Martin Stapleton

Stapleton signed with Bellator MMA and made his promotional debut at Bellator 101 on 27 September 2013 in the Bellator Season Nine Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinal, facing Saad Awad. Stapleton lost via rear-naked choke submission in the first round.

Stapleton again competed for at Bellator 107 on 8 November 2013, facing Derek Campos. Stapleton lost via unanimous decision.

Stapleton returned to mixed martial arts on 23 June 2012 where he faced BAMMA veteran Shahid Hussain on Full Contact Contender 3 (FCC) at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton where he defeated Hussain via submission (guillotine choke) 23 seconds into the second round to take his record to 8-1-0. Martin said after the fight that he felt "ring rust" after his three-year absence from the sport.

On 1 December 2012, Stapleton took part in an eight-man Lightweight tournament at Cage Contender Fight Stars, where all the tournament fights would take place on the same night. Stapleton defeated Jamie Rogers, Arnold Quero and Tommy Maguire to win the tournament.

Stapleton who has a background in boxing and Muay Thai, made his professional mixed martial arts career in 2007, and compiled a record of 5-1 before being selected to compete on The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom. After he defeated fellow English fighter Dan James to get into the house, he lost against Team USA's Cameron Dollar in the quarterfinals.

Martin Stapleton (born 9 May 1983 in Rochdale, England), is an English mixed martial artist currently competing in the Lightweight division. A professional competitor since 2007, Stapleton has competed for Bellator, Cage Warriors, BAMMA and was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter representing Team UK. He is the former BAMMA World Lightweight Champion.