PFL co-owner Donn Davis has addressed the complaints raised by fighters in light of the Bellator acquisition, asserting that these grievances do not represent the majority. Since PFL acquired the Bellator brand in December, several fighters have publicly expressed their frustrations. Former Bellator champion Gegard Mousasi claimed that PFL management had cut communication with his team, potentially jeopardizing the terms of his Bellator contract. Other fighters, including Douglas Lima and Cris Cyborg, have also voiced similar concerns.

While acknowledging that there were expected challenges during the transition, Davis expressed satisfaction with the overall state of affairs for both PFL and Bellator. He assured that efforts were underway to resolve any outstanding issues with the athletes. During an appearance on the "Weighing In" podcast with John McCarthy and Josh Thomson, Davis stated, "Occasionally we'll have a fighter grumble. It's one of 205 fighters we acquired from Bellator. You expect five to 10 percent issues on any deal."

Davis emphasized the fair and reasonable treatment of fighters, employees, and partners, citing the directness and transparency that defines the company's culture. Although he refrained from commenting on individual negotiations, Davis affirmed that all contracts would be honored. However, he acknowledged that not every fighter's expectations would be met.

Another concern raised by Bellator veteran Sabah Homasi involved unpaid medical bills resulting from a previous Bellator fight. Davis attributed these issues to the timing of the Bellator deal, stating that the responsibility to settle such bills lies with the previous ownership. Davis assured that his team of lawyers were actively working to ensure resolution, stating, "Those aren't our bills. Those are the old company's bills."

Despite growing skepticism about Bellator's operations behind the scenes, Davis remains optimistic about the future of the brand. He highlighted the remarkable progress made since the acquisition, pointing out that by February, a reimagined product had been established with a full fight schedule and two fights lined up for each fighter. Davis commended the PFL team for their achievements, considering the small size of the company and their ability to execute 30 events across four continents.

As the fallout from the Bellator acquisition continues to unfold, Davis emphasized that the deal only closed in December, and the company is still navigating the path forward. With their focus on delivering highly produced premium content, Davis expressed his surprise at being able to provide a vast majority of fighters with two fights within a year since closing the deal.

As discussions continue, Davis and the PFL team aim to address the grievances and concerns raised by fighters, promising fair treatment and resolution to ongoing issues.