Bryan Battle cites divorce and UFC release as factors in PFL debut loss

Former UFC middleweight Bryan Battle explained that personal turmoil undermined his preparation for his Professional Fighters League debut against former Bellator champion Johnny Eblen. In March at the Pittsburgh PFL event, Battle was submitted in the first round via a face‑crank after repeated slams and tapped out.

Speaking with Ariel Helwani, Battle said his recent divorce and his abrupt release from the UFC left him "scattered" and unable to give his full effort in camp. He added that the loss was a wake‑up call and noted he is training at the MMA Lab ahead of his second PFL appearance on Aug. 7 in Charlotte, North Carolina.