https://www.scmp.com/rss/508728/feed The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is a US-based MMA (mixed martial arts) promotion with a unique format that utilises a regular season, play-offs and championship matches in each weight class, with a US$1 million prize for each divisional champ. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Peter Murray believes the Professional Fighters League (PFL) has already surpassed one of its chief rivals. In fact, the PFL CEO believes his league has already established itself as the second-biggest MMA promotion on Earth behind the UFC. “We’ve surpassed Bellator,” Murray told the Post. “I don’t even know what Bellator’s doing. They’ve been relegated to a small digital platform, a small cable platform that’s not even rated. “Their fighters are frustrated. We hear it week in and week out. I’m... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3163146/pfl-has-surpassed-bellator-every-metric-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3163146/pfl-has-surpassed-bellator-every-metric-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Jan 2022 14:21:56 +0000 Peter Murray, the CEO of the Professional Fighters League (PFL), is optimistic his organisation will remain the home of unbeaten MMA juggernaut Kayla Harrison. Harrison, 31, completed her latest PFL contract when she defeated Taylor Guardado by second-round armbar to win the organisation’s lightweight championship in October. In the months since, there has been rampant speculation about the American’s future – specifically, whether she will recommit to the PFL, or take her services to another... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3162876/pfl-kayla-harrison-announcement-imminent-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3162876/pfl-kayla-harrison-announcement-imminent-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Jan 2022 18:15:49 +0000 Professional Fighters League light heavyweight Jordan Young has died at the age of 27. The former Bellator star’s (12-2) gym, American Top Team (ATT), paid tribute to him in an Instagram post on Sunday morning. The cause of death has yet to be revealed. “It’s with a heavy heart, that we have learned about the passing of our teammate Jordan Young,” read a post on the official Instagram account of ATT. “Our team is deeply saddened by this news, as Jordan has been with our team since the start of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3160331/pfl-fighter-jordan-young-dies-27-mma-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3160331/pfl-fighter-jordan-young-dies-27-mma-world?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Dec 2021 16:02:14 +0000 Professional Fighters League CEO Peter Murray insists the promotion has plans for “tangible” expansion in China for their 2022 season. The US-based organisation this month added former NBA China CEO Derek Chang to their board of directors, and is looking to seal revamped Chinese digital and broadcast coverage next year. Chang left his position with the NBA in May 2020, after nearly two years in the post. “We’re very excited Derek Is joining the PFL board,” Murray told the South China Morning... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3141064/pfl-appoint-ex-nba-china-ceo-board-promise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3141064/pfl-appoint-ex-nba-china-ceo-board-promise?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jul 2021 07:41:06 +0000 Claressa Shields will return to the MMA cage in August with an opponent already identified, PFL CEO Peter Murray has confirmed to the South China Morning Post. Boxing’s “GWOAT” (greatest woman of all time) secured a comeback victory on her mixed martial arts debut last month, finishing Brittney Elkin in the third round with ground and pound at the PFL 4, 2021 event. MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin first reported on Tuesday that Shields would return on the same card as two-time PFL women’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3141057/pfl-claressa-shields-has-opponent-set-august?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3141057/pfl-claressa-shields-has-opponent-set-august?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jul 2021 07:17:10 +0000 Anthony Pettis is hell-bent on adding another world title to his collection, and there will be little margin for error when he faces Brazil’s Raush Manfio at PFL 6 on Friday night. There aren’t many fighters who know more about belt collecting than “Showtime” – by the time he was 26, the Milwaukee native had already worn the lightweight strap in the WEC and UFC. But after swapping the Octagon for the SmartCage ahead of the Professional Fighters League’s 2021 season, 34-year-old Pettis (24-11)... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3138626/pfl-6-anthony-pettis-warns-hell-be-different?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3138626/pfl-6-anthony-pettis-warns-hell-be-different?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jun 2021 10:53:04 +0000 Claressa Shields faced two rounds of adversity and then mounted an impressive comeback to finish Brittney Elkin on her MMA debut in the Professional Fighters League. Elkin (3-7) had dominated Shields on the ground for most of 10 minutes in the main event of Thursday night’s PFL 4 event in Atlantic City, New Jersey. But boxing’s “GWOAT” (greatest woman of all time) showcased her champion mentality and grit with some impressive jiu-jitsu defence, given she has only been training at Jackson Wink in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3136896/pfl-claressa-shields-grounds-and-pounds-her?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3136896/pfl-claressa-shields-grounds-and-pounds-her?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Jun 2021 05:53:57 +0000 The Pettis siblings are re-establishing their name outside the UFC.  The 34-year-old Anthony Pettis and his younger brother Sergio left the Las Vegas-based organisation on their own terms for greener pastures and have found lucrative new homes in the PFL and Bellator, respectively.  Although some may feel the pair may not have departed the UFC of their own volition, “Showtime” insisted they were calculated moves.  “I sent my brother out of the UFC because of the deal Bellator gave him [in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3130834/pfl-anthony-pettis-says-household-will-have?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3130834/pfl-anthony-pettis-says-household-will-have?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Apr 2021 10:07:20 +0000 After an extended hiatus owing to the coronavirus pandemic, the Professional Fighters League is set to return for its 2021 season on April 23. There will be six regular reason shows in all, running through June on ESPN 2 in the US – and legendary WWE ring announcer Lilian Garcia will be introducing all the action once again. “This year is gonna be sparks, especially because of 2020 not happening,” Garcia told SCMP MMA. “Everybody’s been waiting a whole other year for this, so there’s gonna be... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3119759/wwe-legend-lilian-garcia-loving-new-lease?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3119759/wwe-legend-lilian-garcia-loving-new-lease?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Jan 2021 07:13:38 +0000