Bellator brand declared ‘dead’ as Dana White rival PFL undergoes 2025 revamp

Dana White and UFC rival PFL terminates Bellator MMA brand after disgruntled vets slam lack of matchmaking.

Bellator brand declared ‘dead’ as Dana White rival PFL undergoes 2025 revamp

Bellator MMA officially rolls into PFL (Source: X/IMAGO)

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) took over Bellator MMA at the end of 2023. A mega-merger that PFL officials thought would be “on par with the UFC.” Unsurprisingly, promotional CEO Dana White derided it as nothing more than a “hilarious” waste of money.

In early 2025, the PFL is apparently ending the Bellator MMA brand and absorbing its remaining talent. That’s according to a report from veteran journo Ariel Helwani. White has often said that when there’s smoke, there ought to be fire. He often billed Bellator MMA as just tired of doing it and that this acquisition was no real “power move.” The co-founder and brass defended that PFL ‘did the best it could’ for Bellator in 2024, despite the null in matchmaking.

Right now I can tell you, on Monday, Jan. 13, at 1:20 p.m. Eastern time: Bellator is dead, …Bellator as we know it is no more. Bellator is dead. You will not see Bellator events anymore.

Ariel Helwani said

That, in particular, would be ‘No White Lie,’ where he just took the opportune moment out to diss PFL and its fighter pool. The PFL is also expected to overhaul its point-based season format in favor of a more traditional tournament with single-fight eliminations. PFL’s Dakota Ditcheva, for example, ran through all and sundry through the season to snag the PFL’s $1 million flyweight tournament.

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Winners will also take a pay cut as the promotion reduces its $1 million payout to $500,000. The absolving would be the reason why outspoken fighters, and even a Bellator champ, couldn’t book a next fight. No word yet on how they will handle existing Bellator MMA champs, those like Usman Nurmagomedov, who will fight on the upcoming “Road to Dubai” card on January 25th.

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What’s next in the PFL/UFC dynamic after this?

As the PFL heads into the 2025 grind, Bellator effectively no longer exists. The fighters who have previously competed under the banner are now simply becoming PFL athletes. With no mention of Bellator in the branding, Nurmagomedov’s card and anything else is billed as a PFL Champions event from now on, with a $500,000 prize in fighter-specific contracts.

UFC and Dana White could come out on top after major PFL changes
UFC and Dana White could come out on top after major PFL changes (Source: X)

Dana White has often taken to a war of words against chairman Donn Davis on not honoring his ambitions. Bellator MMA going through the grinder could have a similar reaction in the following hours. As of writing this, there is no official response from the UFC top honcho. This does fit into his omen of PFL bleeding money and going bankrupt with their model in this much-not-needed merger.

However, one man’s loss could be another’s gain. Those like Pitbull/Patchy Mix even went as far as requesting a release from PFL/Bellator. That too with a strong inclination toward UFC. Ex-UFC star Lorenz Larkin defeated Levan Chokheli on Bellator Champions Series: San Diego at the Pechanga Arena. He too might find his way back. Right now, this shakes up the MMA scene quite a lot.

Related: PFL 2023 Best moments: 10 times PFL fighters stunned the world inside the cage