Professional Fighters League Officially Announces Acquisition of Bellator MMA

New MMA Global Powerhouse@PFLMMA acquires @Bellator

Our Fighter Roster Equal To UFC - Both 30% Top 25 World Ranked FIghters

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PFL Launch Reimagined Bellator - Bellator International Champions Series

Mega-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