In November 2023, it was announced that the PFL had acquired rival promotion Bellator MMA.[3] Speculation was that the company would run a champion against champion event in 2024, bolstered by appearances of Bellator MMA champions at PFL's final event of 2023.
A champion versus champion card was announced on January 16, 2024, and scheduled for the following month. Originally, the event was to see four champions from four divisions (heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight, and featherweight) defend their titles from their respective organizations.[4] However, two champion versus champion matches were altered leading up to the card:
In addition, the card featured the MMA return of Claressa Shields and the professional MMA debut of Biaggio Ali Walsh, the grandson of Muhammed Ali who previously competed for PFL in amateur bouts.[4]
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones made an appearance on the broadcast.[9]