Professional Fighters League (PFL) is coming to a European country near you.
The fast-growing mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion announced Friday the launch of PFL Europe, a new international league debuting in 2023. PFL Europe events will all be staged in European countries, broadcast and streamed primetime in Europe, and feature the top emerging European MMA fighters.
The new league will provide PFL a direct avenue into some of the best European prospects MMA has to offer. PFL Europe will harness the promotion’s proven sports-season format, world-class team, expert infrastructure, and trusted brand of PFL.
“I am pleased to announce the PFL will launch PFL Europe in 2023 to further advance the sport of MMA and fuel PFL’s next phase of global expansion starting in Europe, the number one international MMA growth region,“ said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “Europe is rich with top fighters who are ready to compete in the PFL’s season format on a major stage and passionate MMA fans throughout the region will now have access to premium events staged in Europe.”
Top prospects from Europe will be competing on the upcoming cards in Cardiff and London with the hopes of earning a contract for PFL Europe for 2023. The current PFL Europe qualifying matchups can be seen below:
PFL Europe Qualifier Fights - Cardiff (August 13)
Will Fleury (Ireland) vs. Kenneth Bergh (Norway)
Nathan Kelly (Ireland) vs. TBA
Vojto Barborik (Slovakia) vs. Radu Maxim (Italy)
Mokhtar Benkaci (France) vs. Francesco Nuzzi (Italy)
PFL Europe Qualifier Fights - London (August 20)
Dakota Ditcheva (UK) vs. Hassna Jaber (Morocco)
Louie Sutherland (UK) vs. Abraham Bably (UK)
Tayo Odunjo (UK) vs. Magnus Iversen (Norway)
Ali Taleb (Sweden) vs. Kenji Bortoluzzi (Switzerland)
PFL is the first and only MMA league with a true sports-season format where elite fighters from around the world compete in a Regular Season, Playoffs and Championship. The four competitors in each division who earn the most points in the Regular Season advancing to the win-or-go-home Playoffs, followed by the biggest night in MMA – the PFL World Championship – with each winner going home with the $1 million prize.
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has announced a huge partnership with DAZN.
One of the biggest promotions in all of MMA, PFL is now doing some big things. PFL alongside DAZN, the self-proclaimed “leader in the sports entertainment business,” will be joining forces to create a regional MMA promotion out of Europe. This new venture will be called PFL Europe League. This will be the first regional league ever from a major and global MMA promotion.
The idea behind this PFL Europe League is to showcase up-and-coming European fighters and give them a platform backed by PFL and DAZN to showcase their skills. The events will take place in Europe, during prime hours that are suitable for both the fighters and fans watching locally.
“PFL Europe is the beginning of the Champions League of MMA from PFL” said Peter Murray, CEO of PFL in a press release. “We are excited to have DAZN as our strategic media rights distribution partner in Europe for all of fight franchises – PFL Global League, PFL Challenger Series, PFL Europe, and PFL PPV Super Fight Division.”
HOLLYWOOD, FL – OCTOBER 27: Kayla Harrison v Taylor Guardado in a lightweight championship bout during the PFL championships at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on October 27, 2021 in Hollywood, Florida. (Cooper Neill / PFL)
This Partnership With DAZN Will Bring PFL Fights To All Of Europe
In addition to the new league, PFL and Dazn have partnered up for a multiyear media rights agreement. They will broadcast all PFL global events exclusively on DAZN in 53 international markets. This broadcast package will focus on Europe and especially the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Spain.
Over the past few years, PFL has risen to become one of the most popular MMA promotions in the world. The season format and huge grand prize at the end of the season have enticed some of the biggest names in the sport to join the organization. PFL will also be bringing the new PFL PPV Super Fight Division where the brightest stars will be showcased. DAZN has partnered on this division as well to bring these PPV fights to people in the U.S and Canada.
Tea
rumour is that kayla harrison will be moving there to fight the same fighter no ones ever heard of 6 times. yaay
Having broken onto the scene with its unique regular season and playoff format in North America, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) is beginning its pursuit of further prominence in Europe.
And in 2023, that takes sizeable step forward with the maiden PFL Europe season, the inaugural event of which took place on Saturday, March 25, in Newcastle, England.
The card, held at the Vertu Motors Arena, featured bouts in the light heavyweight and women’s flyweight season, with two notable names headlining proceedings on Saturday night.
In the main event, unbeaten 205-pound prospect Simeon Powell opened his account for the year by moving to 8-0 as a professional. “Smooth” had already made a name for himself, having recorded knockout victories at a pair of PFL events in 2022, including the playoffs card held in London, England.
In his first PFL Europe bout, Powell showed new wrinkles to his game, rendering Mohamed Amine unconscious with an arm-triangle choke at the end of round two.
