The first event of the new PFL-Bellator era has finally been made official, with the anticipated PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions “mega event” set to take place on February 24 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The potential for a Champions vs. Champions super card was one of the most exciting aspects of PFL’s acquisition of Bellator MMA late last year. Cross-promotion superfights are a rarity in MMA, but the acquisition laid the perfect foundation for such an event.
The PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions fight card will feature four Champ versus Champ matchups, with the rest of the card also featuring some of the best fighters from the two promotions.
In the main event, Heavyweight Champions Renan Ferreira and Ryan Bader get the opportunity to close out the monumental card. In the co-main event, PFL Light Heavyweight Champion Impa Kasanganay makes the move back down to Middleweight to face undefeated Bellator Champion Johnny Eblen.
The third title bout sees newly-crowned Bellator Champ Jason Jackson take on multiple-time PFL Champ Magomed Magomedkerimov. The final Championship matchup is between PFL breakout star Jesus Pinedo and Bellator GOAT Patricio Pitbull.
The main card is rounded out by three high-level contender matchups, with former PFL Heavyweight Champion Bruno Cappelozza facing Bellator Light Heavyweight Champ Vadim Nemkov in a Heavyweight contest, perennial contender Thiago Santos taking on the legendary Yoel Romero, and the always-exciting Clay Collard facing former Bellator Champ AJ McKee.
The preliminary card also features some intriguing bouts, with highly-touted prospects Gabriel Braga and Aaron Pico competing in a Featherweight contest, Biaggio Ali Walsh making his long-awaited professional debut, and the return of Women’s Boxing legend Claressa Shields.
The card is undoubtedly a good one, but there remains some disappointment, with two of Bellator’s best fighters not on the card. Bantamweight Champion Patchy Mix has been left without an opponent due to PFL’s lack of a Bantamweight division. Cris Cyborg has also surprisingly been left off the card, with two more than worthy potential opponents in Larissa Pacheco and Kayla Harrison.
Who is fighting on the PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions Super Card?
Main Card on PPV
- Renan Ferreira (PFL-C) vs. Ryan Bader (Bellator-C) – Heavyweight Champions Bout
- Impa Kasanganay (PFL-C) vs. Johnny Eblen (Bellator-C) – Middleweight Champions Bout
- Magomed Magomedkerimov (PFL-C) vs. Jason Jackson (Bellator-C) – Welterweight Champions Bout
- Jesus Pinedo (PFL-C) vs. Patricio Pitbull (Bellator-C) – Featherweight Champions Bout
- Bruno Cappelozza vs. Vadim Nemkov
- Thiago Santos vs. Yoel Romero
- Clay Collard vs. AJ McKee
Preliminary Card
- Gabriel Braga vs. Aaron Pico
- Biaggio Ali Walsh vs. Chris Morris
- Claressa Shields vs. Kelsey DeSantis
- Abdullah Al-Qahtani vs. Edukondal Rao
- Malik Basahel vs. Vinicius Pereira