For the very first time since the merger, fighters from Bellator and PFL will face off in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The event, titled PFL vs. Bellator: Champions, will showcase champion-vs.-champion matchups, other titleholders, the debut of a notable boxer, and the return of a boxing legend.
To watch the PFL vs. Bellator: Champions pay-per-view, here’s what you need to know about the lineups, fight information, and more.
The PFL vs. Bellator: Champions event will take place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The preliminary fights will be streamed on ESPN+ at 12:30 p.m. ET, while the main card will be broadcasted on pay-per-view (ESPN+) at 3 p.m. ET. The main card will feature two highly anticipated champion-vs.-champion fights as the main attractions.
Sean O’Connell, a former UFC fighter and PFL season winner, will provide play-by-play commentary, a role he has held since the introduction of the PFL tournament format in 2018. Chael Sonnen, who has previously worked with both PFL and Bellator, will serve as a color commentator, alongside Randy Couture, a longtime PFL commentator, and Dan Hardy, a former UFC title challenger.
“Big” John McCarthy, a pioneer in officiating, will transition from his role as a Bellator color commentator to a rules and scoring analyst, offering real-time insights into potential regulatory developments.
Amanda Guerra, who previously worked with Bellator, will provide reporting and interviews from backstage and the crowd. Josh Thomson will also take on a reporter role, conducting interviews with the fighters’ teams from the corners.
Ian Parker, known for his insights into sports betting in the UFC and PFL, will provide his expertise in the world of sports betting. Jonathan Coachman, a longtime sports personality who has previously worked with WWE and as a pre-show analyst for PFL, will also analyze the betting lines.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the exciting matchups on the card:
– Renan Ferreira, the winner of PFL’s 2023 $1 million heavyweight season, will face off against Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader. Ferreira has a strong record of wins by knockout and will likely rely on his striking skills to secure a victory against Bader, who has never lost a decision in his career.
– Impa Kasanganay, the winner of the 2023 PFL middleweight $1 million season, will go up against Bellator champion Johnny Eblen. Kasanganay, who had a rocky start in the UFC, will face a tough challenge in Eblen, who is undefeated and trains at American Top Team.
– Ray Cooper III, a two-time PFL welterweight $1 million winner, will step in to face Bellator champion Jason Jackson. Cooper replaced Magomed Magomedkerimov, the 2023 PFL winner, who had to withdraw due to an injury.
– Bruno Cappelozza, the winner of PFL’s 2021 heavyweight $1 million season, will take on former Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov. Thiago Santos and Yoel Romero, both former UFC fighters, will also meet in a light heavyweight bout.
– Clay Collard, the runner-up in the 2023 PFL lightweight division, will face former Bellator featherweight champion A.J. McKee. This matchup brings together two prominent fighters from the time of the merger between PFL and Bellator. Gabriel Braga, the featherweight division runner-up, will also compete against Bellator standout Aaron Pico.
In addition to these thrilling matchups, Biaggio Ali Walsh, the grandson of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, will make his professional MMA debut against Emmanuel Palacio in the lightweight division.
Lastly, Claressa Shields, one of the greatest women fighters in boxing history, will continue her transition to MMA as she takes on Kelsey De Santis. This matchup, contracted at 165 pounds, deviates from Shields’ previous fights in the lightweight and featherweight divisions.
Don’t miss the action-packed PFL vs. Bellator: Champions event, featuring high-stakes fights and the clash between two prominent MMA promotions. Tune in to witness the excitement unfold on Saturday.
According to the Source mmajunkie.usatoday.com