If it all comes to fruition, the Global Fight League could be an interesting new
addition to the mixed martial arts landscape.

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On Wednesday, promotion founder Darren Owen announced plans to
launch a team-based MMA league with a season format beginning in
April 2025. According to a release, the league will feature six
teams in “major global markets.” There will be a draft on Jan. 24
to select the fighters to represent each team. The launch of the
league was initially announced on the Ariel Helwani Show.

„Our new league is a logical evolution for MMA,“ Owen said in a
release. „Our mission is to embrace fighters as true equitable
partners from inception and, together, create a format that can be
understood by any sports fan. I’ve had hundreds of conversations
with MMA legends and rising stars and our business plan is an
extension of what I have heard from fighters who want a new way to
compete and excel in the world’s fastest growing sport.”

The roster thus far features a number of notable names, including
eight former
UFC champions: Tyron Woodley, Fabricio Werdum, Anthony Pettis,
Junior dos Santos, Luke Rockhold, Frank Mir, Andrei Arlovski and
Benson Henderson.

There are also a number of athletes on board who held titles in
other major organizations: Gegard Mousasi, Wanderlei Silva, Rafael
Carvalho, Lance Palmer, Will Brooks and Marlon Moraes. Moraes will
also serve as head of the GFL’s athlete association.

„This is a new chapter for fighters,” Moraes stated. “The GFL is
built on fairness, respect, and opportunity. Fighters now have a
voice and a stake in the sport’s future.“

According to a release, “the GFL is pioneering a 50% event-specific
revenue share model that ensures athletes benefit from the league’s
success. This revolutionary structure prioritizes fighters‘
financial security and professional well-being.”

Additionally, the GFL’s fighter-centric model is expected to
include fighter health and injury insurance as well as a
“structured retirement fund.” The GFL plans to take steps to
improve fighter health and safety by eliminating extreme
weight-cutting practices.

Similar to
Professional Fighters League, the GFL will utilize a scoring
system for its bouts. Fighters will earn four points for a finish,
three for a decision win, two for a draw, one for a decision loss
and zero for a defeat via finish. The points will contribute to
each team’s total score. The GFL website currently lists seven
weight classes for men — heavyweight, light heavyweight,
middleweight, welterweight, lightweight, featherweight and
bantamweight — and three weight classes for women — bantamweight,
flyweight and strawweight. Each team will have two fighters from
each division, giving them 20 overall.

IMAK ADMIN

By IMAK ADMIN

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