Professional Fighters League (PFL) News

PFL, Bellator, Fight Card, Yoel Romero
Patricio "Pitbull" Freire

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.

PFL, Bellator, Fight Card, Yoel Romero
Professional Fighters League (PFL)

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.

Francis Ngannou
Professional Fighters League (PFL)

PFL's Donn Davis offers update on Francis Ngannou's MMA future: "Bo Jackson of combat sports"

Josh Evanoff - February 15, 2024

PFL founder Donn Davis believes that Francis Ngannou will likely be back in the cage in 2024. ‘The Predator’ has had a good last few years. Following a unanimous decision victory over Ciryl Gane in January 2022, Francis Ngannou became a free agent. As the first reigning UFC champion to leave the company in over two decades, the heavyweight made the decision to sign with Donn Davis and the PFL.

Patricio Freire
Professional Fighters League (PFL)

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
Professional Fighters League (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
Cris 'Cyborg' Justino

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.

Yoel Romero
Yoel Romero

46-year-old Yoel Romero downplays age ahead of PFL vs. Bellator card: "My performances have been good!"

Josh Evanoff - January 26, 2024

46-year-old Yoel Romero believes that his age is somewhat of an advantage ahead of his return at PFL vs. Bellator next month. ‘Soldier of God’ has been out of the cage since a clash with Vadim Nemkov at Bellator 297 in June. That bout was a major one for Yoel Romero, as it was his first title bout since a 2020 decision loss to Israel Adesanya. To earn the bout, he scored dominant knockout wins over Melvin Manhoef, and Alex Polizzi.

PFL, Bellator
Professional Fighters League (PFL)

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.

Donn Davis and Dana White
UFC

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.

PFL, Bellator, Fight Card, Yoel Romero
Professional Fighters League (PFL)

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.

Cedric Doumbe
Cedric Doumbe

PFL CEO confirms interest in booking Cedric Doumbe against former UFC champion: "They both want to fight"

Josh Evanoff - January 11, 2024

PFL CEO Peter Murray is serious about putting Cedric Doumbe vs. Anthony Pettis together. ‘The Beast’ has the potential to be the Donn Davis-led promotion’s first massive star. A former two-time Glory Kickboxing champion, he was heavily pursued by the UFC. However, he was released from the company in early 2023, for various reasons after a brief stint. Later in the year, Cedric Doumbe signed with the PFL. In late September, made his debut for the company.

PFL, Bellator
Professional Fighters League (PFL)

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.

Kayla Harrison, Cris Cyborg
Kayla Harrison

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
Professional Fighters League (PFL)

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.

Nobuyuki Sakaibara and Scott Coker
Professional Fighters League (PFL)

RIZIN's Nobuyuki Sakakibara open to PFL co-promotion after Bellator sale: "Doors always open"

Josh Evanoff - December 28, 2023

RIZIN President Nobuyuki Sakakibara is open to working with PFL and Donn Davis, but it will take some time. The annual New Year’s event for RIZIN is slated for this weekend. Headlined by Kyoji Horiguchi’s rematch against Makoto Takahashi, the card also features high-profile names such as Juan Archuleta, Kai Asakura, John Dodson, and more. While a fun event, this year’s event will look radically different than last year’s.

Claressa Shields and Cris Cyborg
Cris 'Cyborg' Justino

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.

Kayla Harrison, Cris Cyborg
Kayla Harrison

Cris Cyborg admits elusive Kayla Harrison bout could be her last: "Could finish my career after that"

Josh Evanoff - December 21, 2023

A potential bout with former PFL tournament winner Kayla Harrison could be it for Cris Cyborg. The Brazilian has been out of the cage since a knockout win over Cat Zingano at Bellator 300 in October. That victory may go down as the final of Cris Cyborg’s women’s featherweight title reign. The following month, the Scott Coker-led promotion was bought out by the PFL. On paper, that should make a long-awaited bout with Kayla Harrison a reality.

Gegard Mousasi and Derek Brunson
Gegard Mousasi

Gegard Mousasi demands opponent for PFL debut after Derek Brunson declined: "I am ready"

Josh Evanoff - December 20, 2023

Former Bellator middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi is ready to fight Derek Brunson in the PFL. ‘The Dreamcatcher’ hasn’t been seen in the cage since a fight against Fabian Edwards in May. At Bellator 296, he suffered a unanimous decision loss, his second in a row. As it turns out, that will be Gegard Mousasi’s final bout in the promotion, as they’ve since been bought out by the PFL. The deal went down in November, just weeks before their championship card.