Professional Fighters League (PFL) and Bellator MMA are set to go head-to-head for the first time later TODAY (Sat., Feb. 24, 2024) inside Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event will be spearheaded by two title fights, which will stream live on ESPN+ PPV, as well as DAZN PPV. Headlining the event will be a Heavyweight title fight between PFL champion, Renan Ferreira, and Bellator title holder, Ryan Bader. In the co-main event, PFL Light Heavyweight champion, Impa Kasanganay, will drop down to the Middleweight division to battle Bellator’s 185-pound champion, Johnny Eblen.
Many readers check in before, during, and after the fights to share their thoughts on all of the action, which will begin at 12:30 p.m. ET with the “Prelims” on ESPN+ and DAZN for free, and then transition to ESPN+ PPV and DAZN PPV at 3 p.m. ET for main card action. Feel free to leave a comment (or several) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun!
PFL Vs. BELLATOR QUICK RESULTS:
265 lbs.: PFL Heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira vs. Bellator Heavyweight champion Ryan Bader – Ferreira via first-round TKO — HIGHLIGHTS!
185 lbs.: PFL Light Heavyweight champion Impa Kasanganay vs. Bellator Middleweight champion Johnny Eblen – Eblen via split-decision
182 lbs.: Jason Jackson vs. Ray Cooper III – Jackson via second-round TKO
265 lbs.: Bruno Cappelozza vs. Vadim Nemkov – Nemkov via second-round submission (arm triangle)
205 lbs.: Thiago Santos vs. Yoel Romero – Romero via unanimous decision
155 lbs.: Clay Collard vs. A.J. McKee – McKee via first-round submission — HIGHLIGHTS!
145 lbs.: Aaron Pico vs. Henry Corrales – Pico via first-round TKO — HIGHLIGHTS!
155 lbs.: Biaggio Ali Walsh vs. Emmanuel Palacio – Ali Walsh via unanimous decision
165 lbs.: Claressa Shields vs. Kelsey DeSantis – Shields via split-decision HIGHLIGHTS!
145 lbs.: Abdullah Al-Qahtani vs. Edukondal Rao – Al-Qahtani via third-round TKO
125 lbs.: Malik Basahel vs. Vinicius Pereira – Basahel via unanimous decision
PFL Vs. BELLATOR PLAY-BY-PLAY:
265 lbs.: PFL Heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira vs. Bellator Heavyweight champion Ryan Bader
Round 1: They come out to the center of the cage. Bader feinting and Ferreira clips Bader with the first punch and drops him! “Problema” dives in and starts unloading big bombs, forcing the referee to step in and put an end to fight in lightnign-quick fashion. Ferreirs prevents the Bellator sweep in impressive fashion.
Final result: Ferreira def. Bader via first-round technical knockout — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
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185 lbs.: PFL Light Heavyweight champion Impa Kasanganay vs. Bellator Middleweight champion Johnny Eblen
Round 1: Both men come out swinging. Eblen scored an early takedown and makes it look easy. Kasanganay working his way up, but Eblen still has a hold of him. Eblen now with the under hooks and in good position. They separate. Kasanganay blocks Eblen’s body kick, eats an overhand right. Wild overhand right barely misses for Eblen. Kasanganay with a nice jab down the middle. Eblen clinches and lands three uppercuts before Kasanganay escapes. ice right hook lands for the PFL vet. Kasanganay loosening up a bit and starting to land and attempts a flying knee as time runs out. 10-9 Eblen
Round 2: Kasangnay comes out firing. He tags Eblen with a right hand and he drops him! Kasanganay going in for the kill and Eblen recovers. Kasanganay putting the pressure on and Eblen is hurt! Kasanganay going for the finish but Eblen latches on to a single leg to buy himself some time to recover. They separate and they start swinging haymakers. Both men land some shots before Eblen clinches and pushes his foe up against the fence. Eblen manages to bring Kasanganay to his knees for a few seconds before taking his back. Eblen is now looking for a rear-naked choke with 90 seconds left in the round. Eblen reverses position and is now in half guard. The Bellator champion unloading shots from the top position, nothing major lands. Eblen finishes round two on top, landing big shots. 10-9 Kasanganay
Round 3: Kasanganay could be down two rounds, so he needs a finish here if he wants to get PFL back in this thing. Eblen with a nasty two-punch combo. Nice body shot lands for Kasanganay, right in the rib cage. Good slip from Kasanganay, but Eblen keeps coming forward with the pressure. Massive right hand lands for Kasanganay, though Eblen eats it. Eblen goes to his wrestling and lands a huge takedown with 90 seconds remaining in round three. That’s bit because the judges could have it scored one a piece. One minute remains in the fight, and Eblen takes Kasanganay’s back. Eblen hunting for the rear-naked choke. Kasanganay defending well, but Eblen isn’t letting it go. They hammer away at one another on the ground as time runs out. 10-9 Eblen
Final result: Eblen def. Kasanganay via split decision
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182 lbs.: Jason Jackson vs. Ray Cooper III
Round 1: Cooper comes out aggressive, lands an inside leg kick. Cooper pushing the pace and barely misses a big right hook. Jackson a little tentative at the moment, waiting for an opportunity to unleash. Jackson manages to score a takedown and is smothering Cooper’s face, trying to slow down his breathing. Jackson not landing a ton from his dominant position, but he might be scoring points for the sheer fact that he is on top. He flips Jackson over and starts unleashing vicious elbows to close out the round. 10-9 Jackson
Round 2: Jackson gets to the center of the cage quickly and unleashes a nasty leg kick that drops Cooper III. Jackson pounces and unloads vicious ground and pound to put an end 20 seconds into the second round. Another big win for the Bellator boys.
Final result: Jackson def. Cooper III via second round TKO
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265 lbs.: Bruno Cappelozza vs. Vadim Nemkov
Round 1: Nemkov with a kick to the body, Cappelozza returns fire. Nemkov shoots for an early takedown and gets it. Cappelozza gets right back up. He reverses position and pushes Nemkov against the fence. Cappelozza pushing the pace and Nemkov barely misses with an overhand right. Jab to the body from Nemkov, follows it up with a head kick. Left hook finds its mark for Nemkov, then and overhand right. Uppercut attempt for Cappelozza. Nemkov nearly takes a tumble after seemingly twisting his ankle, but action resumes. Kick to the body from Nemkov, blocked. Nice clean jab lands for Nemkov. Two more jabs from Nemkov. who controlled the opening round. 10-9 Nemkov
Round 2: Cappelozza very light on his feet, switching stances. Overhand right lands for Nemkov. Front kick nearly lands for Cappelozza, and he tags Nemkov with a huge right hand that sends the former Bellator champion to the fence. Nemkov clinches and lands a huge takedown. Nemkov working an arm-triangle. It’s tight and Cappelozza goes to sleep! WOW! Nemkov with an statement win in his Heavyweight debut!
Final result: Nemkov def. Cappelozza via second round submission (arm-triangle)
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205 lbs.: Thiago Santos vs. Yoel Romero
Round 1: Both men come out patient to start things off. A lot of feints, head kick attempt for Santos. Kick to the body lands for Romero. Switch stances for Romero, lands a right hand and Santos throws a strike right down the middle. Romero comes in very aggressive and slips for his efforts. A little wild there from “Soldier of God.” Back to the feet and Santos lands a clean left hand. Romero still pushing the action, while Santos is biding his time. Not a ton of action to close the round 10-9 Romero
Round 2: Both men to the center of the cage, and Santos fires off a kick to the head. Huge kick to the body finds its mark for “Marreta.” Romero waves Santos in and lands a calf kick. Inside leg kicks from Romero and Santos unloads a huge overhand right. Romero ducks away from danger. Head kick lands for Romero, Santos eats it. Another inside leg kick for Romero and Santos is started to feel them. Romero, unsurprisingly, has yet to go for a takedown. Romero once again attempts a head kick, Santos starting to be a bit more aggressive, but nothing is landing for him. 10-9 Romero
Round 3: Santos eats an overhand left. Romero still being the aggressor. Stiff jab lands for Santos, who has a small reach advantage of the Cuban wrestler. Another inside leg kick lands for Romero, who then comes in with a flying knee. Romero with the clinch up against the fence. Santos unleashes a three-punch combo on the break. Santos with a bit more pressure now, and Romero is starting to do some Kung Fu moves with his hands. Santos feeling the heat, Romero lands another inside kick and Santos’ knee nearly gave way. Big left hand lands for Santos. Romero going to the well once again with the inside leg kick. 10-9 Romero
Final result: Romero def. Santos via unanimous decision
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155 lbs.: Clay Collard vs. A.J. McKee
Round 1: McKee shoots and gets an early takedown on Collard. He locks in a guillotine choke but Collard manages to escape. McKee transition to a triangle choke, as well as an armbar. Collard is trying to get out but has no option but to tap. WOW! Statement win from McKee.
Final result: McKee def. Collard via first-round submission (armbar) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
For all the latest PFL and Bellator MMA news and notes click here and here.