Bellator Fighters Slam The PFL – ‘I Haven’t Fought Since February’
Bellator fighters have spoken out against the PFL following the latter’s merger with the company.
The PFL bought out Bellator with the aim of creating a bigger MMA organization to rival the UFC. The PFL had its PFL vs. Bellator Champs Card this year. It featured some of the biggest names in the sport. Renan Ferreira knocked out Ryan Bader. Claressa Shields also starred on the card as the event was held in Saudi Arabia, marking the PFL’s introduction to The Kingdom. The PFL also recently signed some major stars, such as Jake Paul, Francis Ngannou, Amanda Serrano and Savannah Marshall. However, there has been discontent with suggestions that the promotional company is not keeping their fighters active.
Cris Cyborg was very vocal about this. Cyborg had been linked with her fight against Larissa Pacheco for some time. It eventually went ahead on the October 19 card headlined by Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira. However, before that went ahead, Cyborg was very vocal, blaming the PFL for holding her career up.
PFL Issues
Kayla Harrison also left the PFL as she signed with the UFC. PFL Chairman Donn Davis accused Harrison of ducking fights with Cyborg and Pacheco. The PFL also had a slight dig at Harrison’s career in the Cyborg-Pacheco fight build-up. They shared a video showing Pacheco beating Harrison. Even Pacheco said that was uncalled for.
“I thought that was uncalled for, honestly. I think [PFL] have the champion they deserve, they have a respectful champion, who has defeated Kayla, so why do that? Promote me right. Let’s promote the champion. ‘Oh, but Larissa beat Kayla.’ You don’t need that. I’ve shown [my work] with other results, I’ve proven myself, so you don’t need that. But anyway, that’s not on me. I have nothing to do with that. I respect Kayla,” Pacheco said
Fighters Speak Out
Several other fighters have spoken out against The PFL, suggesting the promotional company is struggling to keep their fighters happy. Sabah Homasi has previously called out the lack of payments for his medical expenses following a Bellator bout last September. Gegard Mousasi and Douglas Lima also suggested the PFL was not sticking to their contracts after claiming they did not want to pay them their contracted purses. Mousasi eventually left the PFL, showing that everything was not going well. Patchy Mix and Patricio Pitbull had this to say.
“I’ve been training my ass off for the last half of year for nothing. This is frustrating in the prime of my career and I’ve had my fight in November cancelled? Then now again I’m being told I’m off January Dubai card? I am the best in the world and I want to fight to prove it,” Patchy Mix said
“I haven’t fought since February. [And] I wanted to fight 3x this year, but I was told I’d have to wait until December 31st and found out online my opponent would fight someone else. Then they had a replacement, I bring people over, spend more money with the camp and there’s no fight,” Patricio Pitbull stated
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