Riyadh just keeps racking up super fights, and has the potential to soon eclipse Las Vegas as the new fight capital of the world. Late last night, Riyadh Season revealed that the Professional Fighters Leave (PFL) and General Entertainment Authority (GEA) are hosting an unprecedented pay-per view event at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, February 24, 2024. This a Champions vs Champions fight card, featuring four fights of current PFL Champions vs current Bellator Champions to determine some of the baddest on the planet.
This first-ever PFL PPV Super Fight event will be available on ESPN+ PPV and DAZN beginning at 3 pm ET. In addition, three major showcase bouts will take place during the preliminary card airing in the U.S. on ESPNEWS and ESPN+ in the U.S. beginning at 12 pm ET.
“Riyadh Season is putting on some of the biggest fight events around and the PFL Champions vs Bellator Champions certainly belongs in that category,” HE Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) said. “We are delighted to be the host for this first of its kind event, which will see some of the most exciting matchups and break new ground in the world of combat sports.”
Who’s fighting?
Heavyweights collide in the main event when PFL’s Renan Ferreira (12-3), fresh off his stoppage during the 2023 PFL Championship meets the first athlete in Bellator history to hold belts in two weight divisions simultaneously, Ryan Bader (31-7).
Newly crowned PFL Light Heavyweight kingpin Impa Kasanganay (15-3) returns to 185- pounds for the first time since joining PFL when he challenges the man many fans consider to be the best middleweight on the planet, undefeated Johnny Eblen (14-0).
A fan-favourite bout between some of the heaviest hitters to ever step foot in the UFC, PFL, and Bellator, Thiago Santos (22-11) will fight Cuban Olympian Yoel Romero (15-7).
But one that many are excited to see is the professional debut of Muhammad Ali’s grandson, Biaggio Ali Walsh, who holds an amateur record of 6-1, with 6 finishes, all by knock out.
The additional number of exciting fights is endless, including arguably the best female boxer of all time, Claressa Shields, returning to the MMA cage.
“The Middle East is the fight capital of the world, and the Professional Fighters League is proud to bring the world’s best combat sports stars to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Riyadh Season to host the first-ever PFL PPV Super Fight mega-global event,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “PFL Champions versus Bellator Champions is game changing for fighters and fans. I would like to thank HE Turki Alalshikh, the GEA and SRJ for this incredible opportunity to grow the sport of MMA in the The Kingdom and around the world.”
To get you pumped up for February, here are the best PFL Knockouts of 2023.
What event will be bigger, this one or Ngannou vs Joshua? Either way, Riyadh is taking over in the fight game.
