Professional Fighters League (PFL) News

Why the PFL could be the perfect home for Michael Chandler
Tom Taylor - August 27, 2020
After knocking out Benson Henderson at Bellator 243 earlier this month, Michael Chandler, the promotion’s former lightweight champ, is now a free agent. As one of the biggest stars Bellator has produced to date, Chandler can almost certainly expect lucrative offers from some of the sport’s biggest organizations. He’s already expressed interest in a potential move to the UFC, and UFC President Dana White has reciprocated that interest. Chandler has also discussed a potential move to ONE Championship, where a compelling trilogy fight with his chief rival Eddie Alvarez could await.

Former UFC fighter Clay Collard says boxing is not a "permanent switch," opens up on PFL contract
Cole Shelton - August 26, 2020
Clay Collard is one of boxing’s biggest stars of 2020. The former UFC featherweight is signed to Top Rank boxing and has gone 5-0 in 2020 including a TKO win last Saturday. At the beginning of the year, he was being brought in to lose against some of Top Rank’s best-undefeated prospects. Yet, Collard won the fights and is now getting pushed by the ESPN boxing promotion.

PFL launches free OTT platform, will provide year-round premium content
Tom Taylor - August 5, 2020
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) will bring the action closer to fans once again with the release of a brand-new OTT platform. The premium content service—which will be free—was announced by the promotion on Tuesday, providing fight fans around the world with hundreds of hours of viewing from the first organization to offer MMA through a regular season, playoff and championship format.

PFL hires former ONE Championship executive Loren Mack as VP of Corporate Communications
Tom Taylor - July 28, 2020
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has named Loren Mack Vice President of Corporate Communications. Mack, with over 15 years of experience in media and sports, becomes the latest hire to join a growing list of top sports, media and entertainment executives for the first organization to present Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) through a Regular Season, Playoff and Championship format.

Brendan Loughnane opens up on PFL, lockdown & staying in shape
Harry Kettle - April 30, 2020
PFL star Brendan Loughnane opens up on everything from his signing with the promotion to life in quarantine and beyond in this exclusive with BJPENN.com. Loughnane has largely been viewed as one of the most underrated British talents for many years now, with most fans believing that he has long since deserved a chance at proving himself in the Ultimate Fighting Championship once again.

PFL reportedly cuts "roughly a third" of its roster amid pandemic
Adam Martin - April 22, 2020
The PFL has cut a third of its roster amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the day after announcing its 2020 season was postponed. PFL announced through a press release on Monday that its 2020 season has been postponed until 2021 due to the coronavirus crisis. The promotion felt that it wasn’t the right time to go ahead with its third season and instead is shifting its entire calendar a year back. PFL season three is expected to commence in the spring of 2021.

PFL postpones 2020 season, fighters to be paid monthly stipend
Adam Martin - April 20, 2020
The PFL announced on Monday that is has officially postponed its entire 2020 schedule and is going to reschedule it to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Professional Fighters League was set to begin its 2020 season in May, with events held monthly for the rest of the year until the finals on New Year’s Eve. Due to the coronavirus crisis, however, the promotion cannot run its third season as scheduled. Instead, it has shifted the entire schedule to 2021.

PFL postpones 2020 season due to Coronavirus pandemic
Natasha Hooper - March 31, 2020
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has postponed its 2020 season due to COVID-19. The PFL uses a unique, seasonal format, much like the NBA or NHL. While their setup sets them apart from the competition, it can create logistical challenges — especially during a pandemic.

PFL announces 10 new signings for 2020 season
Tom Taylor - March 10, 2020
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) promised some new signings for the upcoming 2020 season, and so far, the organization is delivering. On Tuesday, the league officially confirmed 10 new free agent signings, including several UFC veterans and the brother of UFC welterweight champ Kamaru Usman.

Justin Willis signs with PFL
Adam Martin - February 11, 2020
Former UFC heavyweight contender Justin Willis has signed a new contract with PFL and will be part of the promotion’s next heavyweight tournament. Willis signing with PFL was first confirmed by MMAjunkie.com. “Big Pretty” is expected to make his promotional debut later in the spring when their next heavyweight tournament begins.

Kayla Harrison gives self-defense advice for women who are being attacked
Adam D Martin - February 5, 2020
PFL women’s lightweight champion Kayla Harrison has given some important self-defense advice to women who are being attacked. In the wake of the recent video showing boxing prospect Gervonta Davis getting physical with his ex-girlfriend, TMZ Sports caught up with Harrison — one of the best women’s MMA fighters on the planet — and asked her what women should do if they are in a situation where they are being attacked.

After brief retirement, UFC veteran Ryan LaFlare looking to sign with PFL and fight Rory MacDonald
Cole Shelton - January 30, 2020
Ryan LaFlare is looking to end his retirement. LaFlare went 7-3 in UFC and headlined a card against Demian Maia and had a notable win over Santiago Ponzinibbio. Yet, he had to end his MMA career after a knockout loss to Anthony Rocco Martin at UFC 229 due to his injuries.

Rory MacDonald believes Douglas Lima trilogy is still possible
Tom Taylor - January 1, 2020
Rory MacDonald is no longer a Bellator fighter, having signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) in 2020. While this promotion change has opened the door to some new and exciting matchups for MacDonald, it has seemingly closed the door on a trilogy fight between MacDonald and reigning Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima, who are currently tied 1-1 across two previous bouts. Yet MacDonald doesn’t see it that way.

PHOTO | Lance Palmer's father wore an interesting shirt at 2019 PFL Championship
Tom Taylor - January 1, 2020
Last night, Lance Palmer became a two-time Professional Fighters League (PFL) champion, defeating Alex Gilpin by unanimous decision to win the featherweight belt. As usual, Palmer’s father Wayne was in the building to support, and he made a pretty interesting wardrobe choice for his night out. The elder Palmer was visible several times on broadcast. Fans promptly noticed that he was wearing a slightly doctored UFC shirt. Instead of reading Ultimate Fighting Championship, it read Ultimate Farting Championship.

Ray Cooper III wants to fight Rory MacDonald to avenge for BJ Penn
Tom Taylor - January 1, 2020
Last night, Hawaii’s Ray Cooper III became a millionaire, winning the PFL’s 2019 welterweight season by defeating David Michaud. While this victory is still fresh, Cooper is already looking ahead to the 2020 PFL season. This upcoming season will be particularly exciting for PFL welterweights given that the promotion recently signed former UFC title challenger and Bellator champ Rory MacDonald.

PFL 2019 Championship results: Kayla Harrison, Ray Cooper III win $1M
Tom Taylor - January 1, 2020
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) closed out its 2019 season on New Years Eve, meaning another group of fighters pocketed $1M prizes. In the card’s main event, Kayla Harrison won the lightweight championship by dominating Larissa Pachecho to a unanimous decision win.

PFL's Kayla Harrison believes she's 'probably the highest-paid female fighter in MMA right now'
Tom Taylor - December 30, 2019
Former Olympic judoka Kayla Harrison is a little over a day out from a championship clash with Larissa Pachecho. The winner of this bout, which headline the final Professional Fighters League (PFL) event of the year, will pocket a whopping $1M prize. In addition to this $1M prize, which is awarded to the champion of each weight class at the end of each PFL season, Harrison also has a lucrative, long-term contract with the league. She suspects this contract is among the most valuable in all of MMA. At the very least, Harrison believes she is probably the highest paid female fighter in the sport.

Scott Coker sends classy message to Rory MacDonald after Bellator exit
Tom Taylor - December 20, 2019
Earlier this week, news surfaced that former Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald had parted ways with the promotion and signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Shortly thereafter, Bellator President Scott Coker took to Twitter with a classy message to his former fighter. See it below: