Bellator has been absent so far in 2021. Not anymore.
The promotion revealed on Tuesday that it will be returning on Friday, April 2, with Bellator 255 from the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. Featherweight and lightweight champion Patricio "Pitbull" Freire will meet Emmanuel Sanchez in the semifinals of the featherweight grand prix, with the winner coming out as the 145-pound champion. The winner takes on A.J. McKee in the finals.
Freire and Sanchez first squared off at Bellator 209 in November 2018, with "Pitbull" winning by unanimous decision to retain his championship. Freire (31-4) is on a torrid run, winning six consecutive fights — with the last two coming in the grand prix; first a defeat of Juan Archuleta by unanimous decision, then a first-round knockout over Pedro Carvalho. Sanchez earned another crack at the belt, taking care of Tywan Claxton and Daniel Weichel.
Following that, Bellator president Scott Coker announced an eight-man light heavyweight grand prix. The first round takes place with Bellator 256 on April 9 and Bellator 257 on April 16 at the same venue.
Bellator 256 will headline with a rematch between former light heavyweight champion and current heavyweight titlist Ryan Bader facing Lyoto Machida. They squared off in August 2012, with Machida winning by second-round knockout. The other opening-round matchup has Corey Anderson versus Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov.
Bellator 257 is a battle of promotional newcomers as Anthony Johnson returns from nearly a four-year layoff against Yoel Romero. The show's main event has Vadim Nemkov defending the light heavyweight title for the first time against former 205-pound titleholder Phil Davis.