If all that comes to fruition, the Global Fight League could add an interesting new element to the mixed martial arts world.
On Wednesday, promotion founder Darren Owen announced plans to launch a team-based MMA league in a seasonal format starting in April 2025. The league will feature six teams from “major global markets,” according to the release. The draft will be held on January 24th, and fighters will be selected to represent each team. The league’s launch was originally announced on the Ariel Helwani Show.
“Our new league is a logical evolution for MMA,” Owen said in the release. “Our mission from the beginning has been to embrace fighters as true and equal partners and to work together to create a format that any sports fan can understand. I have had hundreds of conversations with MMA legends and rising stars. Our business plan is an extension of that.” That’s what I hear from fighters who want new ways to compete and excel in the world’s fastest growing sport. That’s what happened. ”
The previous roster includes eight former UFC champions: Tyron Woodley, Fabricio Werdum, Anthony Pettis, Junior dos Santos, Luke Rockhold, Frank Mir, Andrei Arlovski, and Benson Henderson. , which includes many famous names.
A number of athletes have also held titles in other major organizations, including Gegard Mousasi, Wanderlei Silva, Rafael Carvalho, Lance Palmer, Will Brooks and Marlon Moraes. Moraes also serves as president of the GFL players association.
“This is a new chapter for fighters. The GFL is built on fairness, respect and opportunity. Fighters now have a voice and a stake in the future of the sport,” Moraes said. Ta.
bigger list#Helwanisho
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— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman)
December 11, 2024
According to the release, “GFL is pioneering an event-specific 50% revenue-sharing model that ensures athletes benefit from the league’s success. This innovative structure provides fighters with financial security. and prioritize professional well-being.”
Additionally, GFL’s fighter-focused model will include fighter health and accident insurance, as well as a “structured retirement fund.” GFL will take steps to improve the health and safety of its fighters by eliminating extreme weight loss practices.
Similar to the Professional Fighters League, the GFL utilizes a scoring system for matches. Fighters earn 4 points for a finish, 3 points for a decision win, 2 points for a draw, 1 point for a decision loss, and 0 points for a loss by finish. Points are added to each team’s total score. The GFL website currently lists seven men’s divisions (heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight, lightweight, featherweight, and bantamweight) and three women’s divisions (bantamweight, flyweight, and strawweight). is published. Each team will have two fighters from each division for a total of 20 fighters.
