PFL emerged as the second-best MMA promotion in the world after it acquired Bellator MMA. Under Donn Davis, Ray Sefo, and Peter Murray, the PFL espoused the ‘fighter’s first’ business practice but recently came at odds with Gegard Mousasi, the ex-Bellator middleweight champion.
It led to PFL recently releasing Mousasi from his contract, which shocked the MMA community. In a social media post, co-signed by Mike Kogan, the Head of Fighter Operations at the promotion, the PFL announced Mousasi is no longer on the PFL roster.
Bellator has released Gegard Mousasi from his agreement. We wish him all the best in his next fighting chapter.
PFL via X
Mousasi is one of the legends of the sport. The Dutch fighter has fought across promotions and was a champion in multiple divisions. He was the middleweight and light heavyweight champion at Dream, the successor of Pride FC. Moreover, he was the Cage Warriors middleweight champion, Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, and Bellator middleweight champion.
Mousasi fought 12 times in the UFC, sporting a 9-3 record. He left the UFC on a five-fight winning streak, on the cusp of a title shot. The Dutch fighter left the promotion after Bellator offered him a significant rise in the fight purse.
What did Donn Davis say about the PFL’s situation with Gegard Mousasi?
Gegard Mousasi was one of the pillars of Bellator MMA, along with the Pitbull brothers, Douglas Lima, Michael Chandler, and AJ McKee. Mousasi is currently on a two-fight losing streak but is still one of the best middleweights on the planet. Even Khabib Nurmagomedov had said so.
Donn Davis (Image via: YouTube)After the merger between PFL and Bellator, fight fans expected to see Mousasi in action. However, Mousasi revealed on the MMA Hour and JAXXON podcast his dissatisfaction with how the PFL ran their business. PFL co-founder Donn Davis recently responded to the criticism on the WEIGHING IN podcast.
What I’m super proud of is the market and how anyone you talk to—fighters, business partners, media, managers—will say we’re direct, fair, and reasonable. That’s my 35 years in business; that’s the culture we’ve built here…Will everybody’s contract be honored? Of course. Do some people have different ideas of what works and doesn’t work? Sure. But we’re fair and reasonable with everybody. Will all 205 fighters have everything fall the way they want? No.
Donn Davis via WEIGHING IN
Davis refused to answer whether Douglas Lima or Gegard Mousasi would fight this year. However, he revealed allegations by Mousasi shocked him, particularly as 96% of the fighters in the PFL roster fought twice or will fight twice in 2024.
What did Gegard Mousasi say about the PFL?
The PFL’s intention to become the co-leaders of MMA promotion with the UFC was met with a reality check. Gegard Mousasi’s contract disputes and Sabah Homasi‘s medical bills reimbursement became the talk of the town.
Gegard Mousasi (Image via: Instagram)Mousasi was extremely critical of the PFL after the PFL-Bellator merger. After the merger, Mousasi wanted to fight regularly, but the PFL never offered him any fight. The Dutch fighter was among the highest-paid fighters, which might’ve been the reason. Nonetheless, he criticized the PFL on the MMA Hour.
They [PFL] don’t even want to pick up their phone and just talk to us. It’s not even funny anymore. It’s the worst organization so far. I’ve fought [in] a lot of organizations, [and] this is the worst one.
Gegard Mousasi via MMA Hour
Mousasi revealed the PFL ignored several emails from his manager, Nima Safapour. Moreover, he insinuated that the PFL might not have the resources to finance the purses of Bellator fighters, who he alleged make exponentially more than the PFL fighters.
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