Maybe this is why UFC CEO Dana White is WORRIED.
Professional Fighters League (PFL) today announced a new, multi-year media rights deal which includes live event distribution of the PFL Regular Season, Playoffs and World Championships on ESPN and ESPN+, as well as ESPN+ pay-per-view (PPV) when the promotion launches its “Super Fight” division in 2024.
The Saudi-funded PFL is fresh off its “blockbuster” acquisition of Bellator MMA.
“We’ve had five successful seasons on ESPN and we’re excited for the next phase of growth for MMA and the Professional Fighters League with this agreement,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “Our innovative sport-season format, elite roster of athletes, and the launch of the PFL PPV Super Fight Division, which will feature some of the world’s greatest combat sports stars such as Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul, are ushering in the new era of MMA as a mainstream global sports entertainment platform.”
ESPN and ESPN+ are also the home for UFC programming.
PFL recently tied a ribbon around its 2023 season with a championship finale in Washington D.C., crowning world champions (and handing out million-dollar paydays) in multiple weight classes. Fighters expected to compete in 2024 include Kayla Harrison, Francis Ngannou, and Jake Paul, just to name a few.
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