UFL 5: Phoenix vs Vegas is scheduled for August 30th 👊
Watch as Phoenix’s Coach Henry Cejudo and Las Vegas’ Coach Frank Mir lead their top talents in the fight for state supremacy 🏆
🎟 – https://t.co/PprrSI1czQ | 📍 Chandler AZ | 🏟 Wild Horse Pass Casino pic.twitter.com/b0jhcwDpdb
— United Fight League (@UnitedMMALeague)
July 26, 2024
A year and a half after its first event, the United Fight League has catapulted a new era in mixed martial arts. As the only mixed martial arts organization that offers health insurance, life insurance and company equity to all its signed fighters, the UFL is committed to setting a new standard in the business of fight sports.
“We’re the first combat sports league to offer health insurance and equity in the company. We’ll all win and we’ll all eat together if you help us make this idea a reality,” UFL CEO Harrison Rogers told Sherdog.com. “It was just a crazy idea. It was like twisting arms to get people to take a chance on us, but fans want better options for fighters. [and] Fighters want better options, so seeing those ideas come to life this weekend is the most fun part.”
UFL 5 “Phoenix vs. Las Vegas” will be headlined by a bantamweight title bout between current champion Hunter Azure and fellow Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Vince Morales and will take place on Friday at the Gila River Hotels & Casino in Chandler, Ariz. The bout will kick off at 9pm ET/6pm PT and will be streamed on Kick.com.
While the Azul vs. Morales showdown is sure to provide some fireworks, Rogers is excited to announce the UFL’s new team-vs-team format. Team Phoenix will be coached by former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo, while Team Las Vegas will be led by former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir. Both teams will compete in five bouts with extra points awarded based on finishes. In the event of a draw after all five bouts are completed, the tiebreaker will be the fighter with the least cage time. Here’s how the points will be determined:
• Round 1 completed = 4 points / 6 points in the main event
• End of Round 2 = 3 points/6 points in the Main Event
• End of Round 3 = 2 points/6 points in the Main Event
• Decision win = 1 point
The winning team will split a $50,000 prize and, most importantly, bragging rights. Rodgers said there will be eight teams in total, with Florida (Rashad Evans) and Southern California (Quinton Jackson) already locked in to help turn the UFL into the “NBA of MMA.”
“There will be eight teams across the country and a regular schedule of games at least four times a year,” Rodgers said. “Once we have the draft, we’ll be able to put players on new teams, we’ll have the trade deadline, so it’ll be fun to become the NBA of MMA.”
With an experienced team of fighters such as Cejudo, Mir, Evans and Jackson on his side, Rogers believes the UFL is headed for a prosperous future. “Fight with us, not for us” is the company’s motto and is proudly displayed on its championship belt. While staying in business and making a profit is important, the UFL’s emphasis on being a fighter-friendly organization will guide it forward.
“We might talk about MMA being better and think we’re being smart, but these great men embodied it and took the sport to where it is today,” Rogers said. “‘Rampage’ came from Pride. [Fighting Championships] It’s encouraging and inspiring to know that they’re doing something good for UFC and for Frank, who lives in Las Vegas and sees the mecca of the sport. If they had stock in UFC, their lives would have been so different. They would have felt appreciated and loved. That’s what I want for my fighters, for them to look back and say, ‘Wow, I helped build this and they took care of me.'”
