All articles tagged with #bellator
Patchy Mix's victory over Magomed Magomedov in May 2024 remains official despite a drug-testing controversy, as the negative test results from a WADA-accredited lab were not acknowledged by the French MMA Federation, leading to the overturning of the result being contested and ultimately not recognized by the MMA regulatory bodies.
Patricio Pitbull, a prominent Bellator fighter, is seeking release from the promotion due to inactivity and unfulfilled promises of fights, particularly after Bellator's merger with the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Pitbull, who has been with Bellator since 2010, expressed dissatisfaction with the organization's management and aims to join the UFC to continue his legacy. He criticized the PFL-Bellator merger for prioritizing semi-retired fighters and internet celebrities over active fighters. Pitbull hopes to negotiate his release to pursue new opportunities in the UFC.
Gegard Mousasi has been released from his Bellator contract by PFL, following his public frustrations and potential legal threats over how his career was being managed. This development raises questions about the status of the PFL-Bellator merger, as discussed by MMA Junkie reporters Mike Bohn and Nolan King.
The PFL has released former Bellator middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi following his public criticism of the organization. Mousasi, who hasn't fought since May 2023, expressed frustration with the PFL's handling of his contract and stated that his team might pursue legal action. The release comes amid concerns from fighters about the PFL's acquisition of Bellator and the merging of rosters.
Gegard Mousasi has been released from his contract with PFL and Bellator after threatening legal action over grievances related to his sidelining and contract issues following Bellator's sale to PFL. Mousasi, a former two-time Bellator middleweight champion, expressed frustration over the lack of communication and respect from the organization. His management team criticized PFL's treatment of fighters, and Mousasi, now a free agent at 38, seeks to continue his MMA career.
Corey Anderson claimed the vacant Bellator MMA light heavyweight title by defeating Karl Moore via unanimous decision in the first event of the rebranded Bellator Champions Series, showcasing his wrestling advantage throughout the fight. In the co-main event, Patricio Pitbull defended his featherweight title with a third-round TKO victory over Jeremy Kennedy, marking his first win since December 2022.
Renan Ferreira's 21-second victory over Ryan Bader at the PFL vs. Bellator event has earned him the right to face Francis Ngannou after Ngannou's upcoming boxing match with Anthony Joshua. Pros and fans alike were impressed by Ferreira's performance, with some even suggesting that Ngannou might be considering staying in boxing after witnessing Ferreira's dominance.
In a highlight video, Renan Ferreira is seen clobbering Ryan Bader in a matchup between PFL and Bellator champs.
Renan Ferreira secures a first-round TKO victory over Ryan Bader in the PFL vs Bellator main event, earning the opportunity to face Francis Ngannou next. Ferreira's quick and decisive win sets the stage for an exciting matchup with Ngannou, showcasing his potential as a formidable contender in the heavyweight division.
At UFC Mexico City, Brian Ortega's victory suggests a resurgence, while young Mexican fighters like Daniel Zellhuber and Yazmin Jauregui showcase the country's MMA talent. In the PFL vs. Bellator event, Renan Ferreira's quick win over Ryan Bader sets up a potential matchup with Francis Ngannou, while Vadim Nemkov emerges as a dark horse in the heavyweight division. Bellator's early investment in AJ McKee and Aaron Pico could pay off in the PFL.
PFL and Bellator champions will face off in a cross-promotional pay-per-view event in Saudi Arabia, featuring heavyweight and middleweight clashes between current champions. The stacked card also includes other champion matchups and former UFC title contenders. The event will take place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, with prelims starting at noon ET on ESPN+ and the main card at 3 p.m. on PPV. The fight card, odds, and predictions for the key matchups are also detailed.
The Professional Fighters League is set to launch its pay-per-view Super Fight series by pitting PFL champions against Bellator champions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event will feature two matchups of current PFL champs against the titleholders from Bellator, along with several other matchups between former champs from both promotions. The main event will see heavyweight titleholders Renan Ferreira and Ryan Bader facing off, while other fights include PFL light heavyweight champ Impa Kasanganay dropping to middleweight to face Johnny Eblen, and Bellator welterweight titleholder Jason Jackson taking on ex-PFL champ Ray Cooper III.
PFL vs. Bellator: Champions event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia featured a card of 11 fights with PFL fighters facing off against Bellator fighters. Renan Ferreira defeated Ryan Bader in the main event via TKO, while Johnny Eblen secured a split decision win over Impa Kasanganay in the co-main event. Other notable results included A.J. McKee's submission victory over Clay Collard and Claressa Shields' split decision win over Kelsey DeSantis in her MMA debut.
PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira faced off against Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader in the main event, with PFL light heavyweight champion Impa Kasanganay taking on Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen in the co-main event at Freedom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event also featured other notable matchups, including Ray Cooper III vs. Jason Jackson and Thiago Santos vs. Yoel Romero.
Patricio Pitbull will not be fighting at the PFL vs. Bellator event in Saudi Arabia after his opponent Gabriel Braga withdrew from the bout. Braga was a replacement for Jesus Pinedo, who also withdrew. It is unclear why Braga pulled out, but he had previously agreed to fight Aaron Pico before stepping in to face Pitbull. Pitbull was looking to bounce back from recent losses, and it remains uncertain whether he will enter the 2024 PFL season or continue defending his title in Bellator.