New MMA Global Powerhouse@PFLMMA
acquires @BellatorOur Fighter Roster Equal To UFC – Both 30% Top 25 World Ranked
FIghtersAdvertisement
PFL Launch Reimagined Bellator – Bellator International Champions
SeriesMega-Event For Fans In 2024 – PFL Champs vs. Bellator Champs
pic.twitter.com/Ma4YUl4AUi— Donn Davis (@DonnDavisPFL)
November 20, 2023
Professional Fighters League’s long-rumored purchase of
Bellator
MMA has become a reality.
PFL announced Monday that it has completed the acquisition of the
California-based promotion from Paramount Global, “creating a
global powerhouse in mixed martial arts and accelerating the
combined company to become the industry co-leader.” Terms of the
deal were not disclosed, but PFL founder Donn Davis told the
Financial
Times that Paramount would retain a minority stake in
Bellator.
According to a release, PFL will continue the Bellator brand in
2024, but it will be a “reimagined product” known as the “Bellator
International Champions Series.” This series will consist of eight
events per year worldwide, with each card having two title bouts at
the top of the lineup. Additionally, all Bellator fighters will be
available to compete on any event in the PFL franchise, whether
that’s the season format, the pay-per-view division, the Challenger
Series or its international series.
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the acquisition is there are
plans in place to hold a PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions event
in 2024. This event “will feature the champions of each promotion
in all seven weight classes in a head-to-head epic fight
experience,” per the release. All told, PFL plans to hold 30 events
per year through its various platforms.
Further details regarding the future of Bellator, including
broadcast plans, event schedule and management, will be announced
at a later date. Bellator 301, which took place in Chicago on
Friday, marked the end of the promotion’s broadcast partnership
with Showtime.
“PFL is now a global powerhouse in MMA,” Davis said. “Our Bellator
acquisition turbocharges PFL’s mission to innovate the sport and
become the industry co-leader.”
Added PFL CEO Peter Murray: “The combined PFL and Bellator fighter
rosters are second to none in MMA. We can’t wait to bring MMA fans
what they have been asking for: best vs. best with the PFL
Champions vs. Bellator Champions mega event.”
The MMA landscape changed forever. A new era
has 𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗗@PFLMMA
acquires @BellatorMMA
creating a 𝗚𝗟𝗢𝗕𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗠𝗔 𝗣𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗥𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗘 pic.twitter.com/fWldsDNpPC— PFL (@PFLMMA)
November 20, 2023