News PFL now owns Bellator - report

[TorontoTO]

For a decade now I've just always wanted Bellator to be a little bit better than they really are. So I have that short term jolt of hope upon hearing this, followed by the grim feeling that Bellator will always be the third best MMA org, even if they were the only MMA org.

Bellator never got a fair shake from their owners, after the Viacom people who were there when they bought Bellator left, the new people didn’t care or actively hated Combat sports

 

[IneedSometop]

With the influx of quality fighters I hope they do away the fucking stupid ass seasons

 

[HNIC215]

PFL bout to destroy UFC with that Saudi money...

 

[mudrubble]

Purolator is the worst in Canada, can’t stand those dog fuckers, I swear they stomp on every package
But i digress

Only the ones they don't lose or that "are delayed" forever.

Actually, they probably stomp those too tbh.

 

[Pechan]

PFL CEO just said that they are only interested in the fighters so don't really believeing that tweer.

 

[m249viking]

I think we would see another Anthony Johnson like performance from Bader if he fought Ngganou...

. Bader has developed into a better fighter since then and Anthony is quite a bit better a wrestler than Francis. Hopefully we find out.

 

[Daniel_LaRusso]

Prime Fedor beats Ngannou.

 

[BJJ4Tone]

Al's a reliable guy. Possibly Donn Davis might officially announce it on the MMA hour today.

So PFL runs Bellator as Bellator for two years while slowly integrating their roster into theirs where possible.

I'd like to think this could create some genuine competition but PFL has been awful to this point. Maybe they'll improve.

2 years?
Perfect timing for Islam to defend the belt a couple more times and then move up to 170.

 

[Cowboy Kurt Angle]

They own the brand in before Dana just scoops a majority of the key Bellator players

 

[fortheo]

Al's a reliable guy. Possibly Donn Davis might officially announce it on the MMA hour today.

So PFL runs Bellator as Bellator for two years while slowly integrating their roster into theirs where possible.

I'd like to think this could create some genuine competition but PFL has been awful to this point. Maybe they'll improve.

As long as I get Alexander Shabliy vs. Usman Nurmagomedov before the crossover happens, all will be good. Also, I'm curious to see how much more of a role saudia arabia will play in PFL now that they own a stake of the company. If they want to improve this organization, they'll have the finances and a decent roster. Better production and pacing could go a long way in helping

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

Legit question is what did they buy? Bellator licensing and library? Do some belltor fighters have contracts with Viacom?

 

[Paul E Gensinger]

Maybe for Bader/Ngannou? lol

I beat me to it.
I mean, who else is actually available that isn't CTE'd? JDS?

 

[Paul E Gensinger]

Prime Fedor beats Ngannou.

nope

And imagine his little pudgy ass against Tyson Fury.
Bag of Milk vs Bag of Milk.

 

[loptyjoe]

lol they can't make profit with their pfl events so lets buy another company that makes little to no money

 

[ARW]

Ngannou is gonna end up been
UFC HW champ
PFL HW champ
Bellator HW champ
And
Which ever belts fury’s holds champ

wow

 

[Kryptt]

Gonna be interesting to see how this all unravels. I'm not feeling it and I'm a rather big MMA guy. PFL and Bellator are C+ to B- most of the time. Mixing two relatively shaky Orgs doesn't seem like it will play out well.

Here is to hoping they chop a lot of their terrible production folks (on both sides) and start with fresher plate. Also hoping not too many fighters get lost in the shuffle.

 

[maximus__]

Bader at HW actually has a chin, and Rumble had way better wrestling then Ngannou has ever shown

Bader is clearly a LHW and is edging out lay and pray decisions over Chieck Kongo in 2022.
He doesn't have more of a chin at HW, he is fighting guys who wouldn't even be top 10 in the UFC during the weakest period of HW in the sports history.

 

[Tweak896]

I beat me to it.
I mean, who else is actually available that isn't CTE'd? JDS?

It's a shame Rumble isn't here. I would've loved Rumble vs Ngannou.

 

[TempleoftheDog]

One shitshow bought another shitshow. They are both still minor league outfits. And that’s not changing.

 

[maximus__]

. Bader has developed into a better fighter since then and Anthony is quite a bit better a wrestler than Francis. Hopefully we find out.

He has but has still faced issues when caught with power. He also has moved towards the end of his career and is a 205er not cutting weight, compared to Francis who just weighed in over the HW limit.

I think most people would comfortably say Stipe is better than Bader at HW in terms of all round skills.
I personally think that Bader wouldn't be able to get Francis down and wouldn't be game to risk striking to secure a takedown. Given he has been finished in 2/3 fights, I think Francis would finish him pretty comfortably before the wrestling became an issue.