Evaluating The PFL-Bellator Merger One Year Later
Read Time:2 Minute, 49 Second
Just over a year ago, the PFL made headlines by acquiring Bellator in November 2023, signaling a promising shift in its future. By February 2024, they hosted their groundbreaking inaugural event, PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions. This one-of-a-kind fight card showcased world champions and some of the biggest stars in combat sports today.
The event took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, an emerging hub for global sporting events. Notably, it featured Riyadh’s first-ever female MMA fight. The 2x Olympic gold medalist and womenās boxing champion, Claressa Shields, took on Kelsey DeSantis in a lightweight bout. While the event was a resounding success, questions about the long-term prospects of this high-profile merger continue to loom over the promotion.
Several of Bellator’s top fighters have come out publicly criticizing the promotion for inactivity. Patricio Pitbull, Corey Anderson and Patchy Mix, all champions, have complained about long layoffs and fight cancellations. Currently, Bellator has one card scheduled for this upcoming January.
“Because all these guys are in their prime, too, and theyāre essentially wasting their prime waiting on this organization to figure out their sh**,” said UFC veteran, Matt Brown.”PFL-Bellator, it just seems like a train wreck. The rails are just slipping off little by little.”
PFL officials havenāt addressed the concerns raised by the Bellator fighters publicly. But, many believe the issues could come down to financial commitments based on existing contracts. Deals struck while under the former Bellator banner had to be honored after the promotion sold.
The PFL-Bellator merger came with a strong talent pool, that is certainly not their problem. Let us not forget PFL signed YouTube superstar, respectable boxer, and self-proclaimed disruptor, Jake Paul. They also brought on women’s boxing stars Amanda Serrano and Savannah Marshall. Paul, nor Serrano, have made an appearance inside the cage. On the downside, arguably the promotion’s biggest name, Kayla Harrison, left for UFC.
The two organizations running side-by-side has always been a point of contention. Part of the reason for the separation has been the PFL format. It involves a season-long tournament that leads into playoffs and ultimately a championship final. Whereas Bellator works within the same framework as the UFC. Bellator, under PFL doesnāt resonate with MMA fans. Unlike the competition, they have failed to build up storylines which notoriously help sell fights.
Many MMA fans assumed the primary motivation behind PFL’s acquisition of Bellator was to leverage the companyās biggest stars. The promotion has the potential to maximize its talent pool starting in 2025 by crafting stacked cards. While integrating Bellator’s talent into the regular PFL season adds depth, introducing one Bellator PPV event per quarter could further enhance their offerings. By mirroring the UFCās modelāairing some events on ESPN+ and reserving major cards for ESPN+ PPVāthey could broaden their reach and capitalize on their expanded roster.
Despite Bellator President Scott Cokerās claims that the promotion was prepared to compete head-to-head with the UFC, it appears they have fallen short, even after the PFL merger. However, as the saying goes, Rome wasnāt built in a day. So letās give it time and see how things unfold in year two of this ambitious partnership.
What are your thoughts on the merger? Let us know in the comments below.
Happy
44 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
33 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
22 %
About Post Author
Average Rating