Bellator MMA, under the Professional Fighters League, is set to return in 2024 with the Bellator Champions Series, premiering on March 22 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, featuring fights between Corey Anderson and Karl Moore, and Leah McCourt and Sinead Kavanagh.
Bellator MMA? Yeah, it’s staging a comeback in 2024. Big news, right?
So, here’s the scoop. The PFL dropped the bombshell on Monday. They’ve got this new thing called the Bellator Champions Series. The first event? It’s happening on March 22 at The SSE Arena, Belfast. Yep, in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The main event? Corey Anderson vs. Karl Moore. They’re fighting for a vacant light heavyweight title. And there’s more. Top featherweight contender Leah McCourt is squaring off against Sinead Kavanagh.
Oh, and there’s a trailer. Check it out below.
Now, let’s rewind a bit. Remember four months ago when the PFL acquired Bellator? Yeah, that raised a few eyebrows. People were wondering about the future of Bellator. Well, the first joint event between PFL and Bellator is happening on Feb. 24. They’re calling it PFL vs. Bellator: Champs. But don’t get it twisted, it’s not the same as the Champions Series.
The Champions Series? It’s all about the international markets. You can watch the events in primetime on DAZN in several European countries. We’re talking U.K., Italy, Portugal, Belgium, France. That’s straight from the PFL’s press release.
Here’s what PFL CEO Peter Murray had to say: “After the landmark acquisition of Bellator, the Professional Fighters League is excited to officially announce a new era of MMA with the launch of the ‘Bellator Champions Series’ global franchise. The Bellator Champions Series will feature reigning Bellator Champion fighters defending their titles against the best fighters in the world from the star-studded Bellator roster. Fans will have access to the best competition and the most innovate formats in MMA distributed by leaders in sport including DAZN.”
What about U.S. viewers? Broadcast plans are still in the works. Stay tuned.
The first Bellator Champions Series event? It’s got Belfast’s own Moore and McCourt in crucial matchups. Moore’s taking on Anderson for a 205-pound belt. Vadim Nemkov recently vacated it ’cause he’s moving up to heavyweight. And McCourt? She’s looking to settle a score with Kavanagh after a 2022 decision loss.