Category Archives: MMA

Global Fight League Announces Initial Funding and Sets Launch Plan for New Team-Based MMA Property

The Global Fight League, a new team-based MMA property, today announced that it has successfully closed a multi-million-dollar seed round and is set to launch its first season in April 2025. The league will hold a virtual selection process to determine the fighters on each team on January 24, the details of which will be released in the coming weeks.

The GFL will combine team and city-based competition with a new level of empowerment for male and female fighters across all stages of their career, offering profit sharing on all events from the very start.

“Our new league is a logical evolution for MMA,” said Darren Owen, longtime global MMA event promoter, entrepreneur, and Founder of the Global Fight League. “Our mission is to embrace fighters as true equitable partners from inception and, together, create a format that can be understood by any sports fan. I’ve had hundreds of conversations with MMA legends and rising stars and our business plan is an extension of what I have heard from fighters who want a new way to compete and excel in the world’s fastest growing sport.”

Many of the sport’s most notable fighters have been assembled to compete in the inaugural GFL season including: Tyron Woodley, Luke Rockhold, Wanderlei Silva, Anthony Pettis, Fabricio Werdum, Junior Dos Santos, Andrei Arlovski, Frank Mir, Benson Henderson, Gegard Mousasi, Alexander Gustafsson, Hector Lombard, Kevin Lee, Abubakar Nurmagomedov, Hannah Goldy and Marlon Moraes, who will serve as the Head of the GFL’s Athlete Association.

The GFL is pioneering a 50% event-specific revenue share model that ensures athletes benefit from the league’s success. This revolutionary structure prioritizes fighters’ financial security and professional well-being.

The GFL is committed to providing unparalleled financial benefits while prioritizing fighter health and safety. Additionally, the league will actively work to eliminate extreme weight-cutting practices to foster a healthier and more sustainable environment for athletes. This initiative reflects the league’s commitment to protecting its athletes and promoting longevity in their careers.

The league will launch with six teams based in major global markets. Competitions will span the world, culminating in a playoff and a championship that will establish the GFL’s position as a world-class experience for athletes and fans alike. Teams will be coached by some of MMA’s most respected figures, including Rafael Cordeiro, with team managers such as Lyoto Machida bringing exceptional expertise.

Marlon Moraes, Head of the GFL Athlete Association, remarked, “This is a new chapter for fighters. The GFL is built on fairness, respect, and opportunity. Fighters now have a voice and a stake in the sport’s future.”

With MMA’s undeniable global popularity, the GFL is the natural progression of a sport that transcends borders. By combining a historically proven team-based league model with a commitment to athlete equity, the GFL aims to help the MMA industry innovate and set a new gold standard in professional sports.

UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Magny Odds

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

It’s obviously a bit of an endeavor and probably fairly expensive for the UFC when it stages cards on its Fight Island in Abu Dhabi simply with all the travel expenses and housing fighters, their camps and organization staff and such. Thus, the UFC generally jams as many cards on Fight Island as possible when it visits there over the span of a few weeks.

That’s good news for MMA bettors this week as there’s a Fight Night Card on Wednesday morning Eastern time headlined by a welterweight bout between Americans Michael Chiesa and Neil Magny. The prelims get underway at 9 a.m. ET and the main card at noon ET, shown on ESPN and ESPN+.

A welterweight bout between Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev was originally expected to headline this event but both guys ended up catching COVID-19.

CELSIUS Teams Up with MMA Superstar Dustin Poirier

Celsius

Celsius Holdings, Inc., maker of the leading global fitness drink, CELSIUS®, today announced that they have officially signed Dustin Poirier to Team CELSIUS to act as an ambassador and engage with fans and consumers on behalf of the brand.

“I’ve been a fan of CELSIUS for a long-time – I’m very careful about what I put into my body, and I know that CELSIUS is a healthy way to get a boost of energy. Plus it’s been scientifically proven to help boost your metabolism, which obviously doesn’t hurt when it comes time for weigh-ins,” said celebrated MMA fighter and current #2 UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier. “It just made a lot of sense for me to get involved with CELSIUS – not only do I drink it regularly but the company is right in my backyard in Boca Raton where I spend half my year.”

“We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to collaborate with an athlete of Dustin’s caliber who happens to be a huge fan of the product and is also practically a neighbor,” added Celsius Holding Inc.’s CEO John Fieldly. “We look forward to working with Dustin to introduce CELSIUS to new fans and to get our existing fans even more excited.”

CELSIUS® is a lifestyle fitness drink and a pioneer in the rapidly growing performance energy sector.

CELSIUS has four beverage lines that each offer a property, functional, healthy-energy formula with distinct clinically-proven benefits such as boosting endurance and burning body fat.

CELSIUS® is backed by six university studies that were published in peer-reviewed journals validating the unique benefits CELSIUS® provides.

UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal Odds

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

It’s the final UFC event of a wacky 2020 on Saturday night from the organization’s Apex facility in Las Vegas – no doubt, the UFC is hoping it can start staging events at worldwide arenas in front of fans early in 2021 – with a Fight Night card headlined by a non-title welterweight matchup between Americans Stephen Thompson and Geoff Neal.

Originally, this card was to be headlined by a welterweight fight between Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev, yet both of those guys tested positive for COVID-19. The UFC is now targeting them to fight on January 20 at Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.

The welterweight champion is Kamaru Usman, and the 37-year-old Thompson is ranked No. 5 in the division with a record of 15-4-1. Thompson is a former professional kickboxer with an unbeaten record in that sport and once ranked No. 1 in Chuck Norris’ World Combat League.

Professional Fighters League continues to expand international coverage for 2021 season

Titan Channel in Spain and Latin America, Sky New Zealand, and Digi Communications N.V. in Czech Republic to Distribute PFL’s Regular Season, Playoff and Finals, While also Featuring PFL’s Original Content and Archived Fight Library

Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative league in the world, today announced that key international broadcast partners will be expanding coverage of the league for the upcoming 2021 season. PFL is the first organization ever to present MMA through a Regular Season, Playoffs and Championship format, which combined with a global roster of fighters representing 25 countries, has resonated internationally. PFL is distributed to more than 160 countries worldwide via a global network of premier sports partners.

“MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world, with more than 450 million fans who want to consume more premium MMA content,” said Peter Murray, CEO of the PFL. “Expanded partnerships with Titan Channel, Sky New Zealand, Digi Communications N.V. and others are reflective of the incredible demand for MMA and the PFL, and will only continue to grow the sport. Our season format, international fighter roster of top talent from around the world, and differentiated product appeals to a global audience, and we look forward to going deeper with our storytelling in key markets outside the United States.” 

As part of these partnership agreements, Titan Channel, Sky New Zealand, and Digi Communications N.V. will continue to broadcast live PFL Regular Season, Playoffs and Championship events. PFL programming will also feature classic fights from PFL’s vault, providing fans the opportunity to relive the championship journeys of PFL stars such as Kayla Harrison, Ray Cooper III, Emiliano Sordi, Magomed Magomedkerimov and Nathan Schulte. Original programming created by PFL Studios – a fully integrated global media division of the Professional Fighters League producing original MMA content for all platforms including television, digital and mobile – will also be included.

MMA global superstar Fabricio Werdum joins the Professional Fighters League for upcoming 2021 season

One of the sports all-time great heavyweights will make his PFL

debut in April.

NEW YORK (November 16, 2020) – Today, the Professional Fighters League announced the signing of Fabricio Werdum, one of the greatest heavyweight fighters MMA has ever seen. The charismatic Brazilian is a former UFC heavyweight champion who holds notable wins over fellow heavyweight all-time greats Fedor Emelianenko, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Alistair Overeem and Cain Velasquez, who he defeated to win the UFC heavyweight title.

Werdum, a consensus top-3 and arguably the greatest heavyweight fighter in the history of MMA, entered free agency after a Performance of the Night showing on UFC’s Fight Island which saw him submit Alexander Gustafsson by armbar in the first round. Werdum and the PFL came to terms on an exclusive deal that will have the Brazilian competing for the 2021 PFL Heavyweight Championship beginning in the Spring.

Professional Fighters League to leverage IBM technologies to innovate next-gen proprietary SmartCage

PFL Teams with Flagship Group Solutions to Deliver Transformative Experiences Using IBM Cloud and Watson Technologies

NEW YORK (November 10, 2020) – The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative sports league in the world, today announced it will be leveraging Flagship’s capabilities to deliver IBM’s suite of advanced cloud and AI products to enhance the league’s delivery of next-gen SmartCage data and analytics, both live in-broadcast and via the league’s OTT platform, Fight Central.

Flagship Solutions Group, an IBM Gold Business Partner and recognized provider of IBM solutions, managed services, and cloud solutions worldwide, will partner with the PFL to manage, design, and deliver the experience leveraging IBM’s technology solutions. PFL and Flagship Solutions Group will also work closely with the IBM Garage’s unique framework for enabling innovation at speed and scale through a team of leading technologies and multidisciplinary experts, to turn big ideas into tangible results.

PFL’s proprietary SmartCage measures real-time MMA fighter performance analytics along with biometric and positional data providing fans with an elevated viewing experience. Moving forward, SmartCage fight data, called Cagenomics, will be enhanced with Watson machine learning to scour data points and uncover new insights for MMA fans, bringing them inside the cage like never before.

Professional Fighters League and ESPN unveil 2021 regular season schedule with opener on April 23

The 2021 PFL Regular Season, Playoffs and Championship to Air on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+

NEW YORK (October 20, 2020): Professional Fighters League (PFL), the first organization ever to present MMA through a Regular Season, Playoffs and Championship format, today announced that the 2021 PFL Season will begin April 23 on ESPN2. The remaining Regular Season events will take place on April 29, May 6, June 10, June 17, and June 25. PFL will begin its 2021 season a month early as the league makes its anticipated return to action.

 

“We’re thrilled to announce an early start date for the 2021 PFL Season and we look forward to building on the positive momentum experienced in a historic first season on ESPN,” said PFL CEO, Peter Murray. “In 2021, the PFL will deliver an elevated, immersive, and interactive fan viewing experience incorporating expanded, real-time fighter data and analytics from our proprietary SmartCage technology, behind-the-scenes access, the return of ref cam, and more. Our champions return looking to earn another title, while a fresh crop of exciting new fighters will challenge for the top spot in MMA. Additional contenders will be unveiled in the leadup to what we believe will be the biggest season in PFL history.”

Professional Fighters League announces signing of elite MMA Fighters for 2021 season

New York (October 6, 2020): Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative league in the world, today announced the signing of eight elite MMA fighters. Global stars from the USA, Europe, South America, and Asia, will add even more depth and international flavor to an already talent-rich PFL roster. The 2021 PFL season will begin in April, with events broadcast live on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ in the United States, and premium sports networks in 160 countries around the world.

Ready to showcase their skills in the PFL’s upcoming 2021 season will be Cezar Ferreira, Renan Ferreira, and Sheymon Moraes of Brazil, Joilton Lutterbach and Hatef Moeil of Germany, Marthin Hamlet of Norway, Sung Bin Jo of South Korea, and Brandon Sayles of the United States of America.

 

“We are extremely excited to welcome a diverse group of world-class talent to the Professional Fighters League as part of the 2021 roster,” said Ray Sefo, President of the PFL. “The addition of elite competitors from countries such as Brazil, Norway, South Korea and Germany is representative of PFL’s global reach. We look forward to seeing what these fighters can do on the biggest stage, as they look to advance through a Regular Season, Playoffs and Championship and earn a title and million-dollar prize.”

Professional Fighters League announces signing of elite MMA fighters for 2021 season

Global stars ready to showcase their talents in the fastest growing

sports league in the world.

NEW YORK (October 6, 2020): Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative league in the world, today announced the signing of eight elite MMA fighters. Global stars from the U.S.A., Europe, South America, and Asia, will add even more depth and international flavor to an already talent-rich PFL roster. The 2021 PFL season will begin in April, with events broadcast live on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ in the United States, and premium sports networks in 160 countries around the world.

 

Professional Fighters League strengthens WAVE.tv’s MMA portfolio through landmark content and distribution partnership

Premium, Quick-hitting PFL Content to be Distributed Across WAVE.tv’s Media Brands on Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and

Emerging Digital Platforms

NEW YORK (September 24, 2020): Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative league in the world, today announced a strategic content and distribution partnership with WAVE.tv, the sports media company for today’s digital savvy fan. For the first time, PFL content will be distributed across WAVE.tv’s social media channels, which collectively reach more than 200 million on Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and emerging digital platforms.

WAVE.tv will distribute quick-hitting PFL highlights, original short form content, fighter profile pieces and more across its growing portfolio of media brands, with added focus on its combat sports-centric brand, “Haymakers.” The partnership also enables PFL and WAVE.tv to work with brands looking to connect with a Gen Z and millennial audience, an added source of revenue for both parties.

Why the PFL is the Best Bet for Innovative Sports Gaming and Betting

Fight fans have always loved watching fighters going for glory and holding nothing back, and mixed martial arts has seen its popularity spike in recent years like virtually no other sport in the world.

One of the reasons for this recent growth in the industry is the innovative entertainment brought to MMA fans by the Professional Fighters League (PFL), whose million-dollar bouts that close out their seasons attracting big audiences and creatin stars.

It’s no surprise to Peter Murray, CEO of the PFL that part of the company’s success has been due to the innovative approach he and the team have taken.

“There’s been no innovation in the sport in decades,” he tells us. “Based on the demand of MMA fans around the world, we decided to launch our product three years ago and it’s really taken hold with fans. We’ve very excited about the opportunity ahead and proud of our success to date.”

Professional Fighters League continues global expansion with multi-year Eurosport India broadcast partnership

Eurosport India to Broadcast Live PFL Regular Season, Playoffs and Championship Events, in Addition to Original Programming from PFL Studios

PFL Sets Eyes on MMA Talent in India to Join PFL Roster of Fighters from

25 Countries Around the World

NEW YORK (September 10, 2020): Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative league in the world, today announced an international distribution partnership with Eurosport India, marking the first time MMA will be televised on the platform. The partnership is part of PFL’s planned global expansion, which includes a focus on growing the sport in India. PFL is the first organization to present MMA in a Regular Season, Playoffs and Championship format.

PFL launches OTT platform to provide year-round premium content

Click here for a video trailer of the PFL OTT platform

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) will bring the action closer to fans once again with the release of a brand-new OTT platform.

The premium content service – which will be free – was announced by the promotion on Tuesday, providing fight fans around the world with hundreds of hours of viewing from the first organization to present MMA through a regular season, playoff and championship format.

“With the launch of our first OTT platform, we’re excited to fulfill the growing global demand for our product by providing fight fans around the world with free access to premium PFL content wherever, whenever and however they want to consume it,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “Professional Fighters League is a media and content company. As we continue to grow, innovate and reimagine MMA, we have placed an emphasis on engaging fans all year long through impactful storytelling and unprecedented access to the sport, our fighters and the action inside the cage.

More UFC Stars Join PokerStars and Launch New Octagon Chip Campaign

Williams and Masvidal attended UFC 241: CORMIER vs. MIOCIC 2

PokerStars last week announced that UFC stars Jorge Masvidal, Tatiana Suarez and Amanda Nunes are all-in for a brand new challenge as ambassadors for the world’s largest online poker site.

The three stars of the UFC will join previously signed PokerStars ambassadors Daniel Cormier, Johnny Walker and Bruce Buffer just in time for PokerStars’ and UFC’s latest Octagon Chip campaign.

The latest Octagon Chip campaign will run until January 31, 2020 and see players of UFC-themed games on PokerStars battle it out to win special Gold, Silver and Green Octagon Chips. These unlock a range of UFC prizes and thrilling experiences, with just one Gold Chip up for grabs. The lucky winner of the top prize will travel VIP-style to Vegas, meet a UFC athlete and receive a personal training session, with lots of surprises along the way. 

Derrick Williams from Sacramento, California won this summer’s inaugural competition and currently stars alongside UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal in PokerStars’ new advertising campaign, which recently hit TV screens across the UK and Canada*, and social and digital channels globally. The advertisement showcases Derrick’s journey after being awarded a limited edition Gold Octagon Chip by PokerStars and receiving a  once-in-a-lifetime VIP experience at UFC 241: CORMIER vs. MIOCIC 2, where he was made interim UFC President for the match.

The new advertising campaign will also be showcased live to thousands of fans at New York’s Madison Square Garden this weekend where Masvidal will headline UFC 244: MASVIDAL vs DIAZ. PokerStars Ambassador Johnny Walker will also be going for glory when he takes on Corey Anderson in the prelims.

PokerStars Logo

EVOLVE MMA to hold global tryouts for The EVOLVE Fight Team

– Winners Set To Receive Monthly Salary, World-Class Training, Complimentary Housing, and Career Management –

03 SEPTEMBER 2018, SINGAPORE – EVOLVE Mixed Martial Arts, Asia’s #1 martial arts organization as ranked by CNN, Yahoo Sports, and Fox Sports, will be holding global tryouts for MMA fighters who are looking to take their professional fighting career to the next level. From 9 – 15 November 2018, EVOLVE MMA is giving fighters from all around the world the opportunity of a lifetime; to join the prestigious EVOLVE Fight Team.

Selected applicants will be invited to come to Singapore to attend the tryouts, training under the World Champion Instructor Team at EVOLVE MMA. Fighters who are selected to join the EVOLVE Fight Team will receive an annual salary of US$48,000, complimentary corporate housing to live and train full-time in Singapore, career management and marketing support from EVOLVE MMA, and world-class training under the largest collection of World Champions on the planet. Through EVOLVE MMA’s global network of contacts, members of the EVOLVE Fight Team have direct paths to compete in the world’s top MMA organizations, such as ONE Championship, the UFC, and Bellator. EVOLVE welcomes all fighters from all backgrounds to try out for a spot, including up and coming fighters as well as top established fighters from ONE Championship, the UFC, and Bellator. The EVOLVE Fight Team is aiming to recruit 20 additional full-time fighters to join the team.

“I am looking forward to seeing some serious talent turn up for the tryouts in November. As the EVOLVE Fight Team Head Coach, my aim is to push this team to its limit, help the fighters fulfill their potential, and bring in as much success as possible, no matter where we are competing. EVOLVE MMA has the largest collection of World Champions in the world, but we are always looking to grow, and I look forward to adding more world-class fighters to the team”, says EVOLVE Fight Team Head Coach Eduardo Pamplona.

Olympic gold medalist Joseph Schooling trains MMA with Christian and Angela Lee

November 2016 – SINGAPORE:The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), held a meet and greet session with world champion swimmer and Olympic gold medalist Joseph Schooling today at the Evolve Far East Square in Singapore. Schooling stepped inside the mixed martial arts (MMA) cage today and worked on some drills with ONE Championship athlete Christian “The Warrior” Lee and older sister, ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion Angela “Unstoppable” Lee.

Earlier today at Evolve Mixed Martial Arts Far East Square, world champion swimmer 21-year-old Joseph Schooling took to the MMA cage to showcase a different set of skills. Assisting Schooling in his first experience training in MMA were ONE superstars Christian and Angela Lee. Schooling was guided in a few striking and grappling drills, as well as taught the basic mechanics of self-defense.

Schooling, who is no stranger to tough workout regimens, said it was interesting to try mixed martial arts.

“It’s really great cardio,” Schooling said about the MMA drills. “I just did it for 20 minutes and I’m already out of breath.”

Olympic gold medalist Joseph Schooling trains MMA with Christian and Angela Lee

November 2016 – SINGAPORE:The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), held a meet and greet session with world champion swimmer and Olympic gold medalist Joseph Schooling today at the Evolve Far East Square in Singapore. Schooling stepped inside the mixed martial arts (MMA) cage today and worked on some drills with ONE Championship athlete Christian “The Warrior” Lee and older sister, ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion Angela “Unstoppable” Lee.

Earlier today at Evolve Mixed Martial Arts Far East Square, world champion swimmer 21-year-old Joseph Schooling took to the MMA cage to showcase a different set of skills. Assisting Schooling in his first experience training in MMA were ONE superstars Christian and Angela Lee. Schooling was guided in a few striking and grappling drills, as well as taught the basic mechanics of self-defense.

Schooling, who is no stranger to tough workout regimens, said it was interesting to try mixed martial arts.

“It’s really great cardio,” Schooling said about the MMA drills. “I just did it for 20 minutes and I’m already out of breath.”