The PFL has appeared to grow with each passing year but 2024 has undoubtedly been the promotion’s biggest one to date. With the birth of new stars, the full crossover of the Bellator roster and brand and now, the confirmed MMA return of Francis Ngannou, PFL CEO Peter Murray has a lot on his plate right now.
Following the first press conference between Ngannou and Renan Ferreira, Murray spoke to the media about what lies in store for the promotion over the next few months.
As always, the backbone of the PFL is always going to be the regular season format. This year saw a lot of changes because of the influx of Bellator fighters that joined the tournament brackets following the promotion’s acquisition last year. Despite many of the finals still being made up of PFL fighters, this certainly added some intrigue to the 2024 instalment which continues with the last play-offs event tonight in Washington, DC.
"This season, with the Bellator fighters in the mix, with the top PFL fighters who have returned. I mean the fans saw the level of talent and the fights were really next level so we couldn't have been happier with the season to date, the quality of the fights and the new storylines. We're wrapping up the play-offs here in DC, these two weight classes, they're looking to punch their ticket to the championship and that's what it's all about." Murray stated.
The final regular season event, the finals itself, is currently yet to have a date and location announced. Murray went on to say that there will be news on this soon and whilst he wouldn’t reveal any additional information, he did add that it will be in a location that they haven’t run yet, hinting that they are a global promotion at the end of the day.
What is surely the biggest event in the promotion’s history to date will take place before the season finale at the Mayadeen Venue in Riyadh. Battle of the Giants boasts two massive marquee match-ups as Cris Cyborg takes on Larissa Pacheco in a great co-main event whilst in the headliner, Francis Ngannou makes his long awaited return to MMA against PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira. Main event aside, the co-feature is big enough on its own as Cyborg, who has never failed to win titles everywhere she goes, faces one of the promotion’s most successful signings. However, unsurprisingly, Ngannou is the star of the show and that was shown in the press conference.
"They're monsters! These are two amazing athletes. Francis' return to MMA, it's long awaited, it's long anticipated and you heard from him, he wants this fight and he's fighting with a greater purpose and Renan, he's the real deal. I mean 6'8'', you've seen what he's done, he knows how to finish and this is a real fight.” Murray excitingly recapped. “There's no one I've talked to in all of sports in the combat game, everyone knows this is a real fight and both of these fighters, they need this fight, they want the belt. It means a lot to Francis in terms of his continued journey and legacy as the top heavyweight MMA champion in the world and he's got some unfinished business. He's gonna finish that business or try to finish that business in this cage and this is all about the future for Renan. Cementing his name globally as the top number one heavyweight champion."
Hosting the first proper encounter between the two gigantic individuals was Jake Paul who came out to kick off proceedings, followed by a short conversation with homegrown star, Dakota Ditcheva. Murray also gave an update on Paul’s debut which, if it ends up happening in the first quarter of next year, will continue this run of massive nights for the promotion.
"2025, you heard from Jake. He's been training, he's got the SmartCage and he's training with a lot of different athletes in MMA. We're as excited as fans are but Jake is definitely working to make that debut and there are a number of MMA top fighters who want to be part of that and more to come on those details."
Alongside the PFL regular season, various other leagues like PFL Europe and PFL Mena, and not to mention the Bellator Champions Series or upcoming debut of the PPV Super Fights series on October 19, the promotion is always planning years ahead. PFL Africa is set to be the next introduction to their increasing portfolio of, as Peter Murray describes it, options for them and for the fighters. Headed by Chairman Francis Ngannou, the promotion has joined with Helios Sports & Entertainment Group in this venture which Murray hopes will have a big impact on the growing African MMA scene from the bottom grassroots level all the way to the top.
"We're just getting started I mean honestly, this company and being tied to their vision of developing the ecosystem of sports and entertainment on the continent of Africa, they're the lead investor in NBA Africa and so alongside development of other sports with other major leagues, MMA has so much growth around the planet but on the continent, starting with the development of athletes and that talent and so we're with the best in class partner to launch PFL Africa next year in 2025. It's real and at the helm we have Francis Ngannou as our Chairman so as we look at the journey of athletes, these African fighters won't have to go through the adversity and challenges that Francis and other athletes in different sports in Africa had to go through and most of them had to leave the continent of Africa to become professional so we're very excited and passionate about developing athletes on the continent and launching authentic regional leagues that are based there."
The PFL returns with PFL 9, live from The Anthem in Washington, DC where the semi-finals will take place for the featherweight and welterweight divisions.
Words By Kyle Dimond
