With the closure of Bellator and its acquisition by PFL, it is time to look back at all the Armenian fighters who left their mark on the league’s history.
From 2009 to 2023, Bellator signed contracts with 13 Armenian MMA fighters, one amateur fighter, and two kickboxers.
Daniel Sarafian, Sevak Magakian, Ludvig Sholinian, and Alfred Khashakyan each fought once in Bellator. Notably, Daniel Sarafian competed in the league’s very first event, Bellator 1, in 2009. Kevin Nabjian and Hrach Darbinyan fought twice, while Grachik Bozinyan had three fights, and Karo Parisyan competed in four bouts. Hakob Stepanyan stepped into the Bellator cage five times.
The record holders for the most fights in Bellator were Gegard Mousasi, a two-time Bellator middleweight champion with 10 fights, and Georgi Karakhanyan, who fought 21 times in the league.
A special mention goes to Zhora Ayvazyan, who signed with Bellator shortly before the merger with PFL. He managed to have one fight after the organizations merged. Another athlete, Gora Harutyunyan, was under contract with Bellator but never made his debut. Jean-Paul Bosnoyan was the only fighter to compete in Bellator at the amateur level.
Gegard Mousasi headlined 10 Bellator events as the main event fighter, while Georgi Karakhanyan headlined twice. Additionally, Giorgio Petrosyan was the headliner of a Bellator Kickboxing event.
In kickboxing, two Armenian representatives competed in Bellator. The legendary Giorgio Petrosyan fought three times and won the vacant lightweight championship title. His brother, Armen Petrosyan, also participated in the Grand Prix, competing in two fights.
Armenian fighters have made a significant contribution to Bellator’s history, showcasing a high level of skill and fighting spirit.
Source: Armenia MMA