Bellator 193: Larkin vs. Gonzalez took place on January 26, 2018 at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California. The event aired live in prime time on Paramount Network. A Lightweight bout between Eugene Correa and Joao Paulo Faria was planned for the undercard of this event, but was canceled for undisclosed reasons. Despite a 180 pound catchweight limit installed in the main event, headliner Fernando Gonzalez still missed weight. It was his third consecutive weight cut miss.

Bellator 204: Caldwell vs. Lahat took place on August 17, 2018 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The event will air live in prime time on Paramount Network. The event featured Bellator Bantamweight Champion Darrion Caldwell moving up to Featherweight as he fought Noad Lahat in a non-title bout. James Gallagher competed at Bantamweight for the first time as he fought Bellator newcomer Ricky Bandejas.