Some of Bellator’s top stars are growing frustrated with the PFL’s lack of events following the promotional merger last year.
This has included the Bellator champions Patricio Pitbull, Patchy Mix and Corey Anderson who are among the latest fighters to voice their concerns about the PFL’s handling of their careers since the 2023 acquisition.
While Patchy Mix and Corey Anderson competed earlier this year, both have expressed growing frustration over the PFL’s alleged lack of transparency in scheduling their next bouts. The next Bellator Champions Series event will be featuring Usman Nurmagomedov against Paul Hughes. This is set to take place in January, however, uncertainty looms for many fighters.
The PFL purchase of Bellator was in 2023 and initially sparked excitement. This is due to it promising to unite two elite MMA rosters and create a strong rival to the UFC. However, the merger’s rollout has faced significant challenges.
This year has seen numerous complaints from fighters, which has included former champion Gegard Mousasi. Mousasi has accused the PFL of contract violations and poor communication. Adding to the turbulence, Pitbull and other champions have recently went and took to social media to share their grievances, capping off a rocky start to the partnership.
Bellator Champions Speak Out
Patricio Pitbull, was originally set to return this month before his fight was cancelled, was among the first to publicly criticize the PFL. Speaking on X Pitbull stated;
“I haven’t fought since February. I wanted to fight three times this year, but I was told I’d have to wait until December 31 and then found out online my opponent was fighting someone else,”
“Then they had a replacement. I bring people over, spend more money on the camp, and there’s no fight…”
“This is wrong,”
“We need answers. Fighters and fans deserve respect. This isn’t just a game or a business—these are people’s lives. A serious promotion would let healthy fighters compete at least three times a year.”
Corey Anderson, who is the Bellator light heavyweight champion, took a calmer but no less pointed approach in his plea to the PFL. Taking to X Corey Anderson said;
“Aging like warm cheese over here waiting for [PFL] to give me a call,”
“But don’t get it twisted… we’re still ready to defend the strap against ANYBODY! Young or old!”
Meanwhile, Patchy Mix, who is widely regarded as one of the top bantamweights in the sport, has voiced his frustration with the PFL’s lack of communication since defending his title in May. This was in a fight against Magomed Magomedov. Taking to X Mix said;
“I’ve been training my ass off for the last half year for nothing. This is frustrating in the prime of my career, and I had my fight in November canceled?”
“Now I’m being told I’m off the January Dubai card? I’m the best in the world, and I want to fight to prove it.”
Patchy Mix has referred to the upcoming January Bellator Champion Series event, which is headlined by Usman Nurmagomedov against Paul Hughes. As of now, the reason for Mix’s removal from the event is currently unclear.
Mixed Reactions Emerge as Bellator Fighters Voice Frustrations Ahead of PFL Championship
To be fair, not all feedback from Bellator fighters about the merger with the PFL has been negative. MMA legend and the Bellator women’s flyweight champion Liz Carmouche recently praised the PFL’s season format in an interview with Bloody Elbow.
Currently for now, PFL founder Donn Davis and other executives have not issued a response to the social media posts which were posted by Mix, Anderson and Pitbull.
The criticism from Pitbull and Mix has come just days before the PFL’s most significant events of the year. This is the 2024 PFL Champion which is set for this weekend and boasts 10 world title fights. This includes former UFC fighter Taila Santos who is facing Dakota Ditcheva.
While the PFL has made strides, UFC president Dana White and others have noted that the promotion still has much to prove. This is to establish itself as a genuine competitor to the UFC’s dominance. Whether Mix, Anderson, and Pitbull see their concerns addressed and their next fights booked remains to be seen.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
