Pro Fighters League returns this Friday
After taking 2020 off due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Professional Fighters League (PFL MMA) returns this Friday, April 23rd, from the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Although it has been sixteen months since their last event, it hasn’t been a quiet time for the PFL as the organisation improved their broadcast footprint, signed various partnerships, and added to their athlete roster and executive team.
During that time female boxing champion & Olympic gold medalist Clarissa Shields signed with PFL as did a host of other notable international MMA names such as former UFC champions Fabricio Werdum and Anthony Pettis.
Outside the cage, PFL appointed former Nascar exec John Tuck as Chief Revenue Officer, Tim Clyne as Chief Financial Officer, and Jon Werther will serve as Executive VP of Strategic Partnerships & New Business. A $65 million USD financing round was also completed bringing the total investment up to $175 million USD as the organisation looks to position itself as the number two in the market right behind the UFC.
“PFL is the disruptive company in the massive and underserved MMA market, and this new capital will fuel our aggressive growth from the No. 2 worldwide market position the company has quickly secured,” said PFL Chairman and Co-Founder, Donn Davis, via PFLMMA.com.
The 2021 PFL season kicks-off this Friday with the lightweight and featherweight divisions getting the action underway. Anthony Pettis will make his promotional debut against fellow UFC veteran Clay Collard in the main event while the rest of the card is littered with exciting names like Poland’s Marcin Held, Brazillian Natan Schulte, multiple PFL champion Lance Palmer, and the UK’s Brendan Loughnane.
How PFL differs from other MMA promotions is that contest are competed over the course of a regular season league where points are scored based on results & performances leading to the playoffs and the end of season championship fights. The winner in each division walks away with $1 million USD.
“PFL provides the 450 million worldwide MMA fans the excitement and transparency of the sport season format just like other major sports,” said PFL CEO, Peter Murray, via PFLMMA.com. “In the PFL, fans follow individual fighter ‘win and advance’ journeys throughout the regular season, playoffs, and championship. There is no undercard in the PFL -- every fight matters.”
