Professional Fighters League (PFL) News
Johnny Eblen's girlfriend threatens to leave him with potential loss at PFL vs. Bellator: "I'm out"
Josh Evanoff - February 22, 2024
Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen has high stakes heading into his return this weekend. ‘The Human Cheat Code’ is widely viewed as one of the greatest fighters outside of the UFC today. Last September, Johnny Eblen moved to 14-0 with a dominant knockout win over Fabian Edwards in the Bellator cage. Following the victory, he traded words with his opponent’s brother, Leon Edwards, in a moment that quickly went viral.
Francis Ngannou announces return fight in MMA after Anthony Joshua boxing match
Cole Shelton - February 22, 2024
Francis Ngannou will be returning to MMA and make his PFL debut. Following Ngannou becoming a free agent, he signed with PFL but said he would be exploring boxing fights first. He ended up getting a boxing match against Tyson Fury, which he lost by split decision, and will return to the boxing ring on March 8 in Saudi Arabia against Anthony Joshua.
PFL vs. Bellator card finalized, Patricio Pitbull receives replacement opponent
Josh Evanoff - February 20, 2024
The PFL vs. Bellator card is now finalized and features the return of Patricio Pitbull. Last November, the PFL completed their long-awaited buyout of Bellator. For most of 2023, there were discussions about the Scott Coker-led brand being bought. In the end, Donn Davis and the company decided that a roster containing the likes of the aforementioned Patricio Pitbull and Cris Cyborg was too good to pass up.
Photo | PFL vs. Bellator Champions belt revealed
Harry Kettle - February 20, 2024
A new championship belt has been revealed for the upcoming PFL vs Bellator Champions series ahead of Saturday night. For a while now, fight fans have been getting excited over the prospect of PFL fighters battling Bellator fighters after the recent acquisition. This weekend, we’ll see the first major PFL vs Bellator Champions event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Bellator champion Patricio Freire goes off on PFL season format: "To me, that's bullsh*t"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 14, 2024
Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Freire isn’t exactly gung-ho over PFL’s season format. Freire was invited to the final PFL event of 2023, and he had a staredown with the 2023 featherweight winner Jesus Pineda. While “Pitbull” seemed to be content with the festivities, he isn’t totally sold on what PFL founder Donn Davis is presenting. He recently had some surprising comments on how he feels about the PFL show he attended, as well as the season format.
Cris Cyborg announces boxing return after PFL talks fall through: "I want to be active"
Josh Evanoff - February 8, 2024
Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg is heading back to the boxing ring. It’s been a strange few months for the Brazilian. In October, Cris Cyborg scored yet another title defense in a heated fight against Cat Zingano at Bellator 300. The first-round victory took place just weeks before the Scott Coker-led company was sold to the PFL.
Bellator champion Cris Cyborg tired of waiting for another fight, says Larissa Pacheco bout could be slipping away in 2024
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 4, 2024
Cris Cyborg is looking for a fight, but she does not plan on waiting around. When the PFL announced its acquisition of Bellator MMA, it turned many heads within the MMA world. Most Bellator champions appeared to be on board with PFL founder Donn Davis and his vision. In fact, many of them were in attendance for the PFL 2023 championship event. There was one titleholder who wasn’t ready to dive in headfirst, however, and that was Cris Cyborg.
Cris Cyborg takes shot at PFL over slow-moving negotiations: "Starting to understand why Kayla tried to leave"
Josh Evanoff - January 30, 2024
Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg appears to be unhappy with the PFL. It’s been a weird month or so for the legendary Brazilian. At the start of the month, Cris Cyborg was eyeing a potential bout with longtime rival Kayla Harrison for later this year. In the meantime, she booked a boxing match against Kelsey Wickstrum, the third of her career.
PFL announces the end of their women’s featherweight division, will be replaced by flyweight
Harry Kettle - January 25, 2024
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has announced that their women’s featherweight division will be replaced by flyweight. Ever since it was confirmed that the PFL had purchased Bellator, there’s been a lot of hype surrounding the promotion. From the crossover events to the roster and beyond, this is the best chance PFL has at becoming a legitimate contender to the UFC. Of course, some will disagree with that, but nobody can deny that they’re making significant moves.
PFL vs. Bellator pay-per-view event loses welterweight title fight
Harry Kettle - January 23, 2024
The upcoming PFL vs Bellator pay-per-view has lost a major welterweight showdown, according to a recent report. On February 24, we will see a blockbuster PFL vs Bellator: Champions event go down in Saudi Arabia. It serves as the first major show of this kind since PFL purchased Bellator, and both promotions are bringing their A-game when it comes to the actual card.
PFL's Donn Davis takes shot after UFC postpones 'poor' Saudi Arabia event: "I don't think it's any coincidence"
Josh Evanoff - January 17, 2024
PFL executive Donn Davis believes that it’s not a coincidence that the UFC recently moved their March Saudi Arabia event. The rising organization is primed for a big, big 2024. With names such as Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul poised to finally make their promotional debut this year, the PFL is excited about their future. A big part of that future is the influx of cash from Saudi Arabia.
Several bouts announced for PFL vs. Bellator event, including Yoel Romero vs. Thiago Santos
Susan Cox - January 16, 2024
Several bouts have been announced for the PFL vs. Bellator event, including Yoel Romero vs. Thiago Santos. The much-anticipated PFL vs. Bellator event is set for Saturday, February 24th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
REPORT | Ryan Bader, Patricio Pitbull among first fighters added to February's PFL vs. Bellator event
Josh Evanoff - January 11, 2024
The reported Bellator vs. PFL card slated for February 24th is now adding fights. In November, the Viacom-owned company was bought out by the PFL. With that, it marked a departure for figures such as Scott Coker, and others. However, Donn Davis and others plan to keep running Bellator as a separate entity and keep holding events for the foreseeable future.
Francis Ngannou commits to PFL fight despite Anthony Joshua boxing match: "We're in business together"
Josh Evanoff - January 8, 2024
Despite his boxing match against Anthony Joshua, Francis Ngannou is still planning on fighting in the PFL. Last week, ‘The Predator’ signed his return to the boxing ring against ‘AJ’. Just a few months removed from his split-decision loss to Tyson Fury, Francis Ngannou will look to earn his first win. For his part, Anthony Joshua enters the matchup riding a three-fight winning streak. He last defeated Otto Wallin by knockout last month, before his plans for a Deontay Wilder clash this Spring were foiled.
Cris Cyborg alleges Kayla Harrison turned down long-awaited PFL fight: "We accepted the bout"
Josh Evanoff - January 3, 2024
Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg reportedly won’t be fighting Kayla Harrison in the PFL. Late last year, the Scott Coker-led MMA promotion was bought out by the PFL. As a result, Donn Davis and company quickly began to plan several big matchups. One of those matchups, is multiple-time tournament winner Kayla Harrison, against the legendary Cris Cyborg.
Derek Brunson reveals he earned his “biggest payday ever” in PFL debut: “It’s a lot more than the UFC”
Harry Kettle - January 3, 2024
PFL star Derek Brunson has revealed that he earned a pretty nice payday in his debut for the promotion. For so many years, Derek Brunson was a consistent fixture in the UFC’s middleweight division. He never fought for the title, but he did compete against some of the biggest and best names at 185 pounds.
Claressa Shields reveals interest in PFL "dream fight" with Cris Cyborg: "It's the scariest fight for me"
Josh Evanoff - December 22, 2023
Boxing world champion Claressa Shields has revealed that Cris Cyborg would be her PFL dream fight. The ‘GWOAT’ has been out of the boxing ring since a unanimous decision win over Maricela Cornejo in June. That victory was yet another dominant title defense for Claressa Shields, and it seems that will be her last boxing appearance for a while. Not long following the win, she re-signed with the PFL.
Derek Brunson responds after Gegard Mousasi accuses him of turning down multiple fight offers
Harry Kettle - December 22, 2023
Derek Brunson and Gegard Mousasi have gone back and forth on social media over a potential showdown in PFL. Ever since PFL purchased Bellator, many questions have been circulating regarding what it means for both promotions. There are so many elite fighters on both rosters, and it seems as if we’ll see many of them square off in 2024.