PFL Extends ESPN Partnership Following Bellator Acquisition, Stays Competitive with UFC

The PFL is on the move to establish itself as the No. 2 MMA promotion, right behind the UFC.

Recently, the promotion revealed a renewed broadcast rights deal with ESPN. Starting in 2024, ESPN will broadcast PFL regular season and playoff events, with streaming portions on ESPN+. ESPN will also continue as the PFL’s pay-per-view provider in its new “Super Fight Division.”

Just days before this announcement, the news broke that PFL and its investment backers had acquired Bellator from Paramount. The long-term plan is to integrate Bellator’s roster into the PFL, although the transition will be gradual and respectful of the Bellator brand.

PFL CEO Peter Murray expressed excitement about the future, stating, “Our innovative sport-season format, elite roster of athletes and the launch of the PFL PPV Super Fight Division are ushering in the new era of MMA as a mainstream global sports entertainment platform.”

Notably, the PFL signed Francis Ngannou after he left the UFC in a contract dispute. Additionally, Jake Paul has been vocal in criticizing the UFC and its practices. These developments set the stage for a potential showdown between the UFC and PFL, the world’s top two MMA companies.

What adds intrigue to the situation is the fact that the UFC’s broadcast deal is also with ESPN. This positions the cable sports network as a major player in the world of MMA coverage, across its many platforms.

The PFL operates with a season format in which fighters earn points toward playoff qualification. Season winners receive a $1 million prize. With the addition of Bellator’s roster, the PFL now claims to have 30 percent of its fighters in the top 25 world MMA rankings, rivaling the UFC’s roster.

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie