In a notable shift in the MMA scene, PFL acquired Bellator in November, reshaping the landscape of the sport.
The amalgamation of these two major MMA entities, the primary ones in the US after the UFC, marks a significant development that will kick off its new chapter in 2024.
During the post-event news conference for UFC on ESPN 52 in Austin, Texas, UFC CEO Dana White was questioned about PFL's substantial business maneuver and remarks made by its founder, Donn Davis. White appeared to express some disagreement with the inquiries.
“One sh*tty organization that sells no tickets and nobody watches buys another sh*tty organization that sells no tickets and nobody watches,” White told MMA Junkie. “It sounds like a f*cking winner to me, boy. Right? Woo! Go, guys!”
Davis believes that PFL now has the roster to compete with the UFC to become a co-leader in MMA. He also believes White is “worried” by the acquisition of Bellator.
Is White annoyed with questions about the rival promotion considering the UFC’s position as a solid leader in the space, or is there real concern about the No. 2 promotion gaining ground?
“Everybody knows Dana well enough that he only dismisses things that worry him, or else he just doesn’t comment,” Davis said on “The MMA Hour.” “He didn’t comment on the PFL for four years because he wasn’t worried. He has commented on the PFL a lot in the last six months. He’s worried.”
For years, Bellator and PFL were competitors, both vying for the position of being the second-largest promotion in the MMA industry behind the UFC. With their recent merger, Donn Davis, the founder of PFL, asserts that this previous contention is no longer valid. According to Davis, the consolidation of PFL and Bellator now positions them as "co-leaders" alongside the UFC.