Tag: PFL Champions Series

Elimination Of The Bellator Brand Among Host Of Changes Confirmed For The PFL In 2025

The Bellator brand has now been completely amalgamated into the PFL, marking the cohesive integration of the two MMA organizations. In November 2023, following months of swirling rumors, the PFL officially took over Bellator MMA in a groundbreaking agreement. Although the finer details of the merger remained under wraps, it was revealed that Paramount, Bellator’s […]

The Bellator brand has now been completely amalgamated into the PFL, marking the cohesive integration of the two MMA organizations.

In November 2023, following months of swirling rumors, the PFL officially took over Bellator MMA in a groundbreaking agreement. Although the finer details of the merger remained under wraps, it was revealed that Paramount, Bellator’s former parent company, retained a minority ownership stake.

Despite the transition, the Bellator brand continued as a distinct and “reimagined” product, with its roster of fighters immediately eligible to compete under the PFL banner.

However, during a recent episode of his show, Ariel Helwani reported that the Bellator brand has been formally discontinued. Going forward, it will be rebranded as the PFL Champions Series, a new venture focused on hosting title bouts for PFL’s new divisional championships.

“Right now I can tell you, on Monday, January 13th, at 1:20 P.M. Eastern time: Bellator is dead,” Helwani said. “Bellator as we know it is no more. Bellator is dead. You will not see Bellator events anymore.”

Helwani further disclosed that the new title structure will stand apart from PFL’s established season tournament format, where six divisional champions are crowned after a series of four bouts within a single calendar year.

Additionally, the veteran reporter revealed that the upcoming Road to Dubai: Champions Series card on Jan. 25 in Dubai will feature the final Bellator title fight. In the main event, reigning lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov will put his title his title on the line against Paul Hughes.

As of now, it’s unclear how the new PFL titleholders will be crowned, and whether they will simply be the current Bellator champs.

“If you look at that event on Jan. the 25th, you will see that other than the picture of the belt and other than, you know, in the press release it says Bellator lightweight title, there’s no other mention of Bellator. Bellator as we know it is dead. From the Bjorn [Rebney] era to the Scott Coker era to the PFLator era, it is no more.”

Last week, MMA journalist Al Zullino broke the news that the PFL’s iconic $1 million prize for seasonal tournament champions will be halved to $500,000, beginning with the 2025 season set to kick off in April.

Furthermore, the organization is expected to scrap its signature tournament point system in favor of adopting a more classic grand prix-style MMA format. That news that was also corroborated by Helwani, alongside confirmation that tournament winners will no longer win a championship belt.

PFL Announces Full Undercard For Road To Dubai Champions Series: Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) will look to kick off the new year in style when it touches down in Dubai for the first Champions Series event of 2025. After completing its 2024 schedule with the PFL Europe Championship event in Lyon, France last week, the PFL’s attention will turn to a year that looks […]

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) will look to kick off the new year in style when it touches down in Dubai for the first Champions Series event of 2025.

After completing its 2024 schedule with the PFL Europe Championship event in Lyon, France last week, the PFL’s attention will turn to a year that looks set to be key in its pursuit of building a fanbase and becoming legitimate competition to the UFC.

There remains a lot of uncertainty entering 2025, especially regarding the status of a host of Bellator fighters who have made their frustration with their new employers known publicly.

While there hasn’t been much in response to the likes of Patricio Pitbull and Patchy Mix’s complaints, founder Donn Davis has surfaced on social media to promise that the PFL will stage more cards than ever in the new year.

That starts on Jan. 25 at UAE’s Coca-Cola Arena, where a seemingly revamped version of this year’s Bellator Champions Series will debut. While the Bellator brand is no longer mentioned in the event name, one of its champions will be in action as lightweight kingpin Usman Nurmagomedov defends his gold against Paul Hughes.

And this week, the PFL has rolled out the full undercard, mostly made up of rising names from the Middle East.

The organization is reportedly looking to put a late-notice co-headliner together after two matchups announced for Vadim Nemkov fell through. After a clash with Ante Delija was announced despite the Croatian being injured, a heavyweight trilogy versus Corey Anderson was set instead.

That evidently was announced prematurely, too, with the Russian seemingly turning down another battle with the current Bellator light heavyweight titleholder.

Main Card:

  • Bellator Lightweight Title: Usman Nurmagomedov (18-0) vs. Paul Hughes (13-1)
  • Featherweight: Khasan Magomedsharipov (10-0) vs. Nathan Kelly (11-2)
  • Featherweight: Ibragim Ibragimov (8-0) vs. Kenny Mokhonoana (5-1)
  • Bantamweight: Renat Khavalov (8-0) vs. Cleiver Fernandes (9-1)

Preliminary Card:

  • Middleweight: Tarek Suleiman (13-8) vs. Ahmed Samy (11-4)
  • Flyweight: Hadi Omar Al Hussaini (5-1-1) vs. Ruel Pañales (5-2)
  • Middleweight: Yakub Sulimanov (7-0) vs. Jarrah Al-Selawe (20-7)
  • Lightweight: John Mitchell (9-2) vs. Souhil Tairi (7-5-1)
  • Featherweight: Youssef Al Housani (4-1) vs. Assem Ghanem (4-0)
  • Middleweight: Mostafa Nada (9-3) vs. Haider Khan (8-1)
  • Lightweight: Mirafzal Akhtamov (7-0-1) vs. Mike Thompson (7-2)
Ibragim Ibragimov
Ibragim Ibragimov (image: PFL MMA)