'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Bellator is the second largest MMA promotion in the world. Established in 2008, it has quickly established itself as a viable alternative to the UFC powerhouse and has signed many of the promotion's ex-stars to great effect. In fact, three of its current champions are UFC alumni.
However, Bellator is not a company for past its prime former UFC stars, it has a large array of homegrown MMA talent itself and is an extremely exciting league that is continually gaining more and more traction with the MMA fanbase.
This slideshow counts down the five best fighters currently on the Bellator roster.
#5 Ilima-Lei Macfarlane
The Hawaiian native is a seven fight Bellator veteran and has won every single one of them.
Macfarlane won the Bellator Flyweight World Championship with victory at Bellator 186 and most recently defended the title at UFC 201 with an arm-bar submission victory over Alejandra Lara.
The submission specialist is an incredibly tenacious and tough performer who dominates her opponents with her superior technical skills.
At just 28 years of age, Macfarlane is likely to be the figurehead of her division for many years to come.
#4 Michael Chandler
Michael Chandler has made a career in Bellator for the past eight years. It has proved a highly successful one.
Chandler defeated current UFC superstar, Eddie Alvarez to win the Bellator Lightweight Championship at Bellator 58 and held the title for two years until he was upended by Alvarez in a re-match via a close split-decision.
From there, he lost consecutive matches to Will Brooks before he returned to his imperious best and reclaimed the Lightweight Title, when he beat Patricky Freire at Bellator 157. Then in one of the most impressive victories of his career, Chandler bested former UFC Lightweight Champion, Benson Henderson to defend his title at Bellator 165.
Since losing the title in June 2017, Chandler has pulled together a two match winning streak putting himself firmly back in contention for another title shot.
No fighter has fought more, won more fights or had more title matches than Chandler in Bellator. No list of it's biggest stars would be complete without him.
#3 Fedor Emelianenko
The legendary, former Pride FC Heavyweight Champion, Fedor Emelianenko is enjoying something of an Indian summer in his MMA career since he returned to the sport back in December 2015, with three wins and one loss to inflate his impressive overall MMA record to 37-5-1.
Emelianenko only signed with Bellator in 2017 but his most recent victory versus former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Frank Mir has put him on course to win the vacant Bellator Heavyweight Championship.
Emelianenko will next face Chael Sonnen in a Semi-Final bout which he will be expected to win before he can challenge for the crown.
Few would bet against the Russian however. The 41-year old has been proving doubters wrong for years. He is and will be an even greater success in his new home of Bellator for as long as he chooses to compete.
#2 A.J. McKee
The 23-year-old, A.J. McKee is a homegrown Bellator sensation.
Still undefeated after 11 professional bouts, all taking place within Bellator, the Featherweight superstar is one of the biggest names in the promotion.
The one criticism that gets thrown at McKee is that he hasn't defeated many superstars in the sport. However, McKee can only fight what's put in front of him and has been the victim of top superstars such as Emmanuel Sanchez, Henry Corrales and Pat Curran pulling out of bouts scheduled with him.
When he steps into the ring to fight, he dominates with excellent submission and striking skills.
Notably, McKee also holds the record for most consecutive Bellator wins and is an undoubted future Featherweight Champion of the future.
#1 Ryan Bader
Ryan Bader joined Bellator in 2017 after UFC failed to meet the contract offer Bellator had made him.
Bader defeated Phil Davis by split decision to win the Bellator Light-Heavyweight Championship in his debut at Bellator 180 and followed that up with a TKO victory over Linton Vassell.
Bader made his debut at Heavyweight in his most recent bout in the Quarter-Finals of the Grand Prix tournament to name a new Bellator Heavyweight Champion and stunningly overcame Muhammed Lawal in just 15 seconds to advance to a semi-final versus veteran Matt Mitrione, in which he will be the favorite.
At just 35 years of age, Bader has all the tools to remain the biggest star in Bellator for years to come and could well be a double-weight Champion in the near future.
