PFL Brings Familiar Season Format To Europe In Joint Venture With DAZN

Forbes Innovation Games PFL Brings Familiar Season Format To Europe In Joint Venture With DAZN Brian Mazique Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I cover combat sports and video games. Following Sep 28, 2023, 09:30pm EDT | Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 20: Bubba Jenkins celebrates after defeating Ryoji Kudo during PFL 9 at .

. . [+] the Copper Box Arena on August 20, 2022 in London, England.

(Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) Getty Images World football fans throughout Europe are well-acquainted with season structures that begin with regional contests and graduate to global competitions. Outside of mixed martial arts, it’s a proven formula. The Professional Fighters League has brought a similar setup to the region with PFL Europe, which mirrors what it has done in the United States and has planned for other areas.

“PFL Europe is built on a true sport season format,” PFL CEO Peter Murray said to me via Google Voice call on September 26. “Where individual fighters from over 15 countries throughout Europe compete in a regular season playoff and championship format. It’s no different than the EPL (English Premier League) or other major leagues, although individual fighters are competing as opposed to teams.

It’s a format that fighters have the ability to control their destiny. They earn their way. Fighters know who they’re fighting, when they’re fighting and what they’re fighting for.

The PFL Europe purse is a six-figure purse. These fighters are now at the stage where they’re elevated to the biggest fight of their career. ” While PFL has a broadcast deal with ESPN for fans in the United States, fans in Europe can watch the promotion’s events on DAZN.

“We’re really proud of the unique partnership we have with DAZN,” Murray said. “It’s strategic. It’s innovative.

DAZN has equity in PFL Europe. Many media companies talk about changing the model. Well, DAZN and the PFL have changed the model.

It’s not just media rights acquisition and rights fees. It’s a joint venture and a strategic partnership. ” The next set of fighters taking the PFL SmartCage to compete under the promotion’s PFL Europe banner will be in action on September 30 at Zenith La Villette in Paris, France.

Thirteen bouts are scheduled, with eight playoff semifinal matches across four weight classes. Each semifinal match will determine who competes for a PFL Europe championship in Dublin, Ireland, on December 8. MORE FOR YOU FC Barcelona Charged With Bribery For Referee Payments, Face Champions League Exclusion: Reports FC Barcelona Announce After Tax Net Profits Of 320 Million In Record Breaking Financial Year America’s Major League Cricket Debut Surpassed Expectations On And Off The Field Here is a look at the scheduled fights for the show in Paris.

PFL Europe 2023 Playoffs – Paris – Sept 30, 2023 Credit: PFL In addition to the semifinal bouts, five showcase bouts are on tap, highlighted by the main event featuring the anticipated PFL debut of France’s Cédric Doumbé. The former world-class kickboxer is one of the PFL’s biggest free-agent signings having inked the former Glory Kickboxer to a deal in May. Doumbé has a 4-0 record as a professional mixed martial artist, and he’ll attempt to remain undefeated when he takes on his countryman Jordan Zebu.

The PFL’s signing of Doumbé was a significant get for the promotion. The 31-year-old, born in Cameroon, like another recent PFL signing, Francis Ngannou, had been courted by the UFC. According to Doumbé, who spoke with long-time combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani on his podcast , his offer from PFL was “10 times bigger” than what he received from the UFC.

Doumbé has a sizable following on social media, including just under 600,000 followers on Instagram , and he is beloved in France. When he climbs into the SmartCage on Saturday, the roar from the crowd should generate the biggest pop of the evening. According to Murray and the promotion’s website, the show in France is sold out, and that has been the case for the previous PFL Europe events in 2023.

Europe is the most recent region of the world that the PFL has made a tentpole for its season structure, but it’s just one of six regional promotions planned. According to Murray, in 2024, the organization will launch PFL Middle East and North Africa (MENA), spanning four weight classes. In 2025, the promotion will launch PFL Africa and PFL Australia.

In 2026, PFL Latin America (PF LATAM/Brazil) and PFL Asia. On a global scale, the PFL is positioned to have a presence throughout most of the world, with each regional sect providing a platform for fighters to emerge from their home countries and become world champions. Be on the lookout for a breakdown of the PFL Europe action from France once the last bout is completed.

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