Paramount has sold a majority stake in Bellator MMA to the Professional Fighters League (PFL), a move that will see PFL challenge the dominant player in the space, UFC. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. PFL plans to relaunch the Bellator brand next year, while Paramount will retain a minority stake in the combined company.
| Key Points |
- Paramount has sold a majority stake in its Bellator MMA promotion to the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
- PFL plans to relaunch the Bellator brand next year.
- Paramount will retain a minority stake in the combined company.
- PFL received a significant investment from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund earlier this year.
- Paramount has been seeking to exit the combat sport business.
Paramount has reached an agreement to sell a majority stake in its Bellator mixed martial arts promotion to the Professional Fighters League (PFL) . The deal, whose terms were not disclosed, will see PFL take on the dominant player in the space, UFC. Donn Davis, the founder of PFL, announced the acquisition, stating that the fighter roster of PFL is now equal to that of UFC. PFL plans to relaunch the Bellator brand next year. Paramount will retain a minority stake in the combined company. PFL received a significant investment from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund earlier this year and has minority owners including Kevin Hart, Mark Burnett, and Wiz Khalifa. Paramount’s predecessor, Viacom, acquired a controlling stake in Bellator in 2011. The sale of Bellator comes as Paramount has been seeking to exit the combat sport business.
