PFL Forms Global Powerhouse Poised to be MMA
Co-Leader
PFL + Bellator Combined Fighter Roster Equal
to UFC – Both Rosters 30% Top 25 World-Ranked
PFL to Launch Reimagined Bellator in 2024 with
Bellator International Champions Series
PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions in
Landmark MMA Mega-Event to be Staged in 2024
NEW
YORK, Nov. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Professional
Fighters League (PFL) announced it has completed the acquisition of
Bellator from Paramount Global (NASDAQ:PARA), creating a global
powerhouse in mixed-martial arts (MMA) and accelerating the
combined company to become the industry co-leader.
PFL has acquired an immense number of top fighters through the
Bellator acquisition, and its combined fighter roster is now equal
in stature to UFC. PFL and UFC both showcase rosters that are 30%
comprised of fighters who are top 25 independently world-ranked in
their weight-classes. In addition, PFL + Bellator now has the best
roster of women's fighters in the world. All newly acquired
Bellator fighters will become part of the PFL platform and
available to compete in PFL fight franchises.
PFL will continue the Bellator brand, and Bellator will be the
"one-off" event product from PFL. PFL will launch a reimagined
Bellator product in 2024 – the "Bellator International Champions
Series." The Bellator International Champions Series will consist
of eight fight events each year hosted in major cities across the
globe, and each Bellator event will feature two compelling co-main
fights competing for championship belts.
Bellator 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. Overall, the company can now meet fan and media demand by
producing and programming a year-round calendar of live fight
content with 30 premium MMA events per year.
PFL as a fighter-first and fan-focused organization plans to
stage a landmark mega-event in 2024 – PFL Champions vs. Bellator
Champions. The PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions mega-event will
feature the champions of each promotion in all seven weight-classes
in a head-to-head epic fight experience.
Details of Bellator events, distribution, partnerships, and
management will be announced at a later date.
Donn Davis, PFL Chairman and
Founder, and Peter Murray, PFL CEO,
continue to lead and operate the combined company.
"PFL is now a global powerhouse in MMA," said Donn Davis, PFL Founder and Chairman. "Our
Bellator acquisition turbocharges PFL's mission to innovate the
sport and become the industry co-leader."
"The combined PFL and Bellator fighter rosters are second to
none in MMA," said Peter Murray, PFL
CEO. "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."
MMA with 650 million global fans is the third largest fan-base
of all sports worldwide. MMA is the sports growth business of this
decade with its current $1.75 billion
industry revenue projected to grow 10% annually to $4 billion by 2032.
Bellator has served fighters and fans worldwide for more than a
decade, staging an astounding 301 major MMA fight events. Bellator
has successfully identified and developed dozens of acclaimed MMA
world champions. Bellator's current fighter roster has 46 fighters
world-ranked in the top 25 of their weight-class per independent
source Fight Matrix Rankings.
PFL is the only organization in MMA with the sports-season
format, where individual fighters compete in a regular season,
playoffs, and championship each year. The combined roster of PFL
and Bellator boasts 30% of its fighters independently world-ranked
in the top 25 of their respective weight-class, the same percentage
as UFC. PFL has an expansive global vision for the sport and is
building the "Champions League of MMA" with PFL Europe, PFL MENA,
and more international leagues in development. PFL leads in
technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage,
powering fight analytics, real-time betting, AI
scoring, and a next-generation viewing experience. PFL is primetime
on ESPN/ESPN+ in the U.S. and is broadcast and streamed in 150
countries with 20 premium media distribution partners.
Citi and LionTree served as financial advisors to PFL and Sidley
Austin LLP served as legal counsel to PFL.
ABOUT PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE
Professional
Fighters League (PFL) is a global powerhouse in MMA and the
fastest-growing sports league world-wide. PFL has five live fight
franchises, offering year-round content: PFL League Season, PFL PPV
Super Fights, PFL Challenger Series, PFL International Leagues, and
Bellator. Founded in 2018, PFL is backed by major blue-chip
investors including SRJ, Ares, Knighthead, Luxor Capital, Waverley
Capital, Elysian Park Ventures, and numerous NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS
team owners. MMA is the growth sport business of this decade, with
650 million fans worldwide, the youngest audience demographic, and
true global revenue streams.
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SOURCE Professional Fighters League (PFL)