Now then my people. It’s been a strange few weeks if you’re a fan of the PFL brand. Even today’s announcement of the upcoming schedule caused a stir as it confirmed that the prize money has been halved, and they have got rid of their usual “season” format. Which has been replaced by a simple single elimination tournament, featuring 8 fighters, across 8 weight divisions. The winner will receive of each tournament will receive a winners cheque for 500k. A 50% decrease on the usual 1 million dollars cheque that was given to previous winners. However, the fighters don’t have to go through as many fights to win the tournament now. So I guess fairs fair.

Personally I think it’s a good move by the PFL to move to a shorter format. The old season format was bland in my opinion and gave fighters to much of a chance to win the tournament, even if you lost one in the group stages along the way. I was never a fan of that. A champion of a tournament should be undefeated in that tournament. But that’s just my humble opinion.

The announcement comes at the end of a few weeks that I’m sure the PFL would rather forget.

Along with the backlash in the fighter pay being halved, they officially announced the death of the Bellator brand they purchased. As a die hard MMA fan I am sad to see the brand finished. But what was more concerning to me was the way some of the fighters, including their champions, had no idea what was going on. Corey Anderson was quoted as saying he basically found out off his wife, whilst he was sat on his couch at home. Not exactly a great look for a promotion aiming to be the 2nd biggest MMA promotion in the world.

If that wasn’t enough the promotion has been involved in a very public spat with one of its fighters they acquired when they bought Bellator. Featherweight champion Particio Pitbull. Pitbull requested his release before Xmas, and was finally granted it yesterday when PFL Chairman Donn Davis posted on X that they has “conditionally” released him from his contract. Which quite rightly was met with question’s from the fighter himself, that if the PFL are all about fighters getting the best opportunities, why not make it an unconditional release? Hopefully we get an answer from Donn Davis on that in the coming days. However I shall not hold my breath.

Another thing I wasn’t particularly impressed by so far in this issue with Pitbull, is where is the support from the so called “fighter advocates”? Not an official term as such, but both Jake Paul and Francis Ngannou were very vocal when joining the PFL that they would be a voice for the fighters. Yet so far, just SILENCE!

I aren’t a PFL hater. I want to see brands try and compete with the UFC, as it only creates more opportunities for the fighters. But right now, it seems we have more questions than answers around this promotions future. Not to mention the futures of fighters on the Bellator brand like Patchy Mix, Corey Anderson and a host of others.

I won’t be at all surprised that in a year’s time, the same thread that the PFL are hanging on by now, will of frayed even further.

Only time will tell.

Phillip Dean @PPDSPORTS for Fight Bananas. 

Phillip Dean

Phillip Dean is a seasoned combat sports journalist from England, with over 27 years of ringside experience. Phillip delivers engaging, in-depth reporting on the world of combat sports.