The Bellator brand is no more.
PFL MMA has released an official statement addressing the future branding of Bellator. PFL acquired the Bellator brand and its roster of fighters in November 2023.
Tuesday, PFL chairman and founder Donn Davis publicly shared the statement on social media, confirming an initial report from Ariel Helwani that the Bellator brand would no longer be used, effectively ending the brand that was founded in 2008 by Bjorn Rebney.
From this point forward, it’s all PFL as the company continues overhauling its product, including eliminating its signature season tournament format.
The full official statement reads:
Professional Fighters League acquired Bellator MMA one year ago primarily for its great fighter roster.
The PFL brand has become synonymous with the “win and advance” format and product innovation.
PFL has established itself as a premium brand doing things different to help grow our great sport of MMA.
Going forward all fight events and content will be PFL branded.
The Bellator brand carries a rich history that will continue to be respected and appreciated through select feature title bouts.
Fans will continue to enjoy the immense Bellator fight library and historic fight content throughout our social, digital, and partner channels.
All of our fighters are now integrated and connected in one powerful PFL brand worldwide.
Moving away from the Bellator branding is just a part of the PFL’s changes heading into its 2025 slate of events. There will also no longer be a season tournament with a $1 million prize for the champion.
In its new structure, there will be PFL Champions Series events that will crown divisional champions. Whether or not the current Bellator titleholders such as Patricio Freire, Corey Anderson, Usman Nurmagomedov, and others will have their championship status transitioned to the new PFL title or if they must fight for a vacant title remains unclear.
PFL is not completely abandoning tournaments. It will now host a grand prix-style, single elminiation tournament in which the winner earns $500,000. PFL began its full-season format in 2018, completing six seasons, each with a crop of $1 million prize winners.