PFL MENA becomes the preeminent MMA league in the Middle East
Top MMA fighters from the region will compete in a sport-season format across four events live in the Middle East beginning in April
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (February 24, 2024) - The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative sports league in the world, announced the launch of PFL MENA, the promotion's second international league, which will debut in April 2024.
PFL MENA will introduce a thrilling four-event sport-season format featuring the region's top fighters and a groundbreaking initiative with SRJ Sports Investments ("SRJ"). The full roster of the league will be revealed in March. PFL MENA is a milestone in PFL's expansion strategy and will accelerate its presence in the MENA region, with SRJ's support. CEO of SRJ Sports Investment, Danny Townsend said: "The launch of the PFL MENA League is another incredible milestone for the sport of MMA, and one we are delighted to play a role in. Saudi Arabia is quickly emerging as the international home of combat sports; bringing world-class talent here and to the wider MENA region remains at the core of SRJ's investment mandate. With the launch of a new PFL MENA League, we're backing the development of the region's exceptional talent, helping provide new pathways to the top. We are confident that investments like these will continue inspiring even more young people to take up sport and help grow the MMA fanbase on a global scale."
VIDEO courtesy of PFL
NGANNOU TO MAKE PFL MMA DEBUT AGAINST WINNER OF PFL CHAMPIONS VS BELLATOR CHAMPIONS HEAVYWEIGHT SUPERFIGHT BETWEEN RENAN FERREIRA AND RYAN BADER
Ngannou currently set to face former two-time unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in the boxing ring on March 8th live on DAZN
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest-growing and most innovative sports league, today announced combat sports superstar Francis "The Predator" Ngannou will make his PFL debut against the winner of the Heavyweight Superfight between Renan Ferreira and Ryan Bader.
Francis Ngannou shook up the combat sports world by signing with PFL in May, becoming the first active fighter to serve on PFL's Global Advisory Board and an equity owner and Chairman of the coming PFL Africa regional league. Ngannou recently stepped into the boxing ring for the first time ever, losing a razor-thin split decision to Tyson Fury, the lineal heavyweight champion. Ngannou is currently in Riyadh, training to fight top heavyweight boxing contender Anthony Joshua.
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Ngannou will turn his attention back to MMA, where he will make his PFL SmartCage debut against the winner of the Heavyweight Superfight between 2023 PFL Heavyweight Champion Renan "Problema" Ferreira and Bellator Heavyweight Champion Ryan "Darth" Bader. Ferreira and Bader will main event the PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions pay-per-view, taking place this Saturday, February 24th, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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"The PFL is excited to announce Francis Ngannou's return to MMA in the PFL PPV Division will be against the winner of the PFL Champion vs Bellator Champion
Heavyweight Superfight between Renan Ferreira and Ryan Bader," said Peter Murray, PFL CEO." Francis is a true combat sports icon with a global fan base and appeal. We, along with the rest of the MMA world, will be watching to see who his first opponent will be, Ferreira or Bader."
Ngannou will also be in attendance at the historic event in Riyadh.
Currently, Ngannou is preparing for his second professional boxing bout, wherein he will take on former two-time unified world heavyweight champion and world number two-ranked heavyweight Anthony Joshua on March 8th live on DAZN.
PFL is the only organization in MMA with a sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship each year. The combined roster of PFL and Bellator boasts 30% of its fighters independently world-ranked in the top 25 of their respective weight class, the same percentage as UFC. PFL has an expansive global vision for the sport and is building the "Champions League of MMA" with PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and more international leagues in development. PFL leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage, powering fight analytics, real-time betting, AI scoring, and a next-generation viewing experience. PFL is primetime on ESPN/ESPN+ in the U.S. and is broadcast and streamed in 150 countries with 20 premium media distribution partners.
Corey Anderson Wins Vacant Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship
Patricio Pitbull Retains Bellator Featherweight Title
in Co-Main Event
BELFAST (March 22) – A new era of MMA kicked off today in Belfast, Northern Ireland with Bellator Champions Series, a card that saw a new champion crowned and the most decorated champion in promotional history, retain his title.
In the main event, Corey Anderson (18-6) took home the vacant Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship in front of a supportive hometown crowd for Belfast's Karl Moore (12-3), utilizing his superior wrestling and top control to earn a unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 50-45). With the win, "Overtime" became the eighth 205-pound champion in Bellator history. After the bout, Anderson set his sights on improving, "Overtime isn't satisfied, we have more work to do, and more names to beat."
The greatest Bellator athlete of all-time, Patricio Pitbull (36-7) "THREW A BEATDOWN" on Jeremy Kennedy (19-4) with strikes at 4:07 in the third round of their Featherweight World Championship bout, earning his 24th win under the Bellator banner, a promotional record. Following the bout, Pitbull made it clear that "I'm not done yet, Aaron Pico, you're next," potentially setting the stage for a highly anticipated bout between the strikers in the future.
Bellator Middleweight Champion Johnny Eblen has a new No. 1 contender following a unanimous decision (29-28 x3) victory for Fabian Edwards (13-3) over Aaron Jeffery (14-5). After the bout the 30-year-old Birmingham, England native had two words for the current 185-pound champion "I'm coming," setting up the rematch for some time later this year.
photo's courtesy of PFL
BAISSANGOUR 'BAKI' CHAMSOUDINOV REMAINS UNDEFEATED AFTER TKO VICTORY AGAINST CEDRIC 'THE BEST' DOUMBE IN FRONT OF SOLD OUT ACCOR ARENA AT PFL EUROPE PARIS
photo courtesy of PFL
photo's courtesy of PFL
PARIS (March 7, 2024) - The Professional Fighters League (PFL) kicked off the 2024 PFL Europe season with an incredible night of action live from a sold-out Accor Arena in Paris.
The main event saw a highly anticipated French showdown between Cédric "The Best" Doumbé and Baissangour "Baki" Chamsoudinov, which ended in the third round after a referee stoppage. Both Frenchmen had their moments during the opening two frames, with referee Marc Goddard waving off the contest at 1:21 of round three. After the fight, both competitors made it clear they would like a rematch.
In the evening's co-main event, Abdoul Abdouraguimov showcased his impressive grappling and submission skills over the course of 15 minutes against a very formidable Jack Grant. In the end, 'The Lazy King' got the nod from the judges' scorecards and earned a split decision win, his third win under the PFL banner.
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Kicking off the 2024 PFL Europe regular season at welterweight, Florim Zendeli advanced with a first-round submission win and will await the winner of an upcoming bout that will be decided at the next PFL Europe event in Newcastle on June 8.
Meanwhile, Daniele Miceli earned his second straight submission finish, clinching a Playoff spot against France's Ibrahima Mane, who won a closely contested split decision against his Dutch opponent, Chequina Noso Pedro.
At lightweight, the PFL Europe Regular Season saw multiple stoppages in the opening frame. Bellator veteran Daniele Scatizzi needed less than two minutes to advance and Connor Hughes secured a knockout a mere 73 seconds into his matchup.