Discover the rise of the Professional Fighters League (PFL) as a new global powerhouse in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA). Explore the unique tournament format, upcoming events, and the PFL’s mission to cater to over 650 million MMA fans worldwide.
| The Professional Fighters League (PFL) aims to become a significant number two in the MMA industry, catering to over 650 million global fans.
| The PFL has grown since its establishment in 2018, acquiring Bellator and solidifying its position as a new global powerhouse in MMA.
| Inspired by the roots of MMA, the PFL implements a tournament format for all its events, providing fighters with a path towards the championship and a substantial payday.
| The upcoming PFL event in Chicago will feature twelve fights, including a welterweight matchup between Andrey Korehkov and Magomed Umalatov.
The Rise of the Professional Fighters League
Mixed martial arts (MMA) continues to gain popularity worldwide, and according to Donn Davis, the founder and co-owner of the Professional Fighters League (PFL), there is room for multiple premier MMA circuits to cater to the over 650 million global fans.
During a session at the CAA World Sports Congress in Los Angeles, Davis emphasized that the goal of the PFL, since its establishment in 2018, was not to compete with the UFC but to become a significant and valuable number two in the industry.
While the UFC already held 50 premium events annually and generated over $1.5 billion in worldwide MMA revenue, Davis recognized that MMA had the third-largest fan base globally, behind only soccer and basketball. This realization presented an opportunity for the PFL.
The PFL has experienced significant growth since its inception, particularly with its acquisition of Bellator in November. This strategic move has transformed the PFL into what Davis describes as a new global powerhouse in MMA.
Taking inspiration from the roots of MMA, the PFL has adopted a tournament format for all its regional and global events. Each fight in the tournament contributes to a fighter’s journey towards the championship and a substantial paycheck. Davis believes that this format will contribute to the expansion of the PFL’s fanbase.
Davis explained, "Professional Fighters League follows a regular season, playoff, and championship structure. Win, and you advance. Lose, and you’re out for the year. If you win four times in 2024, you become the champion. In contrast, the UFC only has 10% of their fights dedicated to titles or title contention, while the remaining 90% are essentially exhibition matches or NFL preseason games."
The PFL’s upcoming event, the third of the year, is scheduled for Friday at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The card will feature twelve fights, including featherweight (145 pounds) and welterweight (170 pounds) matchups. The main event will showcase Andrey Korehkov (27-4) against Magomed Umalatov (14-0) in the welterweight division. Fans can catch the event live on ESPN starting at 7pm ET.
