Bellator To Announce Interim Heavyweight Title Fight

There hasn’t been a Bellator Heavyweight Title fight since September 2019 but that’s about to change.

Ryan Bader is the current Bellator Heavyweight Champion. There’s was a time when “Darth” was a “Champ-Champ” as he also held the light heavyweight gold. While Bader lost his 205-pound gold to Vadim Nemkov, he has entered the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix rather than defend his heavyweight title.

Since Bellator gave Bader the green light to enter the tournament without having to vacate the heavyweight title, there will be interim gold at stake in the meantime.

Bellator President Scott Coker confirmed to reporters following Bellator 256 that an announcement will soon be made to reveal plans for an interim Bellator Heavyweight Title (h/t MMAFighting.com).

“I think it is [time for an interim title]. Ryan’s obviously going to be moving forward in the tournament so we’re most likely going to put together an interim title, which we’ll probably have something announced in the next couple of weeks.

“Maybe we’ll even have something to announce by next week’s event. But I think we’re gonna be heading in that direction.”

Bader found success in the quarter-finals of the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix. He defeated Lyoto Machida in their rematch via unanimous decision to advance in the tournament.