Almighty Fighting Championships, one of the United Kingdom’s longest-running mixed martial arts promotions, is entering a new era under new ownership, with former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards and his brother, professional fighter Fabian Edwards, heavily involved in the consortium behind the promotion.
The new ownership group is promising a fighter-first approach as it prepares to relaunch the promotion under the name AFC, with plans to establish a strong presence across the Midlands and stage between six and eight events per year.
The first event under the new ownership is scheduled for October 10 at New Bingley Hall in Birmingham, England.
At the heart of the new AFC philosophy is a commitment to putting fighters at the center of the promotion, with the consortium bringing together extensive experience across mixed martial arts and broadcasting, as well as established relationships with many of the major MMA teams in the Midlands.
One of the most significant changes will be a move toward greater transparency around fighter compensation.
Inspired in part by an idea put forward by former UFC welterweight title challenger Dan Hardy, AFC plans to introduce open purses, allowing fighters and fans to see exactly what professional competitors are being paid.
Under the proposed structure, professional fighters will compete across three pay tiers:
Tier 1: £1,000 to show + £1,000 win bonus
Tier 2: £2,000 to show + £2,000 win bonus
Tier 3: £3,000 to show + £3,000 win bonus
The model is designed to provide clarity around compensation while giving fighters a defined pathway through the promotion.
The promotion also plans to have high profile fights with bespoke purses in the near future, while the tiers will remain in place for development fighters.
AFC will feature an amateur undercard and professional main card, providing opportunities for emerging fighters to gain experience while established professionals headline the events.
The new ownership group is also moving away from the idea of locking fighters into lengthy promotional contracts. Fighters will not be required to sign long-term deals, although they will have the option of committing to AFC for one year.
Those who choose the one-year arrangement will have their medicals paid for by the promotion.
For the consortium, the underlying objective is straightforward: build a promotion that prioritizes the interests and development of its fighters.
The involvement of the Edwards brothers gives that philosophy a particularly strong connection to the professional fight game. Leon Edwards, who became UFC welterweight champion after rising through the British MMA scene, has firsthand experience of the challenges fighters face as they attempt to progress through the sport. Fabian Edwards has similarly established himself at the top level, having become the 2025 PFL Middleweight Tournament Champion.
Their involvement comes alongside a consortium with considerable experience in both MMA and broadcasting, with the group also maintaining close links to the leading mixed martial arts teams throughout the Midlands.
The geographic focus will be firmly centered on the region, with AFC aiming to develop a regular event schedule throughout the Midlands while creating a platform for local talent.
The October 10 event at New Bingley Hall will therefore represent more than simply the first show of a new promotional chapter. It will be the first opportunity for AFC to put its fighter-focused philosophy into practice.
With open purses, structured professional pay tiers, optional one-year agreements, medical support for contracted fighters and a commitment to regular events in the Midlands, the new AFC ownership group is positioning the promotion as a platform designed with fighters at its core.
And with Leon and Fabian Edwards among the key figures behind the project, AFC is entering its next chapter with a distinctly fighter-led identity.
