NEW YORK (MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023) – Skilled Fighters League (PFL) introduced it has accomplished the acquisition of Bellator from Paramount International (NASDAQ:PARA), creating a worldwide powerhouse in mixed-martial arts (MMA) and accelerating the mixed firm to change into the business co-leader.
PFL has acquired an immense variety of high fighters by means of the Bellator acquisition, and its mixed fighter roster is now equal in stature to UFC. PFL and UFC each showcase rosters which can be 30% comprised of fighters who’re high 25 independently world-ranked of their weight-classes. As well as, PFL + Bellator now has the most effective roster of girls’s fighters on the earth. All newly acquired Bellator fighters will change into a part of the PFL platform and accessible to compete in PFL combat franchises.
PFL will proceed the Bellator model, and Bellator would be the “one-off” occasion product from PFL. PFL will launch a reimagined Bellator product in 2024 – the “Bellator Worldwide Champions Collection.” The Bellator Worldwide Champions Collection will include eight combat occasions annually hosted in main cities throughout the globe, and every Bellator occasion will characteristic two compelling co-main fights competing for championship belts.
Bellator turns into considered one of 5 stay combat franchises of the Skilled Fighters League: PFL League Season, PFL PPV Tremendous Fights, PFL Challenger Collection, PFL Worldwide Leagues, and Bellator. General, the corporate can now meet fan and media demand by producing and programming a year-round calendar of stay combat content material with 30 premium MMA occasions per yr.
PFL as a fighter-first and fan-focused group plans to stage a landmark mega-event in 2024 – PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions. The PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions mega-event will characteristic the champions of every promotion in all seven weight-classes in a head-to-head epic combat expertise.
Particulars of Bellator occasions, distribution, partnerships, and administration might be introduced at a later date.
Donn Davis, PFL Chairman and Founder, and Peter Murray, PFL CEO, proceed to steer and function the mixed firm.
“PFL is now a worldwide powerhouse in MMA,” stated Donn Davis, PFL Founder and Chairman. “Our Bellator acquisition turbocharges PFL’s mission to innovate the game and change into the business co-leader.”
“The mixed PFL and Bellator fighter rosters are second to none in MMA,” stated Peter Murray, PFL CEO. “We are able to’t wait to convey MMA followers what they’ve been asking for – finest vs finest with the PFL Champions vs Bellator Champions Mega-Occasion.”
MMA with 650 million world followers is the third largest fan-base of all sports activities worldwide. MMA is the sports activities development enterprise of this decade with its present $1.75 billion business income projected to develop 10% yearly to $4 billion by 2032.
Bellator has served fighters and followers worldwide for greater than a decade, staging an astounding 301 main MMA combat occasions. Bellator has efficiently recognized and developed dozens of acclaimed MMA world champions. Bellator’s present fighter roster has 46 fighters world-ranked within the high 25 of their weight-class per impartial supply Combat Matrix Rankings.
PFL is the one group in MMA with the sports-season format, the place particular person fighters compete in an everyday season, playoffs, and championship annually. The mixed roster of PFL and Bellator boasts 30% of its fighters independently world-ranked within the high 25 of their respective weight-class, the identical share as UFC. PFL has an expansive world imaginative and prescient for the game and is constructing the “Champions League of MMA” with PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and extra worldwide leagues in growth. PFL leads in expertise and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage, powering combat analytics, real-time betting, AI scoring, and a next-generation viewing expertise. PFL is primetime on ESPN/ESPN+ within the U.S. and is broadcast and streamed in 150 international locations with 20 premium media distribution companions.
Citi and LionTree served as monetary advisors to PFL and Sidley Austin LLP served as authorized counsel to PFL.
ABOUT PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE
Skilled Fighters League (PFL) is a worldwide powerhouse in MMA and the fastest-growing sports activities league world-wide. PFL has 5 stay combat franchises, providing year-round content material: PFL League Season, PFL PPV Tremendous Fights, PFL Challenger Collection, PFL Worldwide Leagues, and Bellator. Based in 2018, PFL is backed by main blue-chip traders together with SRJ, Ares, Knighthead, Luxor Capital, Waverley Capital, Elysian Park Ventures, and quite a few NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS workforce house owners. MMA is the expansion sport enterprise of this decade, with 650 million followers worldwide, the youngest viewers demographic, and true world income streams.
