8 Champions Confirmed For Bellator vs. PFL Event, Yoel Romero, Claressa Shields & AJ McKee Also Feature

The highly-anticipated PFL vs. Bellator show now has an official date, location, and card for fans to look forward to. 

Last year, the PFL made major headlines when they purchased Bellator, promising a huge 2024 as the rosters of the two promotions merged. The news was the second of two major announcements for the PFL in 2023. Earlier in the year, the promotion picked up two major signings in former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou and controversial YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

Now, the rumors of a PFL vs. Bellator show in the first quarter of the new year have proven true, with famed MMA journalist Ariel Helwani recently dropping some info on the event on social media. 

The show is set to take place on February 24, and will be another in the long line of combat sports events taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Heavyweight Champion vs. Champion Bout Confirmed For Main-Event

In the main-event, PFL Heavyweight Champion Renan Ferreira will collide with Bellator Heavyweight Champion Ryan Bader. 'Darth' has enjoyed a dominant run in Bellator in recent years and will be riding a wave of momentum heading into the clash. 

Bellator Middleweight Champion Johnny Eblen will face PFL Light Heavyweight Champion Impa Kasanganay in a 185lbs bout. A featherweight crossover bout will see longtime Bellator 145lbs ace Patricio Pitbull take on PFL 145lbs champ Jesus Pinedo, and a welterweight clash sees Bellator champ Jason Jackson locks horns with PFL titleholder Magomed Magomedkerimov.

Interestingly, Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Vadim Nemkov is booked to meet Bruno Cappeloza at heavyweight on the card. Famed women's boxer Claressa Shields is also expected to make an appearance on the card. 

Also of note is former UFC fan favorite Yoel Romero being butt heads with Thiago Santos at light heavyweight, and AJ McKee taking on Clay Collard in a lightweight contest.