The Professional Fighters League-Bellator MMA merger was one of the more impactful stories of 2023, and it creates wide-ranging opportunities for matchmakers moving forward.
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship titleholder Francis Ngannou looks like the company’s premium chess piece, especially after he crossed over to boxing, introduced himself to a much wider audience and nearly upset Tyson Fury in October. Exactly when “The Predator” returns to the MMA scene—he signed a multi-fight deal with the PFL—remains an open question, as he has agreed to box Anthony Joshua on March 8 in Saudi Arabia.