In 2025, the PFL will undergo major changes, including the end of the Bellator brand following its acquisition, a shift to a single-elimination tournament format, and reduced prize money for winners, with all former Bellator fighters now competing as PFL athletes.
Big changes are coming to the PFL in 2025. Major ones.
First off, Bellator is saying goodbye. The PFL snagged it from Paramount back in late 2023. At first, they promised Bellator would keep doing its thing—separate shows, separate champs. But things change.
Throughout 2024, Bellator kept on keeping on. Yet, whispers of doubt began as a London card lost its main event days before showtime. Then, a Paris card got axed. Not a good look.
Now, with the New Year rolling in, Bellator’s pretty much history. Fighters who once repped Bellator? They’re now PFL athletes. Just like that.
PFL hasn’t said much about what happens to Bellator’s current champs. Do they just become PFL champs? No one’s sure yet. But there’s hope for answers soon, especially with Usman Nurmagomedov set to defend his lightweight title against Paul Hughes on Jan. 25.
The event is branded as a PFL Champions showcase, with no Bellator name in sight.
Meanwhile, some big-name Bellator fighters aren’t thrilled with the PFL’s pace. Featherweight champ Patricio Pitbull and bantamweight champ Patchy Mix have even asked to be released after months without fights.
Several insiders confirmed these developments to MMA Fighting after Ariel Helwani broke the initial story.
Besides bidding farewell to Bellator, the PFL’s format is getting a makeover for 2025.
Gone are the regular season and playoffs of old. Instead, expect a classic tournament style—single elimination across multiple weight classes throughout the year.
And the prize money? It’s changing too. Winners will likely pocket $500,000 instead of the previous $1 million. Al Zullino spilled this news on Twitter first.
With the next PFL card slated for Jan. 25, they’re expected to nail down these announcements soon—alongside plans for future events in 2025.
UPDATE: PFL co-founder Donn Davis has confirmed it—the Bellator brand is done. All fighters are now under the PFL umbrella.