7 key aspects of Bellator acquisition explained by PFL founder Donn Davis
Big changes are coming to the MMA industry as, after months of speculation, the PFL made its acquisition of Bellator official on Monday.
PFL founder Donn Davis announced the purchase was a done deal, which could prove to be a game changer to the MMA industry as a whole. Although the announcement put to bed one question, it also created new ones.
Later on Monday, Davis spoke to Ariel Helwani on “The MMA Hour” to shed more light on the deal and what it would entail moving forward. Below are seven key aspects of the PFL’s acquisition, as explained by Davis.
How the PFL-Bellator deal originated
How much did PFL pay for Bellator?
How much is Bellator worth? In recent weeks, UFC CEO Dana White made fiery comments questioning why anyone would pay money to acquire Bellator. Well, technically, money wasn’t a big part of the deal, maybe not even at all.
“What they (Paramount) saw with PFL was the opportunity to be part of a leading company moving forward,” Davis said. “This was a stock deal, not a cash deal. They are a small minority moving forward. So instead they said, ‘We don’t really want to sell low. We want to sell low and have an opportunity to make it high,’ therefore a deal was made.”
Bellator brand continues, but how will that work?
Where will Bellator broadcast? What about PFL renewing with ESPN?
Will there be any cuts from the Bellator roster?
Is Cris Cyborg vs. Kayla Harrison happening?
Will Bellator International Series get uniforms like PFL?
How much will the Bellator look be altered. Davis assures that changes are coming in the production quality and presentation, but the uniforms will not be enforced like they do in the PFL.
“They are different brands and different products, and they all have different dimensions to them. They all have their own elements. … This is a league (PFL). There are uniforms just like the NBA. This (Bellator) isn’t a league. It’s a one-off event product. You can wear what you want.”
