https://arab.news/9ewwv
- Deal will accelerate global expansion including launch of PFL MENA league in 2024
- Partnership aims to increase sports participation across Saudi Arabia, MENA regionRiyadh Officials from the Professional Fighters League and Saudi Arabia’s SRJ Sports Investments have signed a deal to bolster the league’s global expansion drive, recruit
RIYADH: Officials from the Professional Fighters League and Saudi Arabia’s SRJ Sports Investments have signed a deal to bolster the league’s global expansion drive, recruit top fighters, and build its fanbase as it aims to become the co-leader in mixed martial arts around the world.
As part of the agreement, SRJ — established by the Saudi Public Investment Fund — has acquired a minority equity ownership stake in the PFL and will become an investor in a new regional league, PFL MENA, due to launch in 2024.
It will also support the PFL’s expansion in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East and North Africa region. The Kingdom already has two fighters, Mostafa Neda and Abdullah Al-Qahtani, participating in the PFL.
Additionally, SRJ and the PFL will develop and host the PFL PPV Super Fights events in Saudi Arabia.
PFL founder and chairman, Donn Davis, said: “PFL’s mission is to become the global co-leader in MMA with our fighter-first mission and disruptive sport-season format.
“This investment by SRJ continues the monumental growth that PFL has experienced throughout the world, and there is no better partner in global sports than SRJ.”
SRJ chairman, Bander Bin Mogren, said: “Today marks a new milestone for SRJ as we make our inaugural investment. SRJ is shaping a new era of sports in Saudi Arabia and accelerating the growth of the domestic sports economy.
“This investment aims to nurture the local and regional talent pool in martial arts, promote gender equality in sport, and bring new opportunities directly to Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region.”
PFL CEO, Peter Murray, said: “The PFL and SRJ share the same vision for mixed martial arts – the biggest star fighters, mega global events, and global expansion to bring the sport to all regions – so we are thrilled and honored to have SRJ as our investment partner.
“The PFL has become the clear No. 2 MMA company in just five years, and with SRJ’s backing, the best of PFL is still to come.”
The PFL plans to launch and develop six international regional leagues by 2026, creating the first ever Champions League of MMA.
It successfully launched PFL Europe in 2023, the first international regional league. Each international regional league features the top fighters from the respective region, holds all events in the region, and has premium media distribution live primetime.
PFL MENA will launch in 2024, with the four-event sport-season format schedule due to be announced this fall.
The PFL will launch its new division PFL PPV Super Fights in 2024 to showcase the best MMA fighters and biggest global fighting stars on the planet.
Francis Ngannou — the No. 1 pound-for-pound MMA fighter and former UFC heavyweight champion — is under exclusive MMA contract and will fight for the PFL in 2024.
Jake Paul — one of the most influential figures in combat sports and the No. 1 cross-over fighter — is also under an exclusive MMA contract and will fight for PFL next year. The first PFL PPV Super Fight will take place in the first quarter of 2024, with details of headlining fighters and location to be announced this fall.
The PFL is the is the second-largest MMA company in the world — after UFC — and the world’s fastest growing. And it is the only entity in MMA with the sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship each year, making the PFL a win and advance meritocracy like all other major sports leagues.