PFL in talks to purchase Bellator
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is in talks to purchase Bellator MMA, according to A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports.
The PFL’s acquisition of Bellator has not been completed. At this point in the deal, it is liable to fall apart. In extension to that, it is unknown how the PFL would utilize its new promotion.
Bellator is currently valued at a $500 million dollar price point, which is a hefty price tag for any MMA organization outside of the UFC.
If the deal materializes, the majority of the purchase will be done in cash with a small amount of equity being exchanged.
The news that the PFL is in discussions to purchase Bellator comes days after it was made public that a Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, SRJ Sports Investments, invested in the PFL. The fund bought a minority stake in the PFL for an investment of at least $100 million.
The PFL has been making massive moves in an attempt to seriously threaten the UFC’s position as the premier mixed martial arts organization. The addition of Bellator would help that quest.
If the PFL completes its deal with Bellator, assuming it can stomach the hefty cost, it would have control over two of the four major MMA promotions. That is crucial for a variety of reasons. Most importantly, the combination of the PFL and Bellator rosters would create one of the top non-UFC rosters in a significant period of time. On top of that, it removes a competitor from the market which makes it easier for the PFL to expand its roster through free agency and development.
The PFL has been consistently adding big names to its roster throughout the past year. The promotion now has Francis Ngannou, Jake Paul, Amanda Serrano, Shane Burgos, and more signed to its roster.
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