Photo: Lucas Noonan/ Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA Updated Rankings After Two Nights in Hawaii
A Gatekeeper and New Champions Emerge
Bellator MMA has posted their updated rankings after spending two days in Hawaii for Bellator 278 and 279. Titles changed hands for the women’s flyweights, an interim bantamweight champion was crowned, and Cris Cyborg fended off a very game Arlene Blencowe at the close of their events in Hawaii So, naturally the rankings saw some movement.
If I Can’t Have it…
The women’s featherweight division still has its Queen in Cris “Cyborg” Justino after she successfully defended against the still number one contender in Arlene Blencowe. Early in the fight Blencowe almost was finished but something in the air in Hawaii made her press forward through all five rounds. She keeps her number one spot amongst the women’s featherweights but jumps up a notch to number five in the women’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Blencowe posted on her Facebook page a day after the event, “If I can’t have that belt, then I’ll sure as hell make sure no one else can either. You want a shot at that title, you gotta come through me first.”
Supa Stots
Nevermind the “interim” in front of Raufeon Stots newly acquired championship status. His victory over Juan Archuleta makes him the man to beat amongst Bellator’s deep bantamweight division. Stots was previously ranked at number three before he picked up the title so it looks like he’ll fill in for Sergio Pettis for the rest of the Grand Prix until the title can be unified.
Stots said at the post-fight media scrum, “I’m gonna hold on to Serge’s belt till Serge gets back and then we can figure out something after that. But right now, I am happy.”
Danny “F’n” Sabatello
Danny Sabatello was in a wild card fight against Jornel Lugo and the win puts him at number nine in the bantamweight rankings. The expletive filled promo he cut in the cage came with a call out later during the media scrum to the number six ranked Leandro Higo.
“If you think I dominated Lugo, just wait until you see what I do to Higo.” Danny Sabatello
And New…
Liz Carmouche won the Bellator women’s flyweight title from Juliana Velasquez but unfortunately it came with some controversy over the stoppage. She jumps from number two to the top of the list with the win but a rematch might be looming based on what Scott Coker said at the end of the double-header weekend.
The full list of rankings are up at Bellator MMA’s website and are generally updated on Tuesdays after a Bellator event.
