With Bellator on hiatus during the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, MMA Junkie takes a look at the 10 winningest fighters in the history of the organization. Of note, all athletes included in this column fight at middleweight or below and have promotional debuts ranging from April 2010 to April 2015.
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10. Michael Page
Age: 32
Debut: Bellator 93 on March 21, 2013
Number of fights: 14
Number of wins: 13
Many won’t like the quality of competition that led to Page landing a spot on the list, but he’s here nonetheless. “MVP” has put together a spectacular highlight reel with Bellator courtesy of a unique and dynamic offensive arsenal.
Page has nothing scheduled as far as his next fight, but the fan desire is to see him face another top welterweight.
9. Pat Curran
Age: 32
Debut: Bellator 14 on April 15, 2010
Number of fights: 18
Number of wins: 13
Despite having fought just three times in the past four years, former featherweight champion Curran finds himself in the thick of the pack among the biggest winners in Bellator history.
Curran was bounced from the ongoing featherweight grand prix in an opening-round bout against Adam Borics at Bellator 226 in September. He hasn’t not since addressed his future plans.
8. Joe Warren
Age: 43
Debut: Bellator 13 on April 8, 2010
Number of fights: 20
Number of wins: 13
Not only was Warren the first in Bellator history to win titles in two separate weight classes, but he’s also the longest-tenured fighter in the history of the organization, going back nearly a decade.
Although “The Baddest Man on the Planet” hasn’t fought since November 2018, he insists he’s not yet retired and is biding his time for the right moment to get back in the cage.
7. Andrey Koreshkov
Age: 29
Debut: Bellator 63 on March 30, 2012
Number of fights: 17
Number of wins: 13
Former champion Koreshkov shares the record for most victories in the history of the Bellator welterweight division, so naturally that would put him on a list of the all-time winningest fighters in the promotion’s history.
The Russian is coming off a tough split decision loss to Lorenz Larkin at Bellator 229 in October, but has yet to have a fight announcement made official for 2020.
6. Patricky Freire
Age: 34
Debut: Bellator 36 on March 12, 2011
Number of fights: 21
Number of wins: 14
The older “Pitbull” brother has not achieved the same championship success as his younger brother, Patricio, but he’s not far off, either. He has crafted a nice career for himself with 14 Bellator wins so far and more likely to come in the future.
Freire is currently booked to fight Peter Queally at Bellator Dublin on Oct. 3 as he looks for his eighth win in his past nine Bellator fights.
5. Douglas Lima
Age: 32
Debut: Bellator 49 on Sept. 10, 2011
Number of fights: 17
Number of wins: 14
Lima has been one of the most prominent figures in Bellator welterweight history, winning the division’s championship on three separate occasions, winning multiple tournaments and essentially cleaning out the division of all relevant competition.
“The Phenom” most recently had a major achievement in winning the promotion’s welterweight grand prix, and now he looks for his crowning moment as he goes for a second belt by moving to middleweight to face Gegard Mousasi for the vacant strap at Bellator 242 on May 9 in San Jose, Calif.
4. David Rickels
Age: 31
Debut: Bellator 40 on April 9, 2011
Number of fights: 23
Number of wins: 15
Rickels has the distinction of being just one of three fighters on this list who has never won a Bellator championship. He’s made up for that, though, by being the most active fighter in the history of the organization and racking up many wins along the way.
Unfortunately, Rickels will not have the chance to climb the list any further. He parted ways with Bellator in late 2019 after nearly nine years and has transitioned sports to join Bare Knuckle FC.
3. A.J. McKee
Age: 24
Debut: Bellator 136 on April 10, 2015
Number of fights: 16
Number of wins: 16
McKee has the best winning percentage in Bellator history through 16 fights at 100 percent. He’s also the youngest fighter on this list, and at his current rate will soon find himself at the top.
Perhaps the top prospect in MMA, the undefeated featherweight will have the chance to further back up his hype at Bellator 244 on June 6 when he meets former Bellator champ Darrion Caldwell in the semifinals of the Bellator featherweight grand pix.
2. Michael Chandler
Age: 33
Debut: Bellator 31 on Sept. 30, 2010
Number of fights: 22
Number of wins: 17
Chandler has long been near the top of the Bellator wins lead, even holding sole possession of the record on multiple occasions. “Iron” is one of two fighters in company history to achieve three separate title reigns, as he’s had multiple runs with the lightweight belt.
There’s a chance for Chandler to leap back up the list on June 6 when he rematches Benson Henderson at Bellator 244 in Chicago.
1. Patricio Freire
Age: 32
Debut: Bellator 15 on April 22, 2010.
Number of fights: 22
Number of wins: 18
The younger of the “Pitbull” brothers is the most successful fighter in Bellator history. Freire is among the small group to win titles in two weight classes with the organization, as he is the current lightweight and featherweight champion. The Brazilian has only lost to four fighters in his career and has managed to avenge half of those defeats inside the Bellator cage.
Freire is currently schedule to face Pedro Carvalho in the quarterfinals of the promotion’s featherweight grand prix, and a victory would move him a step closer to being the first to reach 20 Bellator wins.
