HOF | Coker & Davis
All Good Things Must Die
With a bombshell report coming from Ariel Helwani, it seems that Bellator MMA is no more. After the acquisition by PFL and some recent uncertainty about their future, it is now clear that the last Bellator show is already in the history books.
Since PFL acquired Bellator in November 2023, there have been significant criticisms regarding how the merger has been managed. Multiple Bellator fighters, including high-profile champions like Patricio Pitbull, Cris Cyborg, and Patchy Mix, have expressed frustration over lack of fights and perceived mismanagement.
Before this news, reports suggested that PFL has already cut over 70% of the Bellator roster and has not honored contracts by providing the promised number of fights per year, leading to forced inactivity among fighters who were once regular competitors. There are also allegations that PFL has pressured some fighters into pay cuts, with legal actions being taken by former Bellator fighters like Gegard Mousasi. The handling of the merger has been described by some as a “disaster” for MMA, with concerns that it has not only stalled the careers of many fighters but also potentially damaged the sport’s competitive landscape by reducing opportunities for fighters outside of the UFC.
Even though it seems that PFL has prevailed and is now the clear #2 MMA competitor to the UFC, they have already announced that the 2025 season prizes will be lowered from $1M USD to $500K USD. Plenty of fans are still very excited for what’s to come for PFL, but the promotion’s upward trajectory certainly seems to have stalled for the time being.
Photo | PFL
PFL Future Plans
Recent reports confirm that while the PFL is undergoing changes, including moving away from its traditional season format to a tournament-based structure, the organization is planning to increase the number of events in 2025. The PFL has announced plans for 30 events featuring 320 fights, marking an increase from previous years.
There is plenty of PFL talent to showcase on the roster. Francis Ngannou awaits his next fight, Dakota Ditcheva looks to raise her stock even more, and Jake Paul is even rumored to be making a PFL appearance soon.
Along with all of the current PFL fighters, there are also tons of new free agents who were released from Bellator. PFL will certainly be competing with the UFC and other big promotions in the coming weeks to sign all of the best athletes such as: Johnny Eblen, Usman Nurmagomedov, & MORE.
Photo | Bellator
Bellator History
- Bellator NYC: Sonnen vs. Silva – Held at Madison Square Garden, this event was promoted as Bellator’s biggest ever at the time. It featured Chael Sonnen vs. Wanderlei Silva, alongside Fedor Emelianenko vs. Matt Mitrione, drawing significant attention due to the high-profile fights and venue.
- Bellator 58: Alvarez vs. Chandler – The first fight between Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler is often cited as one of the greatest fights in MMA history. It was a dramatic back-and-forth battle that ended with Chandler securing a last-second submission.
- Bellator 106: Alvarez vs. Chandler II – The rematch lived up to the hype of the first fight, delivering another instant classic where Alvarez defeated Chandler by split decision.
- Bellator 120: Rampage vs. King Mo – This was Bellator’s first pay-per-view event, featuring Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal in the main event. Although the original main event (Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler III) fell through, this event was pivotal for Bellator as their debut on PPV.
- Bellator 222: MacDonald vs. Gracie – The conclusion of the Welterweight Grand Prix where Rory MacDonald fought Neiman Gracie in a grueling match-up, highlighting Bellator’s tournament format.
- Bellator 238: Budd vs. Cyborg – This event saw the debut of Cris Cyborg in Bellator, where she captured the featherweight title from Julia Budd, marking a significant moment for women’s MMA in the promotion.
- Bellator 249: Cyborg vs. Blencowe – Cris Cyborg’s rematch with Arlene Blencowe, showcasing her dominance in the featherweight division and drawing significant viewership.
- Bellator 253: Pitbull vs. McKee – The grand finale of the Featherweight World Grand Prix, where A.J. McKee defeated Patricio “Pitbull” Freire, securing the $1 million prize and the title.
- Bellator 255: Pitbull vs. Carvalho – Marked Bellator’s debut on Showtime, with Patricio Freire defending his featherweight title against Emmanuel Sanchez in the co-main event, showcasing the promotion’s transition to premium broadcasting.
- Bellator 300: While not officially listed among the “biggest” due to its recent occurrence, this event was heavily promoted as Bellator’s milestone 300th numbered event, featuring multiple title fights and was the last major event before the PFL acquisition.
Want to know more about each event? Visit homeoffight.com or any of our social media accounts for more articles, fighter interviews, and plenty of more coverage. Enjoy the fights, let us know how you’ll be watching!
