2013 in Bellator MMA was the eighth installment of the Bellator MMA, which began on January 17, 2013 and ended on April 4, 2013.
Mixed martial arts tournaments were held in five weight classes and all of the champions, except the heavyweight champion, placed their titles on the line during this season.
This season marked the beginning of Bellator MMA (formerly Bellator Fighting Championships) airing on Spike TV.
Bellator 85
Bellator 85 took place on January 17, 2013 at the Bren Events Center in Irvine, California. The event was distributed live in prime time by Spike TV. It marked the season debut of season eight.
Background
Bellator 85 was to open with a fight chosen exclusively by fans in the "Bellator: Vote For The Fight" contest. Fans could log onto Spike.com to select the two fighters they want to see square off in the first ever Bellator bout on Spike TV. The eligible fighters were all welterweights and included Paul Daley, Douglas Lima, Ben Saunders and War Machine. Initially a bout between Daley and War Machine was announced by Bellator, but it was subsequently cancelled when War Machine tore his ACL and broke his fibula.
Results
Main Card (Spike TV) Weight Class Method Round Time NotesLightweightMichael Chandler (c)def.Rick Hawn Submission (rear naked choke)23:07Light HeavyweightMikhail Zayatsdef.Renato SobralKO (spinning back fist and punches)14:49Light HeavyweightJacob Noedef.Seth PetruzelliTKO (punches)12:51FeatherweightPat Curran (c)def.Patricio FreireDecision (split) (47-48, 48-47, 48-47)55:00 Preliminary Card (Spike.com)Light HeavyweightEmanuel Newtondef.Atanas DjambazovSubmission (rear naked choke)22:21 Light HeavyweightJason Lambertdef.Hector RamirezSubmission (straight armbar)13:59Catchweight (165 lb)J.J. Ambrosedef.Brian WarrenSubmission (guillotine choke)20:50LightweightSavant Youngdef.Mike GuymonKO (punch)20:48WelterweightJoe Williamsdef.Jamie YagerTKO (strikes)14:02 FeatherweightAaron Millerdef.Joe CamachoDecision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)35:00FeatherweightCleber Lucianodef.Mario NavarroDecision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)35:00
Bellator 86
Bellator 86 took place on January 24, 2013 at WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma. The event was distributed live in prime time by Spike TV.
Background
Bellator 86 featured the opening round of the Season Eight Welterweight Tournament.
The card also featured the Bellator debut of Muhammed Lawal, against veteran Polish fighter Przemyslaw "Misiek" Mysiala.
Results
Main Card (Spike TV) Weight Class Method Round Time NotesWelterweightBen Askren (c)def.Karl AmoussouTKO (doctor stoppage)35:00Light HeavyweightMuhammed Lawaldef.Przemyslaw MysialaTKO (punches)13:52WelterweightDouglas Limadef.Michail TsarevTKO (leg kicks)21:44WelterweightBen Saundersdef.Koffi AdzitsoDecision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)35:00 Preliminary Card (Spike.com)WelterweightBrent Weedmandef.Marius ZaromskisDecision (unanimous) (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)35:00WelterweightRaul Amayadef.José GomesTKO (punches)13:12Catchweight (140 lb)Jason Sampsondef.Chris PhamSubmission (armbar)34:55LightweightDamon Jacksondef.Zach ChurchSubmission (rear-naked choke)22:43MiddleweightCortez Colemandef.Matt JonesDecision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)35:00 UnairedFeatherweightHunter Tuckerdef.Javier ObregonSubmission (guillotine choke)23:17
Bellator 87
Bellator 87 took place on January 31, 2013 at Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The event was distributed live in prime time by Spike TV.
Background
Bellator 87 featured fights the quarterfinals of the Season Eight Lightweight Tournament.
Patricky Freire was originally supposed to face Guillaume DeLorenzi in the main event. However, on the day of the weigh ins Freire was pulled from the card due to an "undisclosed injury" and replaced by Saad Awad.
Results
Main Card (Spike TV) Weight Class Method Round Time NotesLightweightDavid Rickelsdef.Lloyd WoodardDecision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)35:00LightweightWill Brooksdef.Ricardo TirloniDecision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)35:00LightweightSaad Awaddef.Guillaume DeLorenziTKO (punches)10:31LightweightAlexander Sarnavskiydef.Thiago MichelSubmission (rear-naked choke)23:43 Preliminary Card (Spike.com)LightweightJason Fischerdef.Sevak MagakianSubmission (rear-naked choke)13:37HeavyweightKarl Etheringtondef.Jason FishVerbal submission (strikes)13:45Catchweight (165 lb)Amir Khillahdef.John SchulzSubmission (rear-naked choke)14:34LightweightJ. P. Reesedef.David ShepherdDecision (unanimous) (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)35:00WelterweightSam Quitodef.Ben LagmanSubmission (kneebar)13:54Catchweight (139 lb)Tony Zelinskidef.Nick KirkDecision (split) (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)35:00
Bellator 88
Bellator 88 took place on February 7, 2013 at The Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Georgia. The event was distributed live in prime time by Spike TV.
Background
Bellator 88 featured the opening round of the Season Eight Featherweight Tournament as well as a title fight for the vacant Middleweight title.
A middleweight bout between Kelvin Tiller and Dave Vitkay was originally announced for this card, but failed to materialize.
Results
Main Card (Spike TV) Weight Class Method Round Time NotesMiddleweightAlexander Shlemenkodef.Maiquel FalcãoKO (punches)22:18FeatherweightMarlon Sandrodef.Akop Stepanyan Decision (majority) (28-28, 29-27, 29-27)35:00FeatherweightMike Richmandef.Mitch JacksonTKO (head kick and punches)14:57FeatherweightAlexandre Bezerradef.Genair da SilvaSubmission (armbar)11:40 Preliminary Card (Spike.com)FeatherweightMagomedrasul Khasbulaevdef.Fabricio GuerreiroSubmission (arm triangle choke)21:15Catchweight (159 lb)Joe Elmoredef.Jerrid BurkeKO (punch)24:11Catchweight (152 lb)Ronnie Rogersdef.Shane CrenshawDecision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)35:00Catchweight (159 lb)Clay Harvisondef.Ururahy RodriguesTKO (knee)33:34FeatherweightGeorge Hickmandef.Stephen UpchurchSubmission (rear-naked choke)12:19
Bellator 89
Bellator 89 took place on February 14, 2013 at The Bojangles' Coliseum, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The event was distributed live in prime time by Spike TV.
Background
Bellator 89 featured the opening round of the Middleweight tournament.
The event also featured the first defense for Eduardo Dantas of the Bantamweight Title since he won it from Zach Makovsky in May 2012. It marked the first time two training partners and friends have fought for a title in the Bellator promotion.
Results
Main Card (Spike TV) Weight Class Method Round Time NotesBantamweightEduardo Dantas (c)def.Marcos GalvãoKO (punches)23:01MiddleweightDan Cramer def.Brian RogersDecision (unanimous) (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)35:00MiddleweightBrett Cooperdef.Norman ParaisyDecision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)35:00MiddleweightDoug Marshalldef.Andreas SpangKO (punch)13:03 Preliminary Card (Spike.com)HeavyweightDavid Mejia def.Mont McCullensTKO (punches)14:15MiddleweightAaron Johnsondef.Brennan WardSubmission (armbar)10:15MiddleweightSultan Alievdef.Mikkel ParloDecision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)35:00MiddleweightJoe Pachecodef.Kyle BoltTKO (strikes)24:02WelterweightJohnny Buckdef.Chris MierzwiakDecision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)35:00BantamweightMike Maldonadodef.Tim GoodwinDecision (unanimous) (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)35:00
Bellator 90
Bellator XC took place on February 21, 2013 at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah. The event was distributed live in prime time by Spike TV.
Background
Bellator 90 featured the finals of the Bellator Season 7 Featherweight Tournament.
The card also featured the Light Heavyweight and Welterweight tournament semifinals.
Results
Main Card (Spike TV) Weight Class Method Round Time NotesFeatherweightShahbulat Shamhalaevdef.Rad MartinezKO (punch)22:12Light HeavyweightEmanuel Newtondef.Muhammed LawalKO (spinning backfist)12:35WelterweightDouglas Limadef.Bryan BakerKO (punch)12:34Light HeavyweightMikhail Zayatsdef.Jacob NoeSubmission (armbar)13:38 Preliminary Card (Spike.com)WelterweightBen Saundersdef.Raul AmayaKO (head kick)12:56Catchweight (137 lb)Travis Marxdef.Chase BeebeDecision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)35:00WelterweightJesse Juarezdef.Jordan SmithDecision (split) (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)35:00LightweightSean Powersdef.Dave AllredSubmission (rear naked choke)32:10MiddleweightLionel Lanhamdef.Joe RodriguezTKO (punches)10:49FeatherweightShanon Slackdef.Josh TylerSubmission (Peruvian necktie)31:56
Bellator 91
Bellator 91 took place on February 28, 2013 at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The event was distributed live in prime time by Spike TV.
Background
Bellator 91 featured the first title defense by Light Heavyweight champion Christian M'Pumbu, despite having won the belt in May 2011.
Alexander Sarnavskiy was originally scheduled to face David Rickels in the semifinals. However, Sarnavskiy fractured his hand during his first fight and had to withdraw from the tournament. He was replaced with Jason Fischer.
Results
Main Card (Spike TV) Weight Class Method Round Time NotesLight HeavyweightAttila Veghdef.Christian M'Pumbu (c)Decision (unanimous) (48-47, 49-46, 50-45)55:00LightweightSaad Awaddef.Will BrooksTKO (punches)10:43LightweightDavid Rickelsdef.Jason FischerDecision (unanimous) (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)35:00 Preliminary Card (Spike.com)Women's BantamweightHolly Holmdef.Katie MerrillTKO (punches)23:02LightweightBlas Avenadef.Lenny LovatoTKO (punch)11:40FeatherweightAndres Quintanadef.Russell WilsonTKO (knees & punches)30:32BantamweightEd Westdef.Josh MontoyaKO (head kick)22:51BantamweightAdrian Cruzdef.Nick GonzalezSubmission (scarf hold armlock)23:00HeavyweightJosh Appeltdef.Josh LanierTKO (punches)20:16Catchweight (187 lb)Brennan Warddef.Yair MoguelSubmission (rear naked choke)10:57
Bellator 92
Bellator 92 took place on March 7, 2013 at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California. The event was distributed live in prime time by Spike TV.
Background
The card was originally scheduled to have the season 7 Lightweight tournament final between Dave Jansen and Marcin Held. However, Held was injured and the fight was delayed two weeks to Bellator 93.
Results
Main Card (Spike TV) Weight Class Method Round Time NotesFeatherweight Magomedrasul Khasbulaevdef.Marlon SandroTKO (punches)32:38MiddleweightDoug Marshalldef.Sultan AlievDecision (split) (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)35:00Middleweight Brett Cooperdef.Dan CramerTKO (punches)33:19FeatherweightMike Richmandef.Alexandre BezerraDecision (split) (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)35:00 Preliminary Card (Spike.com)LightweightAkop Stepanyandef.Chris SaundersTKO (spinning back kick & punches)33:55MiddleweightKeith Berrydef.Richard RigmadenSubmission (kimura)11:31HeavyweightJosh Appeltdef.Manny LaraDecision (unanimous) (30-24, 30-24, 30-24)35:00FeatherweightAaron Millerdef.Shad SmithDecision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)35:00Light HeavyweightBrandon Halseydef.Rocky RamirezTechnical submission (arm-triangle choke)30:50 UnairedWelterweightRicky Legeredef.Sabah HomasiSubmission (rear-naked choke)22:52FeatherweightNick Piedmontdef.Cleber LucianoTKO (punches)10:55
Bellator 93
Bellator 93 took place on March 21, 2013 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. The event was distributed live in prime time by Spike TV and featured the Season Seven Lightweight Tournament Final.
Background
Ben Saunders and Douglas Lima were scheduled to have a rematch on this card to decide the winner of the Bellator Season 8 Welterweight Tournament Final. However, Lima broke his hand and the match was delayed until later in the year.
Heavyweights Brett Rogers and Eric Prindle were scheduled to face each other on this card. However, the week leading up to the show it was announced that Prindle had pulled out of the bout due to an injury.
Jon Lemke defeated Jesse Erickson to kick off the event for the night and marked Bellator's 800th Fight in the history of the company.
Results