2024 PFL 3: Chicago Weigh-Ins at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Cooper Neill / PFL)
Brennan Ward bringing his fighting pride and exciting style to new PFL home
Earlier this year, Brennan Ward wasn’t sure what was going to happen in his immediate future. The former Bellator welterweight contender faced uncertainty following the PFL’s purchase of Bellator MMA, and then on four-weeks notice, he got the call to enter the PFL 2024 Welterweight tournament.
Now in his new home with the PFL, Ward knows he is guaranteed at minimum two fights in the tournament, although he doesn’t see a way he’s not involved in the playoffs. With 16 career finishes in 17 career professional victories, Brennan Ward is built for the PFL’s regular season which awards points based off performances, where the faster a finish, the more points are awarded. A fighter can earn up to six points in a fight if they secure a first-round finish.
Ahead of his tournament debut for PFL 3 in Chicago, Ward spoke to the media about his mindset coming into the tournament, how his fighting style should suit best for this tournament, and bringing his sense of pride from Bellator to his new home with the PFL. Having previously experienced success in Bellator’s Grand Prix, having an active and busy Ward is the best for himself and the promotion.
“I’ve done the tournaments before with Bellator back in the day, 10 years ago or so, I think I won a tournament 10 years ago. Being active, I either have to fight or I have to work. So when you can guarantee those fights are going to be close together, I don’t have to go back to work right away, it’s great. This is a great format [PFL] and PFL, so far so good with these guys, honestly. I’m hoping to make the playoffs, I should make the playoffs, if everything goes like it should, I should be in the playoffs. I don’t see myself not being in the playoffs, there’s no one that’s gonna come in with more points than I’m gonna come in with after two fights.”
Having fought all over the world and overcome addiction troubles in his past, Ward’s confidence in himself throughout the tournament also means his entire career could come together in the 2024 PFL season. From not knowing where things were going coming into 2024 to possibly winning the $1 million grand prize and a PFL title, Ward says it would be full circle.
“It would be full circle man, it’d be full circle. If you seen where I was at three years ago to the day, you’d be like ‘This guy? This guy is gonna fight in a couple years? Oh, man.’ and now here I am. Having that prize money on top, having the belt, the super belt, if it means I gotta beat up one of my old boys at Bellator to take that, it’s gonna hurt but it’s gonna be what it is.”
As a staple in Bellator MMA and the promotion’s history, Ward says that he plans on keeping that same pride with PFL as his career moves forward.
“I’m a prideful guy, I had so much pride in fighting for Bellator, this is new waters for me. If this is going to be my permanent home, I’ll have just as much pride here as I did fighting for Bellator and I’ll represent this company as best I can and do my part in growing this company, do my part in putting on good shows and attracting more fans to the PFL.”
It all begins at PFL’s Week 3 of the regular season in Chicago, Illinois on April 19 from the Wintrust Arena. Here’s the full fight card:
- Andrey Koreshkov vs Magomed Umalatov
- Brendan Loughnane vs Pedro Carvalho
- Logan Storley vs Shami Musaev
- Gabriel Braga vs Justin Gonzales
- Goiti Yamauchi vs Neiman Gracie
- Bubba Jenkins vs Kai Kamaka III
- Adam Borics vs Enrique Barzola
- Timur Khizriev vs Brett Johns
- Laureano Staropoli vs Murad Ramazanov
- Don Madge vs Brennan Ward
- Tyler Diamond vs Otto Rodrigues
- Roman Debienne vs Thad Jean
