Originally, all title challengers were determined through these tournaments with the winners earning the right to challenge the reigning champion at that weight class or, if necessary, be allowed to compete for an interim or vacant title. ===
Bellator Fighting Championships: Season One===
(April 3, 2009 - June 19, 2009) ===
Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Two===
(April 8, 2010 - June 24, 2010) ===
Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Three===
(August 12, 2010 - October 28, 2010) ===
Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Four===
(March 5, 2011 - May 21, 2011) ===
Bellator Fighting Championships: 2011 Summer Series===
(June 25, 2011 - August 20, 2011) ===
Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Five===
(September 27, 2011 - November 26, 2011) ===
Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Six===
(March 9, 2012 - May 25, 2012) ===
Bellator Fighting Championships: 2012 Summer Series===
(June 22, 2012 - July 24, 2012) ===
Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Seven===
(September 28, 2012 - December 14, 2012) ===
Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Eight===
(January 17, 2013 - April 4, 2013) ===
Bellator Fighting Championships: 2013 Summer Series===
(June 19, 2013 - July 31, 2013) All three tournaments were shortened, four-man tournaments instead of the standard eight. ===
Bellator MMA: Season Nine===
(September 7, 2013 - November 22, 2013) ===
Bellator MMA: Season Ten===
(February 28, 2014 – May 17, 2014) ===
Bellator MMA: 2014 Summer Series===
(June 6, 2014 – July 25, 2014) ===
Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1===
(September 19, 2015) A one night, four-man light heavyweight tournament. ===
Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament===
(January 20, 2018 - January 26, 2019) Year long, eight-man heavyweight tournament to crown a new heavyweight champion. ===
Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix Tournament===
(September 29, 2018 - October 26, 2019) Year long, eight-man welterweight tournament. Current welterweight champion,
Rory MacDonald, is a participant and will defend the title until the end of the tournament. If he loses, the winner will be declared the new linear champion. ===
Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix Tournament===
(September 28, 2019 - July 31, 2021) Year long, sixteen-man featherweight tournament. Current featherweight champion,
Patrício Freire, is a participant and will defend the title until the end of the tournament. If he loses, the winner will be declared the new linear champion. ===
Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament===
(April 9, 2021 - November 18, 2022) Year long, eight-man Light Heavyweight tournament. Current Light Heavyweight champion,
Vadim Nemkov, is a participant and will defend the title until the end of the tournament. If he loses, the winner will be declared the new linear champion. ===
Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Tournament===
(April 22, 2022 - April 22, 2023) Year long, ten-man Bantamweight tournament. ===
Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix Tournament===
(March 10, 2023 - Present) Year long, eight-man Bantamweight tournament. Current Lightweight champion,
Usman Nurmagomedov, is a participant and will defend the title until the end of the tournament. If he loses, the winner will be declared the new linear champion. ==Champions by nationality==