Javier Mendez has a bold prediction about the future of PFL fighters against Bellator’s competitors.
PFL has officially acquired Bellator, and founder Donn Davis has revealed plans to stage a champions vs. champions “mega-event” in 2024.
Mendez, whose American Kickboxing Academy has several fighters on the Bellator roster including lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov, argues that PFL’s champions, other than Kayla Harrison, lack the star power of Bellator’s fighters.
“Their champs aren’t known worldwide. I can’t tell you who the champ is. Only thing I know is Kayla Harrison, honestly. That’s sad,” Mendez said on his YouTube channel. “Their [PFL’s] champions aren’t known worldwide.”
The founder and co-owner of AKA believes that if PFL’s champions go up against Bellator’s, the vast majority of PFL guys are going to lose to the Bellator guys.
Davis also said that a “reimagined” Bellator brand, named “Bellator International Champions Series,” will run concurrent to PFL in 2024 with eight “one-off” events. Mendez expressed concerns about the future of many Bellator fighters given the reported plan to cut down drastically on shows.
“It’s a great move for PFL, it’s a sad move for a lot of fighters that are going to lose their jobs,” Mendez said. “So, they’re cutting down drastically. They’re going to have to cut fighters.”
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