PFL: All Gas, No Breaks
Professional Fight League
The PFL is the newest, high-caliber, promotion to come onto the Mixed Martial Arts scene. Do they have a lot of competition? You tell me.
Bellator, OneFC, Absolute Championship, Rizin, M-1 Global, and the UFC all host the most decorated martial artists on the planet. However, this new organization is coming in hot, and they are bringing star-power with them.
Founded in 2017, the PFL took a good look at the landscape of MMA. With a few hot business models out there, they saw some holes they could fix. Their niche is that they are here to draw a line between entertainment and sport. Perhaps the best way they’ve done that is by creating a seasonal dynamic like other main stream sports. Perhaps it was the million dollar prize for each fighter who wins their bracket, eliminating politics out of title shots. Either way- they are breaking the internet.
“I had offers from Bellator, I am still on good terms with the UFC…I’m still under contract with Glory, but I really like the tournament format. Each Season has gotten better and better. The production value is great, obviously that million dollar bonus at the end is a huge calling.” Chris Camozzi, Former UFC Fighter, says.
That is not the only person who was vocal about their liking of PFL.
“PFL Presented the best offer.. and it’s the best contract of my career.” Rory “Red King” McDonald told Breez of the MMA BREEZ.
This is a bold statement by a young veteran of the sport. Rory has competed at the highest levels in the UFC as well as Bellator MMA, competing for a belt in the UFC and obtaining one in Bellator.
Other aspects that seem to be appealing to fighters and fans are fighters knowing their schedule, having time off, dodging politics, and did I mention- a $1,000,000 prize?
This new dynamic for martial art competition is operating off a point system. Now here is how it works:
Wins earn you 3 points
Draws earn 1 point
Losses earn you 0 points
There are also bonus points awarded for the length of the bout.
1st round stoppage earns you 3 points
2nd round stoppage earns you 2 points
3rd round stoppage earns you 1 point
The most points a fighter can get is 12, which can be obtained in 2 first-round finishes. If you are wondering what the points are for, well, Playoffs.
This is where some controversy starts to creep in. In the first night of the playoffs, which will be the quarterfinals, you will fight 2x in one night. Each fight will be 2 five minute rounds. With the rising concerns of CTE, this has caused an uproar from fans, fighters, and promoters who think that fighting simply cannot operate like other mainstream formal sports. The one achilles heel of the PFL format. However, come the semifinals, you are back to one fight a night, 3 five minute rounds. Then one more in the finals to earn your $1,000,000, shiny new belt, and a well-deserved off season to recoup.
It appears to be a big attraction to fighters. Which is why we have seen main stream fighter from the UFC and Bellator come over, such as Rory McDonald Anthony Pettis, Chris Cammozi, Bubba Jenkins, Fabricio Werdum , and more. Everything is earned in the PFL. A lot of these fighters have weathered politics and bad timing, now they do not have to. I can tell you the pay incentive has certainly shown in PFL 1 and PFL2. Fights are finishing and fighters are leaving it all out there. You’d be hard pressed to find a slow fight this season in the PFL.
