The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is in reported talks with fellow MMA promotion Bellator over a potential acquisition.
The deal, according to Front Office Sports, is worth a reported $500m and would see Bellator fall under the control of PFL co-owner Don Davis, with Bellator owner Paramount receiving equity in PFL if the deal goes through.
A deal between the two promotions would be hugely significant for the wider MMA ecosystem, as the PFL is looking to close the significant gap between themselves and the UFC with its recent moves.
The PFL received a huge boost to its ambitions to grow further as the promotion gained $100m of fresh investment from the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) sports investment firm SRJ Sports Investments.
Former UFC Heavyweight world champion Francis Ngannou also joined the PFL to become one of the company’s most recognisable names on the roster and will be front-and-centre for the company’s push into pay-per-view when he is expected to make his promotional debut next year.
Investment into PFL has also increased over the last several years, with the likes of NFL’s Marshawn Lynch and MLB legend Alex Rodriguez becoming investors in the MMA company.
Whilst the PFL’s tournament-based product has garnered it viewership due to differentiating itself to its competitors, the promotion has been angling for a minor move away from this format.
The potential acquisition of one of the largest MMA promotions will increase the PFL’s popularity and growth, however, both parties have cautioned that the deal may still collapse and time is needed to finalise a deal of this magnitude.
