''PFL vs. Bellator: Champs'' was a

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, inc ...

event co-promoted by Professional Fighters League and

Bellator MMA Bellator MMA (formerly Bellator Fighting Championships) is an American mixed martial arts promotion (entertainment), promotion founded in 2008 and based in Santa Monica, California, owned and operated as a subsidiary of television and media cong ...

that took place on February 24, 2024, at the Kingdom Arena in

Riyadh Riyadh (, ar, الرياض, 'ar-Riyāḍ, lit.: 'The Gardens' Najdi pronunciation: ), formerly known as Hajr al-Yamamah, is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the R ...

, Saudi Arabia. It was the first MMA event held in Saudi Arabia.

Background

In November 2023, it was announced that the PFL had acquired its competitor

. Speculation was that the company would run a champion against champion event in 2024, bolstered by appearances of Bellator MMA champions at PFL's final event of 2023. A champion versus champion card was announced on January 16, 2024, and scheduled for the following month. Originally, the event was to see four champions from four divisions (heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight, and featherweight) defend their titles from their respective organizations. However, two champion versus champion matches were altered leading up to the card: *

2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...

and 2023 PFL welterweight winner

Magomed Magomedkerimov Magomed Magomedkerimov ( russian: Магомедкеримов_Магомед_Малачевич, Магомедкеримов Магомед Малачевич (born 01 October 1990) – is a Russian professional mixed martial artist. He curren ...

was originally announced to face the

Bellator Welterweight Champion Bellator MMA (formerly known as "Bellator Fighting Championships") is an American mixed martial arts promotion, and the following is a history of its champions in each weight class. At the time of its inception in 2008, CEO Bjorn Rebney founded B ...

(also former LFA Welterweight Champion)

Jason Jackson Jason Jackson (born May 12, 1972) is an American sportscaster and writer. He worked for ESPN from 1995 until 2002 for sending inappropriate messages to a female co-worker. best known as the host of ''NBA 2Night''. Jason is currently the TV Host/C ...

at this event. However, Magomedkerimov withdrew from the bout due to injury in January 2024 and was replaced by

2019 File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...

and 2021 PFL welterweight winner

Ray Cooper III Raynald "Ray" Cooper III (born February 7, 1993) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL), where he is the two-time Welterweight champion. A professional competi ...

in a 180 pounds catchweight bout. *A featherweight bout between reigning Bellator Featherweight Champion

Patrício Pitbull Patrício Freire (born July 7, 1987, in Natal, Brazil), known professionally by his ring name Patrício Pitbull, is a Brazilian mixed martial artist currently competing in Bellator MMA where he is the current three-time Bellator Featherweight Ch ...

and 2023 PFL featherweight winner

Jesus Pinedo Jesus Pinedo (born June 22, 1996) is a Peruvian mixed martial artist who competes in the Featherweight division of Professional Fighters League (PFL). He won the 2023 PFL Featherweight Championship. In October 2023, Pinedo reached No. 10 in World ...

was scheduled for this event; however, Pinedo pulled out a week before the event with a back injury. Pitbull was instead booked against 2023 PFL featherweight finalist Gabriel Alves Braga who was already on the card, while Braga's opponent, Aaron Pico, was booked in a rematch against

Henry Corrales Henry Corrales (born August 11, 1986), is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Featherweight division of Bellator MMA. A professional since 2011, he has also competed for King of the Cage, where he is the former Featherweig ...

. The days of weigh-ins, Braga was deemed unable to compete and the bout was scrapped. The undercard also included bouts between fighters from the rival promotions, with the following fights being added as well: * A heavyweight bout between 2021 PFL heavyweight winner Bruno Cappelozza and former

Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Bellator MMA (formerly known as "Bellator Fighting Championships") is an American mixed martial arts promotion, and the following is a history of its champions in each weight class. At the time of its inception in 2008, CEO Bjorn Rebney founded B ...

(also the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix winner)

Vadim Nemkov Vadim Aleksandrovich Nemkov (russian: Вадим Александрович Немков; born 20 June 1992) is a Russian people, Russian professional mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist and a four-time Sambo (martial art), Combat Sambo Worl ...

. *A light heavyweight bout between

Thiago Santos Thiago Santos de Lima (born January 7, 1984) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist currently signed to the Professional Fighters League (PFL), competing in the light heavyweight division. Prior to signing with the PFL, Santos competed for the Ult ...

and

Yoel Romero Yoel Romero Palacio (born April 30, 1977) is a Cuban professional mixed martial artist and former freestyle wrestler. He currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division for Bellator MMA. Romero formerly competed in the Middleweight division ...

. *A lightweight bout between Clay Collard and former Bellator Featherweight Champion (also the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix winner)

A. J. McKee A. J. McKee (born April 7, 1995) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in Bellator's Featherweight and Lightweight division, where he is the former Bellator Featherweight Champion. As of February 28, 2023, he is #4 in the Bell ...

. *A featherweight bout between Aaron Pico and 2023 PFL featherweight finalist Gabriel Alves Braga. In addition, the card featured the MMA return of Claressa Shields and the professional MMA debut of Biaggio Ali Walsh, the grandson of

Muhammed Ali Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and activist. Nicknamed "The Greatest", he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century, a ...

who previously competed for PFL in amateur bouts. UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones made an appearance on the broadcast.

Results

References

External links

{{2024 in mixed martial arts Bellator MMA events Professional Fighters League events Sports competitions in Riyadh 2024 in Professional Fighters League Mixed martial arts in Saudi Arabia Sports competitions in Saudi Arabia 2024 in Saudi Arabian sport February 2024 sports events in Saudi Arabia 2024 in Bellator MMA

Background

Results

See also

References

External links