PFL launches Bellator MMA Champions Series in latest expansion move

05 February 2024 , 16:23

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PFL launches Bellator MMA Champions Series in latest expansion move

The first of eight Bellator MMA Champions Series events will take place in Belfast as part of PFL's recent acquisition of the promotion.

Bellator 302 has been announced for The SSE Arena in Belfast on March 22 and will be headlined by a vacant light-heavyweight title fight between Corey Anderson and Karl Moore. Leah McCourt takes on Sinead Kavanagh in the co-headliner and tickets for the event go on sale this Thursday.

PFL acquired Bellator last November and in doing so has acquired some of the best fighters in the world, such as unbeaten champions Usman Nurmagomedov and Johnny Eblen. All newly acquired Bellator fighters are now part of the PFL platform and available to compete in any of the promotion's fight franchises.

“After the landmark acquisition of Bellator, the PFL is excited to officially announce a new era of MMA with the launch of the Bellator Champions Series global franchise” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. "The Bellator Champions Series will feature reigning Bellator Champion fighters defending their titles against the best fighters in the world from the start studded Bellator roster."

Pete Oliver, CEO of Growth Markets for DAZN said: “The growth in popularity of MMA is being matched by the innovation and promotion that DAZN is delivering in partnership with the PFL. The Bellator Champions Series is another example of DAZN delivering fantastic matchups, where the best take on the best, and what promises to be some of the best fight nights in the sport."

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Each Bellator MMA Champions Series event will feature a title fight, starting with former UFC star Anderson against Conor McGregor's teammate Moore. "I've done everything I said I'd do, opened up a can of whoop a**, unbeaten in the promotion, taken out some of the top guys in my division, secured myself a title shot, and the cherry on top, I've brought Bellator to Belfast," Moore wrote.

PFL hosts their first event of the calendar year later this month as champions Renan Ferreira and Ryan Bader battle it out in Saudi Arabia for the chance to serve as the opponent for Francis Ngannou's MMA return. The event also features the returns of Claressa Shields and Muhammad Ali's grandson Biaggio Ali Walsh.

Harry Davies