PIF-backed Professional Fighters League in multi-year US media partnership with ESPN

NEW YORK: The Professional Fighters League and ESPN have announced a new multi-year media rights agreement which includes live event distribution of the PFL Regular Season, Playoffs, and World Championship on ESPN linear networks and ESPN+.

ESPN+ PPV will also distribute the new PFL PPV Super Fight Division in the US when it launches in 2024.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund-backed PFL features some of the sport’s top fighters who will also be highlighted across ESPN platforms in pre- and post-fight coverage, as well as shoulder programming on linear and digital channels.

PFL CEO Peter Murray said: “We’ve had five successful seasons on ESPN, and we’re excited for the next phase of growth for MMA (mixed martial arts) and the Professional Fighters League with this agreement.

“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.”

The PFL PPV Super Fight Division will be a global platform for some of the best MMA fighters and combat sports stars.

Ngannou, considered one of the greatest heavyweight fighters in the world today, is under an exclusive MMA contract to fight in the division and is joined by one of the most influential figures in combat sports, Paul, and women’s star fighters Claressa Shields, Amanda Serrano, and Savannah Marshall.

The first PFL PPV Super Fight will be in early 2024 with headlining fighters and location to be announced later.

The PFL is the only organization in MMA with the sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a