[play-button widget_catalog_id="espn_plus_en_22" link="https://go.web.plus.espn.com/c/2436205/595608/9070" logo_name="ESPN+" game_title="PFL vs. BELLATOR. LIVE ON FEBRUARY 24TH"]
[/play-button]
Though owned by the same entity, the Professional Fighters League and Bellator will clash for ultimate bragging rights on February 24. The event takes place in Saudi Arabia and airs on ESPN+ PPV in the U.S. and DAZN in the U.K.
After the PFL acquired Bellator, many wondered what the future had in store for the latter. PFL CEO Peter Murray and co-owner Donn Davis had a vision to expand its roster to feature the best fighters in the world. To commemorate the acquisition of Bellator, champions and contenders from both rosters will fight one another.
"There’s a lot of hardware up here. We have PFL champs versus Bellator champs. This is really an unprecedented event in MMA," Murray said during a press conference. “At the end of each year, we will kick off the next season for both PFL and Bellator, a major tentpole event which will be PFL champions versus Bellator champions. Think of it as MMA's All-Star Game. This will be long-term.”
The event is loaded, from the main event to the first fight of the prelims. Boxer Claressa Shields returns to the cage. The Grandson of Muhammad Ali looks to make an impact, while former UFC fighters Thiago Santos and Yoel Romero are ready to impress.
WATCH: PFL vs. Bellator, exclusively on ESPN+
The Sporting News provides a breakdown of the entire PFL vs. Bellator fight card.
PFL vs. Bellator fight card
Renan Ferreira vs. Ryan Bader
- Division/Weight: Heavyweight
- Ferreira record: 12-3, 3 NC
- Bader record: 31-7, 1 NC
- Belts at stake: Heavyweight gold
PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira faces Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader for heavyweight bragging rights and a world title.
Ferreira (12-3, 3 NC) turned pro in 2013. "Problema" joined the PFL in 2021 and is 6-1 with three no-contests in the promotion. He started 2023 with a no-contest after his opponent tested positive for a banned substance. Ferreira won three straight after beating Denis Goltsov in the PFL heavyweight tournament finals in November via TKO.
Bader (31-7, 1 NC) is a three-time Pac-10 wrestling champion who turned pro in 2007. Competing in The Ultimate Fighter in 2008, Bader won the heavyweight tournament. After going 15-5 in the UFC, Bader joined Bellator, beating Phil Davis in 2016 for the Bellator light heavyweight title.
Competing in the Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix, Bader won the Bellator heavyweight title. Losing the light heavyweight belt to Vadim Nemkov, Bader successfully defended the heavyweight title three times. His last contest was a TKO win over the legendary Fedor Emelianenko in February 2023.
Impa Kasanganay vs. Johnny Eblen
- Division/Weight: Middleweight
- Kasanganay record: 15-3
- Eblen record: 14-0
- Belts at stake: Middleweight gold
PFL light heavyweight champion Impa Kasanganay faces Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen for the latter's title.
Kasanganay (15-3) turned pro in 2019 and started his career as a middleweight. The Dana White's Contender Series alum went 4-3 in the octagon before the two entities parted ways. The 30-year-old with three degrees joined the PFL in 2023, winning a PFL Challenger Series contest as a light heavyweight. Kasanganay went 4-0 in 2023, beating Josh Silveira in November to win the PFL light heavyweight tournament.
MORE: Larissa Pacheco wins Women's Fighter of the Year
Eblen (14-0) is a two-time Academic All-MAC Team member. The wrestler turned pro in 2017, and since joining Bellator in 2019, he has gone 10-0 with the promotion. "The Human Cheat Code" beat Gegard Mousasi in June 2022 for the Bellator middleweight title and has successfully defended it twice. His last contest was a knockout win over Fabian Edwards in September.
Gabriel Braga vs. Patricio Freire
- Division/Weight: Featherweight
- Braga record: 12-1
- Freire record: 35-7
- Belts at stake: N/A
Gabriel Braga faces Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Freire.
Brazil's Braga (12-1) turned pro in 2018 and joined the PFL in 2023 thanks to its Challenger Series. He lost in the 2023 Finals against Jesus Pinedo after beating him earlier that year.
Training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu since he was 10 years old, Freire (35-7) made his pro debut at 16 in 2004. Primarily fighting in Brazil to start his career, “Pitbull” joined Bellator in 2010 and has amassed a 22-6 record in Bellator-sanctioned fights, holding the record for most wins (22) in Bellator history.
In 2011, Freire won the Bellator Season 4 Featherweight Tournament, and in 2013, won the Season 9 tournament. In 2014, he captured the Bellator featherweight title against Pat Curran. Losing it in 2015, Freire regained the crown in 2017 against Daniel Straus. Already featherweight champion, he beat Michael Chandler in 2019 for the Bellator lightweight title.
Defending the Bellator featherweight title in the Bellator Featherweight Grand Prix, Freire went 3-0 before losing the title to A.J. McKee in the finals in 2021. Relinquishing the lightweight title to focus on regaining the featherweight belt, Freire beat McKee to become champion again. He has since gone 1-2, his last contest being a knockout loss to Chihiro Suzuki in July.
Ray Cooper III vs. Jason Jackson
- Division/Weight: Catchweight
- Cooper record: 25-9-1
- Jackson record: 17-4
- Belts at stake: N/A
Ray Cooper III faces Bellator welterweight champion Jason Jackson at catchweight. Jackson was supposed to fight PFL welterweight champion Magomed Magomedkerimov but the latter withdrew due to injury.
A three-time state champion wrestler, Cooper (25-9-1) turned pro in 2012. Born in Hawaii, Cooper joined the PFL in 2018. "Bradda Boy" fell short in the 2018 PFL welterweight finals but rebounded in 2019 and 2021 by beating David Michaud (2019) and the man who beat him in 2018 in Magomedkerimov (2021).
Cooper was ineligible to advance in the 2022 playoffs after missing weight for a fight. He fought Brett Cooper in July 2022 and wouldn't fight again until his middleweight debut in November 2023, which was a losing effort against Derek Brunson.
Jackson (17-4) turned pro in 2012. The former Titan FC welterweight champion competed in Dana White's Contender Series in 2017 and suffered an ankle injury in what was his only fight in the octagon. After winning the LFA welterweight title, he joined Bellator where he went 7-1 from 2019 to 2023. On a seven-fight win streak, Jackson beat Yaroslav Amosov for the Bellator welterweight title in November.
MORE: Click here to subscribe to DAZN and watch the best PFL action
Bruno Cappelozza vs. Vadim Nemkov
- Division/Weight: Heavyweight
- Cappelozza record: 15-6, 1 NC
- Nemkov record: 16-2, 1 NC
- Belts at stake: N/A
Bruno Cappelozza faces Vadim Nemkov at heavyweight.
Cappelozza (15-6, 1 NC) turned pro in 2010. The Brazilian joined the PFL in 2021 and won the heavyweight tournament by beating Ante Delija. He failed a commission drug test after beating Matheus Scheffel in April 2023 and was pulled from the latest season and issued with a nine-month suspension.
A six-time Sambo gold medalist, Nemkov (16-2, 1 NC) turned pro in 2013. The Russian joined Bellator in 2017 and has gone 9-0 with one no-contest with the promotion. He beat Ryan Bader for the 2020 Bellator light heavyweight title and has defended it four times.
Competing in the Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix, Nemkov beat Corey Anderson in the finals. His last fight was a decision win over Yoel Romero in June 2023. Nemkov later relinquished the belt to focus on the heavyweight division.
Thiago Santos vs. Yoel Romero
- Division/Weight: Light Heavyweight
- Santos record: 22-1, 1 NC
- Romero record: 15-7
- Belts at stake: N/A
Former UFC stars collide when Thiago Santos faces Yoel Romero.
A Brazilian Army paratrooper, Santos (22-1, 1 NC) turned pro in 2010. "Marreta" joined the UFC in 2013 and went 14-10 in the octagon. He fought Jon Jones in 2019 for the UFC light heavyweight title, losing in a close contest that saw him tear his left ACL, PCL, MCL, and meniscus in the fight.
Since then, Santos has gone 1-4 with one no-contest, the latter fight being his PFL debut against Rob Wilkinson in April 2023.
A silver medalist in the 2000 Olympics and a ten-time gold medalist in wrestling, Romero (15-7) turned pro in 2009. "Soldier of God" went 9-4 in the UFC from 2013 to 2020. Romero has fought for middleweight gold four times, missing weight twice for the interim and regular belt. Joining Bellator in 2021, he has gone 2-2, with his last fight being a loss to Vadim Nemkov for the Bellator light heavyweight title.
Clay Collard vs. A.J. McKee
- Division/Weight: Lightweight
- Collard record: 24-11, 1 NC
- McKee record: 21-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Further down the card, Clay Collard faces A.J. McKee.
Collard (24-11, 1 NC) turned pro in 2011. "Cassius" went 1-3 with the UFC and joined the PFL in 2021. He has gone 6-3 with the promotion, beating the likes of Jeremy Stephens. Stevie Ray, and Shane Burgos. In the 2023 lightweight finals, Collard lost against Olivier Aubin-Mercier. The 30-year-old is also a boxer with a 9-6-3 record.
McKee (21-1) was a touted prospect in Bellator that turned pro in 2015. The son of former fighter Antonio McKee, "Mercenary" beat Patricio Freire for the Bellator featherweight title in 2022 but lost the belt in a rematch the following year. In a new weight class, McKee has won three in a row, with his last contest being a decision win over Sidney Outlaw in November.
MORE: Breaking down the purse and salary history of PFL fighters
Aaron Pico vs. Gabriel Braga
- Division/Weight: Featherweight
- Pico record: 12-4
- Corrales record: 21-7
- Belts at stake: N/A
Main eventing the prelims will be Aaron Pico vs. Henry Corrales.
One of the hardest punchers in MMA, Pico is a 2014 Junior World Championships silver medalist. The 27-year-old wrestler turned pro in 2017 and lost his debut. Since then, he has showcased his power and wrestling. Pico lost two in a row to Henry Corrales and Adam Borics, won six straight, then lost against Jeremy Kennedy in 2022. He has since won two straight, his last fight being a TKO win in September against Pedro Carvalho.
Corrales (21-7) turned pro in 2011. A former King of the Cage featherweight and bantamweight champion, he joined Bellator in 2015. "OK" has gone 9-7 with the promotion and lost his three-fight win streak in October against Kai Kamaka III.
Both fought one another in 2019, with Pico winning via knockout.
Biaggio Ali Walsh vs. Emmanuel Palacio
- Division/Weight: Lightweight
- Walsh record: Pro debut
- Palacio record: 1-0
- Belts at stake: N/A
Biaggio Ali Walsh makes his pro debut against Emmanuel Palacio.
The grandson of Muhammad Ali, Biaggio was a former football player in high school and a combination of the University of California and UNLV. Ali Walsh later joined Xtreme Couture MMA. He fell in love with the sport and began his journey by going 6-1 at the amateur level. His last fight was a TKO win over Joel Galarza Lopez in November.
Palacio (1-0) turned pro in December, beating Pedro Barrios via submission.
MORE: Muhammad Ali’s family tree
Claressa Shields vs. Kelsey De Santis
- Division/Weight: Lightweight
- Shields record: 14-0 boxing, 1-1 MMA
- De Santis record: 1-2
- Belts at stake: N/A
Claressa Shields faces Kelsey DeSantis.
A three-weight world champion in boxing, Shields (14-0 boxing) is the current undisputed middleweight champion. She turned pro in MMA in 2021 and is 1-1 in the SmartCage. The "G.W.O.A.T." last fought in October 2021, losing against Abigail Montes via decision.
De Santis (1-2) turned pro in 2013. She won her first pro fight in her last outing in October, beating Kathleen Noy Nelson via TKO.
Abdullah Al-Qahtani vs. Edukondala Rao
- Division/Weight: Featherweight
- Al-Qahtani record: 7-1
- Rao record: 5-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Abdullah Al-Qahtani faces Edukondala Rao.
Al-Qahtani (7-1) turned pro in 2018. "The Reaper" fought for Brave CF before joining the PFL in 2023. He is on a two-fight win streak, his last contest being a decision win over David Zelner in August.
Rao (5-1) turned pro in 2020. Known as "Badger", he last fought in July 2023, losing to Gurtej Singh.
Malik Basahel vs. Vinicius Pereira
- Division/Weight:
- Basahel record: 17-2-1 (amateur)
- Pereira record: 5-0 (amateur)
- Belts at stake: N/A
Finally, Malik Basahel faces Vinicius Pereira in an amateur fight.
Basahel (17-2-1) started his MMA journey in 2020. He is on a five-fight win streak, his last contest being a submission win against Khan Mohammed Mahboob in December.
Pereira (5-0) started his amateur career in 2022. His last fight was a submission win over Kelvin Fernandes in November.
What time is PFL vs. Bellator MMA today?
The prelims start at 12 p.m. ET while the main card airs at 3 p.m. ET. The main event for PFL vs. Bellator should start around 6:15 p.m. ET, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
| Region | Date | Prelims Start Time | Main Card Start Time | Main Event Ring Walks (approx.) |
| USA and Canada (ET) | Saturday, February 24 | 12 p.m. ET | 3 p.m. ET | 6:15 p.m. ET |
| USA and Canada (PT) | Saturday, February 24 | 9 a.m. PT | 12 p.m. PT | 3:15 p.m. PT |
| UK and Ireland | Saturday, February 24 | 5 p.m. GMT | 8 p.m. GMT | 11:15 p.m. GMT |
| Australia | Sunday, February 25 | 4 a.m. AEDT | 7 a.m. AEDT | 10:15 p.m. AEDT |
How to watch PFL vs. Bellator MMA
| Region | TV channel | Live streaming |
| USA | ESPN | ESPN+ PPV |
| Canada | — | TBA |
| UK and Ireland | — | DAZN PPV |
| Australia | — | TBA |
In the U.S., PFL vs. Bellator airs on ESPN+ PPV. Fight fans can watch the event on DAZN in the U.K.
The prelims will air on ESPN+ and ESPN News.
[streaming-content widget_catalog_id="espn_plus_en_21" link="https://go.web.plus.espn.com/c/2436205/595608/9070" logo_name="ESPN+" header_title="WATCH LIVE ON" game_title="PFL vs. BELLATOR" game_description="EXCLUSIVE PPV LIVE ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24TH" free_trial_title="STREAM LIVE ON ESPN+. SIGN UP TODAY"]
[/streaming-content]
PFL vs. Bellator MMA PPV price: How much does event cost?
- ESPN+ PPV Price: $49.99
MORE: Join DAZN to watch the PFL
You can pay $10.99 for a monthly subscription to ESPN+ or buy an annual subscription for $109.99.
| Product | Prices |
|---|---|
| ESPN+ Monthly Subscription | $10.99/mo |
| ESPN+ Annual Subscription | $109.99/yr |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported | $14.99/mo |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads | $24.99/mo |
Click here to learn about the different pricing and bundling options with the ESPN+ platform
- DAZN monthly subscription: $19.99 on a 12-month contract or $24.99 month-to-month in U.S. / $24.99 per month in Canada / £9.99 in the U.K. on a 12-month contract or £19.99 month-to-month / 13.99 AUD
- DAZN annual subscription: $224.99 in U.S., $199.99 in Canada, £99.99 in the UK.