PFL vs. Bellator Champions Results: Bellator gets most wins, PFL wins main event

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia witnessed a historic night of mixed martial arts (MMA) as the Professional Fighters League (PFL) staged its monumental PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions event, marking one of the most anticipated MMA spectacles of the year. The star-studded card featured eleven electrifying bouts, including four for the newly introduced Super Belt, captivating fight fans around the globe.

In the highly anticipated main event, 2023 PFL Heavyweight Champion Renan Ferreira made a thunderous statement, dispatching Bellator Heavyweight Champion Ryan Bader with a swift TKO just 21 seconds into the first round. Ferreira, flanked by boxing legend Mike Tyson, claimed the Super Belt and is now poised to face combat sports icon Francis “The Predator” Ngannou in his eagerly awaited PFL debut.

The co-main event witnessed an intense showdown as 2023 PFL Light Heavyweight Champion Impa Kasanganay clashed with undefeated Bellator Middleweight Champion Johnny Eblen. The contest went the distance, with Eblen securing a narrow split decision victory and the coveted Super Belt.

Reflecting on the historic event, PFL CEO Peter Murray expressed pride in the organization's contribution to the MMA landscape. "Tonight, the Professional Fighters League and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were at the center of the MMA world," stated Murray. "PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions delivered electrifying action from the best fighters in MMA, reaffirming our commitment to providing premium MMA experiences to fans worldwide."

In other notable matchups, former PFL Welterweight Champion Ray Cooper III faced off against current Bellator Welterweight Champion Jason Jackson in a catchweight bout, with Jackson emerging victorious via second-round TKO to claim the Super Belt. Additionally, former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Vadim Nemkov secured a submission victory over 2021 PFL Heavyweight Champion Bruno Cappelozza, adding another Super Belt to his accolades.

The action-packed evening also featured compelling matchups, including Thiago Santos vs. Yoel Romero, Clay Collard vs. AJ McKee, and Henry Corrales vs. Aaron Pico, among others, showcasing the depth of talent and the thrill of competition in the world of MMA.

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Furthermore, the event marked the professional debut of Biaggio Ali Walsh, grandson of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, who secured a dominant unanimous decision victory in lightweight action against Argentina’s Emmanuel Palacio.

With each bout delivering high stakes and thrilling moments, the PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions event in Riyadh proved to be a monumental occasion, underscoring the global appeal and excitement of MMA at its highest level.

PFL CHAMPIONS VS. BELLATOR CHAMPIONS RESULTS

Main Card Results:

• Renan Ferreira (13-3) def. Ryan Bader (31-8) via 1st round TKO (:21)
• Johnny Eblen (15-0) def. Impa Kasanganay (15-4) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Jason Jackson (18-4) def. Ray Cooper III (25-10-1) via 2nd round TKO (:23)
• Vadim Nemkov (18-2) def. Bruno Cappelozza (15-7) via 2nd round submission (2:13)
• Yoel Romero (16-7) def. Thiago Santos (22-11) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• AJ McKee (22-1) def. Clay Collard (24-12) via 1st round submission (1:10)

Early Card Results:

• Aaron Pico (13-4) def. Henry Corrales (21-8) via 1st round TKO (4:53)
• Biaggio Ali Walsh (1-0) def. Emmanuel Palacio (1-1) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Claressa Shields (2-1) def. Kelsey De Santis (1-3) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Abdullah Al-Qahtani (8-1) def. Edukondal Rao (4-2) via 3rd round TKO (0:23)
• Malik Basahel (18-2-1 AM.) def. Vinicius Pereira (5-1 AM.) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)

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