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PFL ‘In A Good Spot’ Financially Despite 2024 Struggles, Fighter Complaints

The PFL has undergone some major changes before the promotion hosts its first event of 2025. 2024 brought to light some big issues and criticism for the promotion which they are now looking to address for the year ahead. On Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show, it was announced that the Bellator brand is […]

On Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show, it was announced that the Bellator brand is officially “dead”. There was a lot of scepticism regarding the PFL’s plans to integrate Bellator in order to have both names co-exist under one roof after the promotion was acquired towards the end of 2023.

Having the PFL’s season format continue alongside the Bellator Champions Series has created confusion for the fans and frustration for the fighters who aren’t being as active as they would like. PFL is looking to change this by removing the season-based format in place of a Grand Prix style tournament and by removing the Bellator brand entirely by integrating it all into a revised PFL system.

One of the first adjustments that was reported which pointed to the promotion heading in a new direction was the news that starting in 2025, the prize money for the winner of the tournaments would drop from $1 million to $500,000. Many assumed that this is because handing out six $1 million dollar cheques isn’t financially viable for the promotion anymore.

However, following the reports that the new tournament will consist of just eight competitors and that they will be more focused on up-and-coming talents rather than it being the ultimate end goal for fighters in the promotion (with PFL divisional titles set to be introduced), the drop in prize money makes sense. Ariel Helwani also stated during his update on the future of the promotion that cutting costs isn’t a major priority for the PFL based on what he has heard about their financial situation.

“When this first came out about the $1 million to 500,000, it felt like ‘Oh, this is a sign that they’re dead’. Now, I’m being told that like as far as finances are concerned, they’re in a good spot. They have great, sold investment, all that stuff and more. They’re not hurting for cash, this is just kind of a restructuring of how the promotion is laid out. I actually think it makes a ton more sense.”

Is Merab Dvalishvili Too Emotional for His UFC 311 Clash with Umar Nurmagomedov? MMA Insider Weighs In

Is Merab Dvalishvili Too Emotional for His UFC 311 Clash with Umar Nurmagomedov? MMA Insider Weighs In Is Merab Dvalishvili carrying too much emotion into his upcoming clash against Umar Nurmagomedov? In September, Dvalishvili delivered a…

Is Merab Dvalishvili carrying too much emotion into his upcoming clash against Umar Nurmagomedov?

In September, Dvalishvili delivered a dominant performance against ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 to claim the coveted bantamweight belt. Now, ‘The Machine’ has his first defense lined up and it’ll come against none other than undefeated Dagestani sensation Umar Nurmagomedov — the cousin of UFC Hall of Famer and former lightweight titleholder Khabib Nurmagomedov.

In Las Vegas for Saturday’s final pay-per-view event of the year, Dvalishvili had to be separated from Nurmagomedov backstage after getting into a heated confrontation ahead of the UFC 311 on-sale press conference.

Later that night, Dvalishvili got into an altercation with a man he claims is a member of Nurmagomedov’s team. The incident occurred shortly after he cornered Aljamain Sterling for his fight against Movsar Evloev at UFC 310.

More lies, disrespect, and deliberate provocations from Umar’s team. Here’s the real story … pic.twitter.com/btwTzJrC0D

— Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) December 8, 2024

Helwani flabbergasted by Merab Dvalishvili’s actions over the weekend

Commenting on Dvalishvili’s actions over the weekend, MMA journalist Ariel Helwani suggested that ‘The Machine’ may be toting around a little too much emotion going into his first fight as the 135-pound king.

“All fired up. I have to wonder, and we’ll talk to him about this: is he too fired up? Is he too emotional? Very clear, he didn’t want to come back in December, he didn’t want to maybe come back in January,” Helwani said during a recent episode of his show. “Maybe he doesn’t think that Umar deserves the fight. You rarely see him that emotional in front of, you know, the public, if you will.

“You see him getting into altercations and whatnot, but not at press conferences and whatnot. He is quite fired up in that moment. That is going to be an amazing scene in Los Angeles.”

Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov will co-main event UFC 311 on January 18 with the evening’s headliner featuring the return of lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev. The ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ puts his gold up for grabs against Arman Tsarukyan in a rematch more than five years in the making.

No Bigger Fight in MMA or Boxing Than Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Explains Ariel Helwani

After the buildup surrounding UFC 309, we simply have to see the matchup of Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall,…

After the buildup surrounding UFC 309, we simply have to see the matchup of Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall, according to top MMA journalist Ariel Helwani. All week in New York while ‘Bones’ was getting ready for his match against former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, the discussion revolved around the interim champion Aspinall.

Jon Jones TKOs Stipe Miocic with Brutal Spinning Back Kick, Leaves Door Open for Aspinall Fight - UFC 309 Highlights

The fans during the press conference made their voices clear that the matchup they truly wanted was Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall. The UK-born athlete captured the interim UFC title and even defended it, but has yet to meet the reigning UFC heavyweight king Jon ‘Bones’ Jones. Instead, this week at UFC 309, Jones scored a knockout victory over Stipe Miocic.

The issue was that Jon Jones did not want to face Tom Aspinall. According to ‘Bones,’ he will either retire or face the light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall has to happen

MMA Journalist Ariel Helwani explained that after UFC 309, the fight that needs to happen is Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall.

Betting Shocker: Tom Aspinall Opens as Favorite Over Underdog Jon Jones for Heavyweight Unification

He added that between both MMA and boxing, there is no bigger fight to make. He explained:

“I will say this right here: now, my most desired fight is Jon Jones versus Tom Aspinall. What Jon Jones did this week to build that fight, and what Tom Aspinall did this week to build that fight — to be there as the backup fighter, to make his presence felt, to show up in the fur coat, mink coat, whatever it was, walk past his brothers with those new pearly whites — God, I wanna see that so bad.

“And I wanna see it so bad because of the build, because of the animosity, because of the respect — disrespect. But I also wanna see it so bad because of the fight. Look at that trip, look at those elbows to ground and pound. Can he do that to Tom Aspinall? Can he keep him on the ground with his black belt? Can Jon do that? Maybe.

“I don’t know if there’s a fight out there on the table — honestly, in MMA or boxing right now — that intrigues me more than Jon Jones versus Tom Aspinall.”

No Bigger Fight in MMA or Boxing Than Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Explains Ariel Helwani

After the buildup surrounding UFC 309, we simply have to see the matchup of Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall,…

The issue was that Jon Jones did not want to face Tom Aspinall. According to ‘Bones,’ he will either retire or face the light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall has to happen

MMA Journalist Ariel Helwani explained that after UFC 309, the fight that needs to happen is Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall.

He added that between both MMA and boxing, there is no bigger fight to make. He explained:

“I will say this right here: now, my most desired fight is Jon Jones versus Tom Aspinall. What Jon Jones did this week to build that fight, and what Tom Aspinall did this week to build that fight — to be there as the backup fighter, to make his presence felt, to show up in the fur coat, mink coat, whatever it was, walk past his brothers with those new pearly whites — God, I wanna see that so bad.

“And I wanna see it so bad because of the build, because of the animosity, because of the respect — disrespect. But I also wanna see it so bad because of the fight. Look at that trip, look at those elbows to ground and pound. Can he do that to Tom Aspinall? Can he keep him on the ground with his black belt? Can Jon do that? Maybe.

“I don’t know if there’s a fight out there on the table — honestly, in MMA or boxing right now — that intrigues me more than Jon Jones versus Tom Aspinall.”

No Bigger Fight in MMA or Boxing Than Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Explains Ariel Helwani

After the buildup surrounding UFC 309, we simply have to see the matchup of Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall,…

The issue was that Jon Jones did not want to face Tom Aspinall. According to ‘Bones,’ he will either retire or face the light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall has to happen

MMA Journalist Ariel Helwani explained that after UFC 309, the fight that needs to happen is Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall.

He added that between both MMA and boxing, there is no bigger fight to make. He explained:

“I will say this right here: now, my most desired fight is Jon Jones versus Tom Aspinall. What Jon Jones did this week to build that fight, and what Tom Aspinall did this week to build that fight — to be there as the backup fighter, to make his presence felt, to show up in the fur coat, mink coat, whatever it was, walk past his brothers with those new pearly whites — God, I wanna see that so bad.

“And I wanna see it so bad because of the build, because of the animosity, because of the respect — disrespect. But I also wanna see it so bad because of the fight. Look at that trip, look at those elbows to ground and pound. Can he do that to Tom Aspinall? Can he keep him on the ground with his black belt? Can Jon do that? Maybe.

“I don’t know if there’s a fight out there on the table — honestly, in MMA or boxing right now — that intrigues me more than Jon Jones versus Tom Aspinall.”

No Bigger Fight in MMA or Boxing Than Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Explains Ariel Helwani

After the buildup surrounding UFC 309, we simply have to see the matchup of Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall,…

The issue was that Jon Jones did not want to face Tom Aspinall. According to ‘Bones,’ he will either retire or face the light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall has to happen

MMA Journalist Ariel Helwani explained that after UFC 309, the fight that needs to happen is Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall.

He added that between both MMA and boxing, there is no bigger fight to make. He explained:

“I will say this right here: now, my most desired fight is Jon Jones versus Tom Aspinall. What Jon Jones did this week to build that fight, and what Tom Aspinall did this week to build that fight — to be there as the backup fighter, to make his presence felt, to show up in the fur coat, mink coat, whatever it was, walk past his brothers with those new pearly whites — God, I wanna see that so bad.

“And I wanna see it so bad because of the build, because of the animosity, because of the respect — disrespect. But I also wanna see it so bad because of the fight. Look at that trip, look at those elbows to ground and pound. Can he do that to Tom Aspinall? Can he keep him on the ground with his black belt? Can Jon do that? Maybe.

“I don’t know if there’s a fight out there on the table — honestly, in MMA or boxing right now — that intrigues me more than Jon Jones versus Tom Aspinall.”