Dana White understands it’s never ever a great indication when a few of the most popular fighters on a lineup start grumbling with issues over the future of the business.
That’s precisely what’s occurring at the PFL recently with a number of significant professional athletes representing Bellator provided declarations about ongoing lack of exercise, cancelled programs and an absence of interaction with the company. The problems just intensified even more after Bellator featherweight champ Patricio Pitbull and bantamweight champ Patchy Mix in fact reached asking for a release from the company.
Mix hasn’t combated given that May and his formerly arranged match versus Leandro Higo was in fact ditched when the whole Bellator Paris card was cancelled in November. When it comes to Pitbull, he last completed in May and later on exposed that was expected to represent Bellator and return at the RIZIN New Year’s Eve card in December however those strategies were later on ditched with the Brazilian revealing his ongoing aggravations with the PFL.
“Listen, the last couple months we’ve been yapping about the PFL,” White stated at the UFC 310 post-fight interview. “They’re cancelling a great deal of programs. I understand that a great deal of guys that are expected to eliminate aren’t battling. You guys understand what the f * ck’s going on.
“When you see that start to take place, you’re lacking cash. Things aren’t looking excellent. You’re going to have individuals that wish to leap ship.”
Pitbull and Mix were likewise signed up with by Bellator light heavyweight champ Corey Anderson, who hasn’t combated given that he won the uninhabited title back in March.
When the grievances initially emerged and Pitbull ended up being the very first fighter to request his release, MMA Fighting connected to PFL for remark however the promo never ever reacted.
PFL bought Bellator together with all of the business’s properties in offer that closed in late 2023. While both companies run under the very same umbrella, PFL decided to keep Bellator up and running as a different promo with many cards prepared throughout 2024.
Issues were very first raised with the Bellator Paris card being cancelled in November and now various fighters are speaking up openly about issues with business. Contribute to that, previous Bellator middleweight champ Gegard Mousasi in fact reached submitting a claim versus the PFL after he was launched from the company after he likewise grumbled about lack of exercise along with his claim that he was asked to take a minimized wage if he wished to get reserved for a battle quicker than later on.
White comprehends why the professional athletes are so upset today, specifically with much of them still in the prime of their professions.
“These guys wish to combat,” White stated. “You have an extremely minimal time of chance when you’re an expert athlete and even less when you’re a fighter.
“I’m sure you’re visiting a great deal of that, and we’ll see how this plays out over the next a number of months entering into [2025]”
