Bellator in 2020: A robust look at the stats, streaks, skids, and records

Bellator was poised to have its biggest and best year to date in 2020, but like most businesses this year, it was hindered by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Still, though, the promotion hosted 18 fight cards between its numbered and European series events that solidified its status among the top dogs in the MMA space. During that time, many records were set, and a host of historic moments were produced.

Now that the year has come to a close, here are some of 2020’s most significant fights and individual performances.

Event feats

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjF558_ciD0 Bellator held 18 numbered and European series events in six different cities across four countries and two continents. Those events had 76 main card fights across nine different weight classes (not including catchweight bouts). Those 76 main card fights combined for a total cage time of 13:30:44. The longest event of the year (main-card fights only) was Bellator 246 (1:03:03). The shortest event of the year (main-card fights only) was Bellator 249 (21:14). Twenty-two fighters missed weight for main-card bouts. Those fighters went 7-9, while six bouts were canceled. Three main or co-main event bouts were canceled due to a variety of reasons (not including full event cancellations due to the pandemic). Betting favorites went 61-13 during Bellator main card fights. Two bouts ended in a no contest. Betting favorites went 16-2 in Bellator headliners. Betting favorites went on an 18-0 run to close the year. Seven cards saw all the betting favorites win. No fight cards had more underdogs win than favorites.

Championship feats

[autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] became the first person in history to win titles in Bellator, UFC, Invicta FC and Strikeforce when she won the women's featherweight belt at Bellator 238. Cyborg became the second in history to win titles in Bellator and UFC. Eddie Alvarez also accomplished the feat. [autotag]Vadim Nemkov[/autotag] became the eighth light heavyweight champion in Bellator history when he won at Bellator 244. Cyborg became the first in history to successfully defend titles in Bellator and UFC with her win at Bellator 249. Cyborg became the first in history to win titles in Bellator, UFC, Invicta FC and Strikeforce, and successfully defend her belt in all four promotions. [autotag]Gegard Mousasi[/autotag] became the first two-time Bellator middleweight champion when he regained the title at Bellator 250. [autotag]Douglas Lima[/autotag] suffered his fourth title-fight loss in Bellator competition at Bellator 250, the second-most in company history behind Michael Chandler (five). [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag]’s recorded his ninth Bellator title-fight victory at Bellator 252, the most in company history. [autotag]Juliana Velasquez[/autotag] became the second Bellator flyweight champion when she won the title at Bellator 254.

Individual feats

[autotag]John Salter[/autotag] set a record for most submission victories in Bellator middleweight history with his sixth at Bellator 244. [autotag]Julia Budd[/autotag] set a record for most victories in Bellator women's featherweight history with her eighth at Bellator 244. [autotag]Neiman Gracie[/autotag] set a record for most submission victories in Bellator welterweight history with his sixth at Bellator 246. [autotag]Saad Awad[/autotag] suffered his 10th loss in Bellator competition at Bellator 249, the most in company history. [autotag]Emmanuel Sanchez[/autotag] set the record for most decision wins in Bellator history with his eighth at Bellator 252. [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] extended his overall winning streak to 25 with his victory at Bellator 252, which is the longest streak among active Bellator fighters. Freire set a record for most in Bellator history with his 19th win at Bellator 252. [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] extended his record for longest winning streak in Bellator history when he moved to 17-0 with his win at Bellator 253. McKee set a record for most stoppage victories in Bellator featherweight history with his 12th at Bellator 253. McKee set a record for most submission victories in Bellator featherweight history with his sixth at Bellator 253. [vertical-gallery id=568407]