PFL chairman Donn Davis talks China expansion – ‘it will be the biggest MMA territory 10 years from now’
- Professional Fighters League founder outlines plans for ‘PFL China’ ahead of return to action with fourth season in May 2021
- ‘MMA is the sport for the next decade,’ says Davis, who plans to build a Chinese league with ‘the very, very best in the region’
The Professional Fighters League has outlined its plans to expand into China and other regions ahead of its return to action in May 2021.
Donn Davis, chairman and founder of the PFL, spoke to SCMP MMA as the promotion prepares for its fourth season, which was initially slated for 2020 before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
The start of international expansion is the order of business during the company’s downtime, with Davis envisioning a fully realised “PFL China”.
“You’ve been able to experience some exported fights, if the UFC brings one fight to China every year,” he told the Post Fight Podcast. “So we’re looking at how do we create the first truly global MMA league – think of it as PFL China – and really allow those fans to engage in prime time fights, attend those fights locally, have the best regional MMA companies in their own territories which have enough fans and fighters to support that.
“The virus and the pandemic have allowed us to do that. Not travelling has allowed us to do more work, faster. Not fighting this year is a bummer – we’re entrepreneurs and we want to build the company, build off our momentum.