Team Bellator tops Team PFL in 5-1 route at co-promoted event

Bellator’s star fighters got the better of PFL athletes over the weekend at an anticipated mixed martial arts event from Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

PFL vs. Bellator: Champs took place three months after the Professional Fighters League acquired rival organization, Bellator MMA, in a business deal that shook up the sport’s landscape.

Bellator titleholders Vadim Nemkov, Johnny Eblen and Jason Jackson were among the victorious fighters. Former boxing world champion Claressa Shields improved to 2-1 in MMA with a win on the preliminary card.

PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira made quick work of Ryan Bader in the main event. Ferreira is expected to face Francis Ngannou at a future PFL event when Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, makes his organizational debut after he competes in a boxing match with Anthony Joshua.

Below are the complete PFL vs. Bellator: Champs results...

MAIN CARD

-- Renan Ferreira def. Ryan Bader via technical knockout at 0:21 of Round 1

-- Johnny Eblen def. Impa Kasanganay via split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28)

-- Jason Jackson def. Ray Cooper III via technical knockout at 0:23 of Round 2

-- Vadim Nemkov def. Bruno Cappelozza via technical submission (arm-triangle choke) at 2:13 of Round 2

-- Yoel Romero def. Thiago Santos via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)

-- A.J. McKee def. Clay Collard via submission (armbar) at 1:10 of Round 1

PRELIMINARY CARD

-- Aaron Pico def. Henry Corrales via technical knockout at 4:53 of Round 1

-- Biaggio Ali Walsh def. Emmanuel Palacio via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)

-- Claressa Shields def. Kelsey DeSantis via split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28)

-- Abdullah Al-Qahtani def. Edukondala Rao via TKO at 0:23 of Round 3

-- Malik Basahel def. Vinicius Pereira via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 30–27)