After Patchy Mix and Corey Anderson, Patricio Pitbull publicly blasts PFL for mistreating Bellator fighters: "This merger has been a disaster"
Patricio Pitbull has joined the charge to criticize the merger between Bellator and the Professional Fighters League (PFL) amid several prominent fighters voicing discontent over the promotion’s handling of their careers. Bellator champions Patchy Mix and Corey Anderson, among others, have expressed frustration about prolonged inactivity and a lack of clear communication.
Patchy Mix, who last fought in May, has been sidelined despite rigorous preparations for canceled events in Paris and Dubai. Similarly, Anderson has not fought since March, with rumored bouts failing to materialize. Both champions have shed light on the impact of these delays during their competitive primes.
Current three-time Bellator featherweight champion Pitbull added his voice to the criticism, calling the merger a "disaster." Pitbull highlighted the lack of fight opportunities, pointing out that Bellator previously ensured consistent scheduling.
He also condemned the promotion's focus on high-profile contracts for influencers and semi-retired fighters, contrasting it with pay cuts and inactivity faced by rostered athletes. The Brazilian took to X and wrote:
"They said things didn’t work out with Japan and that it wasn’t their fault. Ok. So why don’t you stage a show somewhere else? What kind of promotion can’t give fighters at least two fights a year? Some haven’t even fought this year! Bellator used to be BIG. Things worked and we always had answers.
"They never just canceled a show and said they had no idea when we would be booked. Even regional promotions have dates set for April of next year already! This merger has been a disaster to the sport of MMA."
He added:
"I haven’t fought since February. I wanted to fight 3x this year, but I was told I’d have to wait until December 31st and found out online my opponent would fight someone else. Then they had a replacement, I bring people over, spend more money with the camp and there’s no fight."
Check out Patricio Pitbull's X posts below:
Patricio Pitbull criticizes the PFL-Bellator merger for neglecting talent
The PFL-Bellator merger has sparked a significant backlash as fighters decry roster cuts, pay reductions, and limited opportunities. Patricio Pitbull recently argued that the promotion prioritizes lucrative deals for social media influencers and semi-retired fighters while sidelining active athletes.
The inclusion of Jake Paul in PFL, as part of its shift toward celebrity-driven signings, has seemingly become a focal point of Pitbull’s critique. The 37-year-old took to X and wrote:
"We have to see the top brass talking about offering tens of millions of dollars to social media personalities and semi-retired fighters while cutting 90% of the roster and telling guys making 30+30 they’re too expensive. How can you become number 1 in the world if you don’t stage events and don’t want to pay fighters?"
Check out the X posts below: