Saudi Arabia has made a groundbreaking move into the world of professional fighting with a significant investment in the US mixed martial arts circuit. Find out more about this historic investment and its implications for the sports landscape in Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region.
| Saudi Arabia Ventures into Professional Fighting |
|---|
| Saudi Arabia’s SRJ Sports Investments has acquired a minority stake in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and plans to establish a regional league in the Middle East and North Africa by 2024. |
| The investment, totaling $100 million, marks SRJ’s first venture and aims to revolutionize the sports landscape in Saudi Arabia. |
| SRJ aims to nurture local and regional martial arts talent, promote gender equality in sports, and bring new opportunities to Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region. |
| The investment is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to diversify and modernize its economy. |
| SRJ’s investment in PFL puts it in direct competition with the UAE and Qatar in the Gulf’s sports economy. |
| Prior to the PFL deal, Saudi Arabia had already shown interest in combat sports, hosting a YouTube boxing match and signing a partnership with WWE. |
| PFL plans to establish six regional tournaments by 2026. |
Saudi Arabia Ventures into Professional Fighting
Saudi Arabia has made a groundbreaking move into the world of professional fighting with a significant investment in the US mixed martial arts circuit. SRJ Sports Investments (SRJ) announced today that it has acquired a minority stake in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and has plans to establish a regional league in the Middle East and North Africa by 2024. This historic investment, totaling $100 million, marks the first venture of the newly established company, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
SRJ, a new company formed by the $594 billion PIF, is no stranger to sports investments. Since crown prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) unveiled the Vision 2030 plan in 2016, Saudi Arabia has been actively investing billions of dollars in various sports around the world, including golf, soccer, Formula 1, boxing, basketball, and cricket. The establishment of SRJ appears to be a strategic move to consolidate and expand these efforts.
According to Bander Bin Mogren, the chairman of the fund, SRJ aims to revolutionize the sports landscape in Saudi Arabia and accelerate the growth of the domestic sports economy. The investment is intended to nurture local and regional martial arts talent, promote gender equality in sports, and bring new opportunities to Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region.
While this investment is seen as a positive step, it is not without controversy. Saudi Arabia only lifted its ban on women attending sports events in 2018, and critics argue that the country is using sports investments as a means of diverting attention from its human rights and fossil fuel track record. However, Saudi Arabia maintains that these investments are part of its broader efforts to diversify and modernize its economy, reducing its dependence on oil.
SRJ’s investment in PFL also signals the country’s strategic ambitions in the Gulf’s sports economy. It puts Saudi Arabia in direct competition with the neighboring United Arab Emirates (UAE), which hosts its own UAE Warriors tournament, and Qatar, which is seeking to establish its own MMA attractions. Singapore’s ONE Championship has also recently partnered with Qatar to host live MMA events in Doha.
Prior to the PFL deal, Saudi Arabia had already shown interest in combat sports. The country hosted a YouTube boxing match between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury earlier this year, and in 2018, it signed a 10-year partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
PFL, known as the "#2 MMA company worldwide," has ambitious plans to establish six regional tournaments by 2026.
Key Points
| Saudi Arabia Ventures into Professional Fighting |
|---|
| Saudi Arabia’s SRJ Sports Investments has acquired a minority stake in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and plans to establish a regional league in the Middle East and North Africa by 2024. |
| The investment, totaling $100 million, marks SRJ’s first venture and aims to revolutionize the sports landscape in Saudi Arabia. |
| SRJ aims to nurture local and regional martial arts talent, promote gender equality in sports, and bring new opportunities to Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region. |
| The investment is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to diversify and modernize its economy. |
| SRJ’s investment in PFL puts it in direct competition with the UAE and Qatar in the Gulf’s sports economy. |
| Prior to the PFL deal, Saudi Arabia had already shown interest in combat sports, hosting a YouTube boxing match and signing a partnership with WWE. |
| PFL plans to establish six regional tournaments by 2026. |
In conclusion, Saudi Arabia’s entry into the world of professional fighting through its investment in PFL marks a significant milestone. With plans to establish a regional league and a focus on nurturing talent and promoting gender equality, SRJ Sports Investments aims to revolutionize the sports landscape in Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region.
