Tag: Professional Fighters League

PFL Set to Surge Past $100M in Revenue: “PFL has secured the No. 2 position, and it’s not even close.”

Cedric Doumbe rules out future move to the UFC after initial snub I'm better off with the PFLThe PFL is expected to make over $100 million in revenue this year, a significant increase largely due to…

Cedric Doumbe rules out future move to the UFC after initial snub I'm better off with the PFL

The PFL is expected to make over $100 million in revenue this year, a significant increase largely due to a 75% rise in sponsorship money. In a recent interview, PFL’s founder, Donn Davis, emphasized that this growth comes as they begin competing more directly with the UFC.

PFL and Growth

PFL has backing from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which is valued at around $1 billion. The organization is working to capture more market share from the UFC by signing high-profile fighters like Ngannou and Jake Paul, acquiring Bellator, and creating events across different countries. This year, PFL’s revenue is more than double what it earned last year, with Davis claiming they have secured the second spot in the MMA market behind UFC.

Francis Ngannou confirms plan for PFL debut fight with Renan Ferreira in October

Speaking to Adam Stern, Davis outlined the three major goals of the PFL:

“If you rewind two years ago, there were three companies vying for the No. 2 position: ONE Championship, PFL and Bellator. And everyone in the market now says that game is over — PFL has secured the No. 2 position, and it’s not even close. Now it’s a duopoly and there’s only two premium providers in the world.

“Our No. 2 goal was to double our number of Top 25 ranked fighters in the world. The PFL now has 85. UFC has 190, but they put on twice as many events as us, so if you equalize it, we have the same number of top fighters in the world. And our No. 3 goal is we want to have a successful second signature fight product.

“There’s the PFL global season and everyone knows that but we wanted to hold more events and to continue to do that, we needed a new format and fighters to stock it, and that’s where the Bellator Champions Series comes in. So we’re making good progress but there’s still work to be done.”

Additionally, PFL has recently started building a fan base in the Middle East and launched its PFL Europe division. Their Saudi investors are measuring the league’s success based on three criteria: becoming a co-leader in MMA, achieving strong business performance, and developing its presence in the Middle East and North Africa. Overall, the PFL is growing rapidly and aims to expand its global presence while directly competing with the UFC.

While the UFC US television distribution deal is up for discussion in 2025, the PFL TV rights are up for grabs upcoming in 2026. They’ve worked closely with ESPN domestically and DAZN internationally.

The league is preparing for a major event in Riyadh this month featuring former UFC champion Francis Ngannou. The lineal MMA world titleholder Ngannou will take on the knockout machine Renan Ferreira on October 19.

MMA or Boxing? Francis Ngannou Claims MMA Fighters Hit Harder – but it’s not quite so simple

Francis NgannouFrancis Ngannou, the Cameroonian heavyweight who currently holds the UFC lineal world title, claims that MMA fighters hit harder…

Francis Ngannou

Francis Ngannou, the Cameroonian heavyweight who currently holds the UFC lineal world title, claims that MMA fighters hit harder than boxers. Ngannou has competed at the highest levels of both MMA and boxing but explains that it’s not quite as simple as saying one is over the other.

Francis Ngannou

Cameroon’s Francis Ngannou has had an incredible life journey. He started working in sand mines as a child to pay for his schooling and support his family. Later, he left home and crossed the continent of Africa only to spend months in a camp in Morocco. Later, he was arrested and was homeless in Paris, France.

Francis Ngannou backed for taking stance against UFC he's a real man with f*cking balls
Mandatory Credit: AFP

Just a few years after that, he would become the UFC heavyweight world champion, earning the title by stunning knockout, and even defending this crown. Due to contract disputes with UFC brass, Ngannou vacated his title and walked away from the organization.

Francis Ngannou lands in top 10 WBC rankings amid calls for title fight rematch with Tyson Fury
Mandatory Credit: Justin Setterfield

Against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, Francis Ngannou took on the best of the best in the world of heavyweight boxing. He also signed with the PFL and will fight the towering Brazilian knockout artist, and champion, Renan Ferreira on October 19 at the PFL Battle of the Giants.

Who Hits Harder? MMA or Boxing?

Speaking in an interview with Piers Morgan, Francis Ngannou explained which athletes hit harder, MMA fighters or boxers? He answered:

“I would say MMA [fighters]. It depends on the punch, it depends on how. But remember, MMA fight is like 4oz glove. Sometimes you get hit, not by the gloves, but by the knuckles. So, the sensation is different even if the punch isn’t very hard, the sensation is very different because it’s like bone to bone.”

The heavyweight fighter added that he will continue to compete in both boxing and MMA in the future. Ngannou said:

“You can be sure I’m not done here. It wasn’t my day. He was way better than me today. It sucks but it’s the game. We all know that.” [Ht Mirror]

Jake Paul to make MMA Debut in the PFL in 2025 Says CEO “It’ll be a spectacle.”

Jake Paul to make MMA Debut in the PFL in 2025 Says CEO "It’ll be a spectacle."Jake Paul will soon be turning his attention to MMA after his blockbuster fight against heavyweight legend Mike Tyson….

Jake Paul to make MMA Debut in the PFL in 2025 Says CEO "It’ll be a spectacle."

Jake Paul will soon be turning his attention to MMA after his blockbuster fight against heavyweight legend Mike Tyson. The CEO of the PFL Peter Murray confirmed recently that the Youtuber-turned-boxer will be competing in MMA in 2025.

Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson

Officially scheduled for November 15, 2024, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Jake Paul will face the boxing legend ‘Iron‘ Mike Tyson. The bout will consist of eight rounds, each lasting two minutes

Jake Paul transitioned from being a star on YouTube to the professional boxing ring. Along the way, he has defeated UFC athletes such as Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva, and Tyron Woodley, among others. Mike Tyson, who turns 58 just weeks before the fight, is a legendary former heavyweight champion with a storied career that includes becoming the youngest boxer to win a heavyweight title. However, he has been inactive for nearly 20 years aside from a long exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr.

Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson

Jake Paul in MMA

After his blockbuster boxing match against Mike Tyson, the US-born athlete Jake Paul will turn his attention to MMA in the PFL. In an interview with Bloody Elbow, PFL CEO Peter Murray confirmed that 2025 will be the date. He said:

“We have a partnership with Jake and we’re looking forward to supporting him in MMA. We’re going to stage that mega event next year and more to come on that too, that will happen. There’s a number of opponents who continue to line up.

“Conceptually this event continues to getting bigger and bigger. Jake has committed to take on a for real, legitimate fighter. So it’ll be a spectacle.”

Jake Paul

On October 19, the PFL is set to broadcast live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card is headlined by a heavyweight title fight between former UFC champion Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira, the towering knockout machine. MMA legend Cris Cyborg faces Larissa Pacheco, the PFL champion, in the co-main event.

Dan Hardy Advocates for Ending Elbow Ban in PFL: ‘It Keeps Fights Moving’

Dan Hardy Advocates for Ending Elbow Ban in PFL: ‘It Keeps Fights Moving’Top MMA mind Dan Hardy has some ideas for the PFL, most notably the elbows in the organization. The…

Dan Hardy Advocates for Ending Elbow Ban in PFL: ‘It Keeps Fights Moving’

Top MMA mind Dan Hardy has some ideas for the PFL, most notably the elbows in the organization. The former UFC welterweight contender shared his thoughts after a weekend in PFL Glasgow.

Dan Hardy on PFL Elbows

Speaking to RG.org in an interview, Dan Hardy explained his stance. He said:

“There are certain times when I’m watching fights and I can feel a fight slows down in positions where elbows would keep it moving. And even talking to judges after some of the earlier events, they were like, ‘Man, it changes the ability to score on the floor a lot when they can’t elbow.’ So that, for me, is an easy one.

“It’s a super simple solution. We should reintroduce elbows at the first opportunity. The fighters would love it, the fans would love it. Elbows are in the unified rules of mixed martial arts.

“We should apply the unified rules to everything that we do – all the promotions that we have under the PFL banner. And we should realign ourselves with the real mixed martial arts fans.”

Dan Hardy
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari – Zuffa LLC

Elbows are largely allowed in the PFL except for tournament fights. The PFL holds annual tournaments where fighters will need to fight just months separately and want to avoid cut issues. But, in non-tournament bouts, elbows are allowed.

The PFL just had an electric show in Glasgow, Scotland this past weekend featuring one of the best fights of 2024 between Lewis McGrillen and Dean Garnett.

Dan Hardy was highly impressed with this fight.

PFL

Francis Ngannou, the lineal MMA world champion, will face the knockout machine Renan Ferreira on October 19 live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in the PFL. It is set to be a battle of heavyweight world champions in the main event.

Video - Francis Ngannou faces off with Renan Ferreira after emotional outburst pre-PFL debut

Exclusive | The Scholar and the Fighter, From PhD to PFL: Dr. Souhil Tahiri “Don’t set limits on yourself.”

Souhil TahiriSouhil Tahiri has defied the odds for his entire life. Despite doing poorly in school, he would later get…

Souhil Tahiri

Souhil Tahiri has defied the odds for his entire life. Despite doing poorly in school, he would later get his PhD. Despite not wanting to be a professional fighter, the French-Algerian is now competing in the lightweight semi-finals in PFL MENA taking place on September 20.

Dr. Souhil Tahiri

All he wanted to do was try to quit smoking, so one day Dr. Souhil Tahiri registered at an MMA gym. Speaking in an interview with Tim Wheaton of LowKickMMA, he explained:

“I just wanted to quit smoking and get in better shape. I’d never done combat sports or any sports before that. My main goal was to quit smoking and maybe get some abs or something basic like that.”

But what added to his drive was coaches telling him that he should not be doing this as he was a scholar. At this point, he was working on a PhD in mathematics. Therefore, a career in MMA simply didn’t add up. But he persisted anyway as he pushed himself to constantly be a better version of himself.

“I kept going with it. I started both journeys at the same time, and everybody kept telling me that it was too late to do combat sports or boxing, that I needed to focus on studying. Even in boxing, when I went to the gym, the coach would say, ‘You’re just a scholar. You’re good at studying, no need to put so much effort into boxing. You won’t go any further.‘”

A vital pillar of Souhil Tahiri is that one never stops growing, or learning. Whether it’s in the ring, cage, or classroom; people should strive to be their very best. Therefore, he kept pushing himself.

“Don’t set limits on yourself … I’m trying to motivate those around me. If you have goals, believe in them and work for them. Maybe you’ll get results, maybe not, but you’ll always benefit in some way.

“Yes, it’s possible. You have to put in hard work, believe in what you’re doing, and just keep showing up. Never let yourself down. Even on bad days, keep going to the gym, keep going to school. I failed many exams and lost many fights, but I kept showing up no matter what. Alhamdulillah, now I’m in the PFL, I have my PhD, and I have a job. So, yeah, things are going well.“

PFL MENA 3

Now, Dr. Souhil Tahiri will face the experienced Sanda fighter Mohsen Mohammadseifi in the semi-finals of the PFL MENA tournament. PFL MENA 3 goes down on September 20.

See the full interview with Souhil Tahiri below:

Souhil Tahiri

Exclusive | Omar El Dafrawy On Driving MMA’s Growth in Egypt: “More and more Egyptians making waves.”

Omar El DafrawyPFL MENA athlete Omar El Dafrawy has been making an impact in the nation of Egypt in growing the…

Omar El Dafrawy

PFL MENA athlete Omar El Dafrawy has been making an impact in the nation of Egypt in growing the sport of MMA at the core level. On Friday, September 19, he will be competing in the Semi-finals of the PFL MENA welterweight tournament.

Omar El Dafrawy on Egyptian MMA

Whether it’s Judo, Boxing, Wrestling, Taekwondo, or Karate, the nation of Egypt has a rich history in combat sports and has collected dozens of Olympic medals. MMA is a natural step for the people of the nation but it still needs a push. Omar El Dafrawy and his gym Fitbox are looking to make an impact.

In an exclusive interview with Tim Wheaton of LowKickMMA, El Dafrawy explained:

“A lot of people are transitioning, but we need more high-profile coaches to guide them through that. We have strong bases in boxing, Greco-Roman wrestling, and judo, with Olympians and gold medalists. When the right people who genuinely care about the sport get involved, things will continue to change. I’ve seen it happening, especially as I’ve traveled and invested in myself as an athlete … We’re seeing more and more Egyptians making waves.”

Combat sports is booming in Egypt, and MMA is right at the forefront, he added:

“There are a lot of high benchmarks being set. I think I’ve restructured the sport back home. My background is academic, and people saw that the sport is for everyone, not just those with tough upbringings. They saw that you can be educated—I have a bachelor’s degree—and still be a full-time fighter. There’s a huge gap in the market for education on training and preparation, but that’s what I’m trying to deliver through Fitbox. As for numbers, MMA is booming. There are at least 20 promotions back home, with more popping up. For example, the national kickboxing tournament has 800 fights over two days, just with kids.”

PFL MENA 3

Upcoming at PFL MENA 3, on September 20, El Dafrawy is looking to build on his impressive win streak and advance to the PFL MENA finals later this year. But standing in his way is the experienced Jarrah Hussein Al-Silawi. On this matchup, the Egyptian MMA athlete explained:

“I’ve studied my opponent, and I feel confident that I can knock out Jarrah.”

Jake Paul

YouTuber and boxer Jake Paul will soon be competing in MMA in the PFL but still has yet to have an opponent picked. Omar El Dafrawy is throwing his name in the mix whether it be under boxing or MMA rules. Omar El Dafrawy said:

“I want to punch him in the boxing ring first! But seriously, I like what he’s been doing. He’s calling out the people who don’t treat fighters well, like Dana White. That’s why I chose PFL. It’s about building myself and having financial security. PFL gives fighters the freedom to box if they want and respects the fighters. That’s what the sport needs—promotions that understand fighters.”

See the full interview with Omar El Dafrawy below: