Don’t miss the epic clash between PFL and Bellator champions in the highly anticipated champion versus champion fight card. Get all the details and matchups here!
| Champion vs. Champion Fight Card |
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| The Professional Fighters League (PFL) and Bellator are set to go head-to-head in a historic champion versus champion event. The fight card features thrilling matchups across multiple weight divisions, including heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight, and featherweight. Notable fights include Ryan Bader vs. Renan Ferreira, Johnny Eblen vs. Impa Kasanganay, Jason Jackson vs. Magomed Magomedkerimov, and Patricio Pitbull vs. Jesus Pinedo. The event represents a significant moment for MMA and takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 24 February. |
Champion vs. Champion Fight Card
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has made an exciting announcement, revealing their first-ever champion versus champion card against Bellator, following their acquisition of the rival MMA promotion. This highly anticipated event will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 24 February.
Headlining the card will be a thrilling heavyweight fight between Bellator champion Ryan Bader and PFL champion Renan Ferreira. But that’s not all – fans can also expect three more champion versus champion fights in the middleweight, featherweight, and welterweight divisions.
In the middleweight category, Bellator’s Johnny Eblen will face off against PFL champion Impa Kasanganay in an all-American showdown. Meanwhile, the welterweight clash will feature Bellator’s Jason Jackson going head-to-head with Russian PFL champion Magomed Magomedkerimov. And in the featherweight division, Bellator’s Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire will take on Jesus Pinedo from PFL.
This historic event marks the continuation of Bellator as one-off events, as well as the introduction of champion versus champion fight cards. It will also showcase some of the best contenders from both promotions, adding to the excitement.
Notable matchups include former Bellator featherweight champion AJ McKee facing PFL contender Clay Collard in a lightweight contest. McKee, who has exclusively fought under the Bellator banner, will be looking to make a statement against Collard.
Another highlight of the night will be two-weight undisputed boxing champion Claressa Shields stepping into the MMA cage for her third professional fight. Shields, who has one win and one loss in her MMA career, will be taking on Kelsey DeSantis in a lightweight bout. DeSantis, with one win and two losses on her record, will be eager to prove herself against the boxing sensation.
The fight card will also feature Bellator fighters Vadim Nemkov, Yoel Romero, and Aaron Pico, adding even more star power to the event.
This event is a significant moment for MMA, as it showcases the collaboration between the two biggest promotions outside the UFC. It also aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season, one of the world’s largest winter entertainment events, which has already hosted major boxing matches.
Critics have raised concerns about the country’s motives behind hosting these events, accusing Saudi Arabia of using sports to improve its international reputation. However, Saudi Arabia’s sports minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, dismissed these claims in a recent interview with the BBC, emphasizing the positive impact on the country’s economy and tourism.
PFL v Bellator Fight Card
- Heavyweight: Renan Ferreira (PFL champion) vs. Ryan Bader (Bellator champion)
- Middleweight: Impa Kasanganay (PFL champion) vs. Johnny Eblen (Bellator champion)
- Welterweight: Magomed Magomedkerimov (PFL champion) vs. Jason Jackson (Bellator champion)
- Featherweight: Jesus Pinedo (PFL champion) vs. Patricio Pitbull (Bellator champion)
- Heavyweight bout: Bruno Cappelozza (PFL) vs. Vadim Nemkov (Bellator)
- Light-heavyweight bout: Thiago Santos (PFL) vs. Yoel Romero (Bellator)
- Lightweight bout: Clay Collard (PFL) vs. AJ McKee (Bellator)
