The official end of Bellator MMA (originally known as Bellator Fighting Championships from its debut in 2009 through 2012), coupled with the constant news of former Bellator fighters expressing their discontent with the PFL, has definitely brought on a wave of nostalgia for me – perhaps a bigger wave than I would have imagined. I’m extremely grateful for my time as a Bellator play-by-play commentator, which spanned 127 events and (somehow) exactly 1,250 fights from 2010 through 2015. One to never keep track of things like this, I went back and counted for this article. Even though I had already commentated Pride and M1 Global, when Bellator founder Bjorn Rebney hired me in November 2009, he gave me a gig that fully shifted me from being a soccer commentator to a fight commentator – which is exactly what I wanted, and for which I will always be extremely grateful. The announcement of Patricio Freire – arguably the greatest fighter in Bellator history and inarguably the fighter with the best-ever Bellator career – signing with the UFC definitely created a conversation about which other Bellator alumni could soon make this move. This also has opened up discussions about which now-retired Bellator greats could have gone to the UFC had they been given the chance, or seized the opportunity presented.

Report: Julia Budd released after removal from 2023 PFL Championships

November 9, 2023

With Julia Budd out, Kayla Harrison vs. Aspen Ladd booked for 2023 PFL Championships

November 8, 2023

With Julia Budd out, Kayla Harrison vs. Aspen Ladd in the works for 2023 PFL Championships

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Kayla Harrison returns vs. Julia Budd in featherweight fight at 2023 PFL Championships

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2023 PFL 5 fighter pay: Aspen Ladd among five six-figure earners

June 18, 2023

Julia Budd def. Martina Jindrova at 2023 PFL 5: Best photos

June 16, 2023

PFL 2 Results: Larissa Pacheco defeats Julia Budd

April 8, 2023

PFL 2, 2023 Full Video Highlights and Results

April 8, 2023

Larissa Pacheco def. Julia Budd at 2023 PFL 2: Best photos

April 8, 2023

2023 PFL 2 predictions: Three unanimous picks to open women’s featherweight, heavyweight

April 6, 2023

Julia Budd: Drawing champ Larissa Pacheco to start 2023 PFL season ‘lights that fire’

April 6, 2023

PFL announces main and co-main events for first three 2023 regular season cards

February 2, 2023

2022 PFL Championships results: Aspen Ladd sneaks by Julia Budd to win split decision

November 25, 2022

2022 PFL Championships live and official results

November 25, 2022

2022 PFL Championships live and official results (5:30 p.m. ET)

November 25, 2022

2022 PFL Championship predictions: Who are our two unanimous picks in $1 million finals?

November 24, 2022

2022 PFL Championships weigh-in results: Kayla Harrison, 11 other finalists hit marks

November 24, 2022

Aspen Ladd’s debut vs. former Bellator champ set for 2022 PFL Championships

October 12, 2022

Julia Budd injured; Kayla Harrison meets replacement Kaitlin Young at 2022 PFL 6

June 23, 2022

Kayla Harrison vs. Julia Budd headlines 2022 PFL 6 on July 1

June 1, 2022
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