellator MMA where he competes in the Bantamweight division. As of February 1, 2022, he is #2 in the Bellator Bantamweight Rankings ...

. At the weigh-ins, DeAnna Bennett and Keoni Diggs both missed weight for their respective bouts. Bennett weighed in at 131.7 pounds, 5.7 pounds over the non-title flyweight limit of 126.0 pounds, and Diggs weighed in at 157 pounds, 1 pound over the non-title lightweight limit of 156 pounds. Both bouts proceeded at catchweights and both fighters were fined a percentage of their respective purses, a percentage that went to their opponents. This would be the last Bellator event to air on

. Results

Bellator Milan 2

Bellator Milan: Edwards vs. van Steenis was a mixed martial arts event scheduled for September 26, 2020 from

Milan, Italy Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city ...

and marked the organization's eighth European Series event. The event aired on