THE Professional Fighters League want their $1million-winner-take-all season to become “the Champions League of MMA”.
PFL’s format consists of two regular season bouts, where points are earned according to the method of victory, and then the play-offs.
Professional Fighters League Champion Kayla Harrison, boxing legend Mike Tyson and CEO of PFL Peter Murray[/caption]
The group stage and knockout rounds is reminiscent to how the Champions League is played out across Europe.
But instead of the iconic trophy, PFL winners celebrate with a life-changing $1m cheque.
And CEO Pete Murray believes the never-before-seen MMA format has helped launch the PFL to the top of the sport next to the UFC.
Murray told SunSport: “Our vision is to enhance the sport and continue to expand globally as a league.
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“We have a vision to create The Champions League of MMA and now we have five years under our belt as an organisation and we’re No2 in the world.”
Murray also claims the PFL are the No2 promotion in the world, behind the UFC, and has the stats to prove it.
He said on the MMA Hour: “By all metrics we’re the number two in the world.
“Look at the quality of production, the calibre of roster, broad reach in terms of our premium distribution access for fans in US, international we distribute to 160 counties.
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“Our commercial business, so when you really compare that way and what I want to tell you is we’re happy about out leadership position as number two.”
Murray also believes that, with so much demand for MMA worldwide, there is room for more than one sheriff in town.
He said: “We’re poised, certainly to be a co-leader in the sport.
“Our business thesis – which is really important – is there is room for more than one leader in this sport.
“There’s a massively undeserved fan base, unlike other sports.
“The world’s No1 sport, football, around the world that fanbase has saturation in that sport. Fans have access to matches every day of the week.
“There are nine major football leagues that generate more than $1billion in revenue. Today, in MMA there’s only one.
Our vision is to enhance the sport and continue to expand globally as a league. We have a vision to create The Champions League of MMA
PFL CEO Pete Murray
“We are fast growing on every level – audience, fanbase growth, commercial business and revenue.
“So MMA is still in its infancy compared to all those other major sports, from football, to basketball and other sports.”
Murray says the PFL’s viewership is up 100 per cent from its total last season as he warns the sports league is out to dominate more than just MMA.
He added: “We are the fastest growing league in all of sport, not just MMA, based on year over year growth.
“We’ve had a 100 per cent audience growth this past year, and it continues to climb.
“Again, based on our timing and business ethos and vision, that is what is propelling the growth.”
The PFL made their UK debut on August 13 in Cardiff last year, which marked this season’s second semi-final.
A week later, the finalists in each division were determined in London, on August 20 at the Copper Box Arena.
Professional Fighters League PFL winners win a $1m prize cheque[/caption]