The Professional Fighters League has purchased rival MMA company Bellator from Paramount Global in its boldest attempt yet to make a dent in the industry leader, the UFC.
PFL did not disclose financial terms in Mondayās announcement.
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āThis really makes PFL now a global powerhouse and poised to become a co-leader,ā in MMA, PFL Chairman Donn Davis told The Associated Press. āThe first five years of the company, our mission was to be the No. 2 company in MMA and we achieved that. We now set a new goal. How do we become the co-leader?ā
The deal was aided in part by Saudi Arabiaās recent purchase into PFL. The purchase was relatively modest ā $100 million according to the Financial Times ā but even in a minority role, Saudi-backed SRJ Sports Investments ensured mixed-martial arts events will take place in that country.
āTheir vision is the same as our vision, to become a co-leader in MMA,ā Davis said. āTheir economic and financial support is helpful for us to be able to achieve this. The Bellator fighter roster is fantastic. But we have to reinvigorate the Bellator business and, with our capital, weāll be able to do that.ā
While the PFL has a unique MMA competition format that includes a regular season, a postseason and a championship event, the Bellator brand will continue in a series of one-off cards in 2024. PFL will launch the āBellator International Champions Seriesā next year.
The Champions Series was expected to consist of eight fight events.
PFL absorbed a Bellator roster that included name fighters such as Cris āCyborgā Justino, Sergio Pettis and Patricio āPitbullā Freire.
Davis said the company first approached Paramount about a deal in January. Bellator now becomes one of five live fight franchises of the Professional Fighters League: PFL League Season, PFL PPV Super Fights, PFL Challenger Series, PFL International Leagues, and Bellator.
PFL also planned to stage a PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions card in 2024 that would include champions in all seven weight classes.
PFL completes its season Nov. 24 at The Anthem in Washington, D.C., in a card headlined by the return of two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison.
Bellator ran its final card Friday night under the Paramount umbrella on Showtime. There are no other immediate shows planned until next year. Davis also did not reveal the fate of Bellatorās media rights.
Paramount has a minority stake in PFL. It was not immediately clear if Bellator President Scott Coker would remain involved with the company.
āWe respect Scott and we respect his long-time leadership in MMA,ā Davis said. āWe have opportunities for Scott and the entire Bellator team to join us. Weāll be making announcements in the coming weeks after our championship about that.ā
UFC, which sold for $4 billion in 2016, certainly isnāt anywhere close to ceding its spot as the global MMA leader. White openly scoffed at UFC 295 at the idea of ever co-promoting a card with PFL.
PFL, whose cards are carried on ESPN platforms, has former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and YouTube influencer and celebrity fighter Jake Paul on its roster.
Davis said two PFL pay-per-view events are planned in 2024 with Ngannou and Paul each scheduled to headline one of those cards.
Ngannou impressed last month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a 10-round boxing loss to reigning WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Davis said it was ā100%ā that will Ngannou will fight in PFL next season in āeither MMA or mixed rules for PFL.ā
UFCās former owner Zuffa LLC. purchased MMA company Strikeforce in 2011 and ran it as a separate company. Only two years later, Strikeforce was dissolved and all fighter contracts were terminated or absorbed into the UFC.
Davis said there are no plans to eliminate the Bellator brand.
āTheyāre all part of PFL now,ā Davis said. āThere are not Bellator fighters and PFL fighters. Theyāre all PFL fighters now and theyāll fight across all of our products.ā