Bellator 220 pre-event facts: Jon Fitch's title shot makes MMA history

Bellator action returns from a nearly month-long hiatus Saturday with Bellator 220, which takes place at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., with a main card on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Two championship fights top the bill. In the main event, welterweight champion Rory MacDonald (20-5 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) put his belt on the line against Jon Fitch (31-7-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) in what’s also an opening-round matchup in the Bellator welterweight grand prix. And in the co-main event, undefeated women’s flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (9-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) goes for her third title defense when she meets Veta Arteaga (5-2 MMA, 4-2 BMMA).

For all the numbers behind the title fights, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 30 pre-event facts about Bellator 220.

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Main event

MacDonald returns to the welterweight division after a one-fight stint at middleweight where he unsuccessfully challenged for the Bellator title.

MacDonald is 2-3 in his past five fights dating back to July 2015.

Fitch, 41, can become the oldest champion in Bellator history.

Fitch becomes the first in MMA history to fight for titles with Bellator, UFC and PFL/WSOF.

Fitch is 7-1 in his past eight fights, dating back to October 2013. His only loss in that stretch came to Rousimar Palhares.

Fitch’s five-fight winning streak is tied for his longest since 2010.

Fitch has earned 20 of his 31 career victories by decision.

Co-main event

Macfarlane became the inaugural Bellator flyweight champion when she defeated Emily Ducote at Bellator 186 in November 2017.

Macfarlane’s two consecutive Bellator title defenses are tied with Patricio Freire and Julia Budd for most among current champions.

Macfarlane competes in her ninth Bellator flyweight bout, the most appearances in divisional history.

Macfarlane’s eight Bellator victories are most among female fighters in the organization.

Macfarlane’s eight-fight Bellator winning streak in the third longest active streak in the organization behind A.J. McKee (13) and Michael Page (10).

Macfarlane’s eight-fight Bellator winning streak in the longest among female fighters in the organization.

Macfarlane’s six stoppage victories in Bellator competition are most among female fighters in the organization.

Macfarlane’s six stoppage victories in Bellator flyweight competition are most in divisional history.

Macfarlane’s six submission victories in Bellator competition are tied for most in company history.

Arteaga competes in her seventh Bellator flyweight bout, the third most appearances in divisional history behind Macfarlane (nine) and Ducote (eight).

Arteaga’s four victories in Bellator flyweight competition are tied with Ducote for second most in divisional history behind Macfarlane (eight).

Remaining main card

Phil Davis (19-5 MMA, 6-2 BMMA) is 2-2 in his past four fights dating back to when he lost the Bellator light heavyweight title in June 2017.

Liam McGeary (13-3 MMA, 10-3 BMMA) rematches Davis after losing their first fight by unanimous decision at Bellator 163 in November 2016.

McGeary competes in his 13th Bellator light-heavyweight bout, the most appearances in divisional history.

McGeary’s nine victories in Bellator light-heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.

McGeary’s eight stoppage in Bellator light-heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.

McGeary’s five knockout victories in Bellator light-heavyweight competition are tied for most in divisional history.

McGeary’s nine stoppage victories in Bellator competition are tied for third most in company history behind Michael Chandler (11) and Patricio Freire (10).

Benson Henderson (26-8 MMA, 3-3 BMMA) is 3-2 since he returned to the lightweight division in August 2016.

Henderson is 1-3 in decisions under the Bellator banner after going 9-1 on the scorecards during his UFC career.

Adam Piccolotti’s (11-2 MMA, 7-2 BMMA) four submission victories in Bellator lightweight competition are third most in divisional history behind Chandler (five) and Marcin Held (five).

Nathan Stolen’s (7-4 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since July 2017.

Stolen is 1-4 in his past five fights after staring his career on a six-fight winning streak.

For more on Bellator 220, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.