PFL creating ‘Champions League of MMA’, says CEO Peter Murray

DUBAI: The Professional Fighters League is hoping to create “a Champions League of MMA,” CEO Peter Murray said, the ambition an indication of how far the MMA organization has come since launching in 2018.

It is now the world’s fastest-growing and second-most popular MMA competition after UFC.

And for Murray, it’s just the beginning.

“Our global expansion is well underway. We’ll have six regional leagues up and running between now and 2026. We already have PFL Europe, successfully. Its inaugural season is underway. Our last event in Paris just three weeks ago was the most viewed MMA event on television in France’s history.”

A second regional league is set to launch in 2024.

“That is PFL MENA, in partnership with Surge, our strategic partner on a global and regional basis. (We’re) very excited about the build,” said Murray. “Then towards 2025, we will launch PFL Australia and PFL Africa … And then in 2026, we will launch PFL Brazil and PFL Asia.

“We are in late-stage finalization of strategic partnerships, both in Australia and Africa. What I’m telling you is not an aspiration; it is a global strategy that we are in the process of executing and building.”

The PFL is set to have 34 events in 2024 and within the next three years, over 50 events. The Middle East will be of particular focus for the organization.

“With respect to our partnership with Surge and PFL events and activation within Saudi and the broader Middle East, (we are) very excited about 2024. We have plans to execute pay-per-view regional league events for the PFL MENA league, in addition to possibly hosting our PFL Global Season World Championship in Saudi in 2024.”

“So, we are in the process of finalizing that event calendar … We have the