Monday Mailbag: PFL’s Acquisition of Bellator and the Future of MMA

Over the past weekend, the MMA world witnessed UFC Vegas 82 with little fanfare, while Bellator held its final event under its previous management. Then came the big news on Monday – PFL (Professional Fighters League) announced that it had officially acquired Bellator. Let’s dive into this acquisition, what it means for the future of MMA, and reminisce about some of Bellator’s finest moments.

PFL’s Long-Awaited Acquisition of Bellator

Well, folks, the cat’s finally out of the bag, or should I say, the octagon? The worst-kept secret in MMA has come to fruition as PFL has officially acquired Bellator. To borrow from Slim Charles, “the game just got more fierce.”

While we all saw this coming, the prolonged silence surrounding the deal had us speculating. Rumors swirled, suggesting that the acquisition might fall through, potentially leading to an MMA free-agent frenzy. Fortunately, those doubts are now put to rest, and we can focus on what this acquisition holds for the future.

What does it mean, you ask? That’s still a bit hazy. PFL’s plans for a “reimagined” Bellator are open to interpretation. From the announcement, it seems Bellator will target non-U.S. markets, and both promotions will share fighters. If that’s the route they choose, it seems rather nonsensical.

The primary reason to acquire Bellator is for its roster of fighters and perhaps some other resources. Bellator isn’t a global MMA powerhouse, and it recently lost its broadcast deal. So, in terms of branding and broadcasting, Bellator isn’t bringing much to the table. What Bellator uniquely possesses is a deep pool of talented fighters – precisely what PFL needs. Splitting these fighters without a clear reason seems curious at best. Remember when the UFC tried this with Pride and Strikeforce? It didn’t pan out because the goal is typically to dismantle and absorb, not keep the acquired promotion running.

There’s also the possibility that this arrangement is temporary. PFL buys Bellator, 2024 witnesses a “PFL vs. Bellator” spectacle, and then the two promotions merge under the PFL banner. That could be an exciting year for promotion. Afterward, they could explore a setup where “traditional PFL” and “Bellator” become two parts of a unified product, possibly hosting an annual Super Bowl-type event. If they go this route, they might as well rename them to PFL East and PFL West. The key is not to keep Bellator alive for the sake of it. The effectiveness of this strategy remains to be seen.

Looking at the big picture, I’m reserving judgment on this development. PFL had the potential to be a unique counter to the UFC, albeit not a direct rival. They played a different game. Bellator, on the other hand, often felt like “UFC Lite,” which wasn’t a winning formula. PFL’s transformation from having one of the weakest rosters in MMA to one of the strongest is genuinely intriguing. However, the future trajectory will decide PFL’s long-term success. The next few years promise to be interesting, to say the least.

P.S. PFL, Please Stop with the Graphics!

On a lighter note, PFL needs to take a step back from their graphics game. Claiming to have a roster that rivals the UFC’s is a stretch at best. When you and the UFC account for 60% of the top fighters worldwide, where are the other 40% hiding? Comparative promotion only works when it’s genuine, not when you’re making things up. It makes you look weaker, not stronger. Please, let’s put an end to that.

P.P.S. The Era of PFL Pay-Per-Views?

With this acquisition, PFL might have the opportunity to charge $50 for pay-per-view events, and fans might actually buy them. Who knows, it could be a game-changer for the promotion’s revenue stream.

Bellator 301 Recap

Switching gears, Bellator 301 took place on Friday. In the main event, Yaroslav Amosov, who was previously undefeated at 27-0, faced a major upset, getting knocked out by Jason Jackson for his first career loss. In the co-main event, Patchy Mix dominated Sergio Pettis, unifying the Bellator bantamweight title and solidifying himself as one of the top 135-pound fighters globally.

Now, if PFL retains the rights to all Bellator fighters, it’s likely that they will continue making a similar amount of money. However, there’s an interesting twist – if some of these Bellator fighters get involved in the 2024 PFL season, there’s a $1 million prize up for grabs. This might present a dilemma for Bellator champions who won’t be in the tournament but also won’t earn $1 million. Life in the MMA world can be rather unpredictable, to say the least.

The Myth of Undefeated Records

Speaking of Amosov, his loss to Jackson marked the first defeat in his professional career. Before this bout, he boasted an impressive 27-0 record, reminiscent of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s legendary 29-0 run.

Let’s clarify something here. Going 29-0 in MMA is a nearly impossible feat. It defies the chaotic nature of the sport, with its narrow margins for error. Even if you’re a perfect fighter, the MMA gods often favor unpredictability. A cold, an ankle roll, a caught punch, or a questionable judges’ decision – these are all potential hazards. None of these misfortunes befell Khabib.

Some argue, “He fought cans!” Not true. Khabib faced suitable opponents early in his career and only turned to higher-caliber opponents in 2011 to catch the UFC’s attention. Even if you label a few of his opponents as “cans,” winning 29 fights in a row against them remains an extraordinary achievement.

And let’s not forget the “loss to Gleison Tibau” argument. In reality, Khabib didn’t lose that fight. He convincingly won all three rounds, but some argue otherwise due to Tibau’s takedown defense. However, defense doesn’t score points in MMA.

Now, some might say, “Jon Jones is 29-0!” That’s not accurate. Jones stands at 27-1 with one No-Contest. Jon Jones, as exceptional as he is, still has blemishes on his record. That’s just how MMA works. Unforeseen circumstances can disrupt even the most dominant fighters’ paths.

Fond Memories of Bellator

Before we wrap up, let’s tip our hats to some Bellator nostalgia. Eric Prindle, Thiago Santos (not the one you’re thinking of), and the unforgettable low blow incidents – these are the moments only the true MMA enthusiasts would recall. Prindle and Santos had their unforgettable encounters, making us laugh with their unconventional techniques. Prindle’s full-blown punt to the nether regions, resulting in a DQ, is the stuff of legend.

And who can forget the featherweight grand prix selection show? It was arguably one of Bellator’s coolest moments. Perhaps if they had more innovations like that, they’d still be thriving

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about MMA Acquisitions

More about MMA Acquisitions

• PFL Official Website
• Bellator Official Website
• UFC Official Website
• Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Undefeated Record
• MMA History and Records
• Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos
• Bellator Featherweight Grand Prix
• Jed Meshew’s Twitter