The Global Fight League (GFL) is coming.
The new team-based MMA organization was unveiled on The Ariel Helwani Show on Wednesday, December 11, and it was boosted by an interesting financial model that promises a 50-50 revenue split with fighters, and a roster packed with names MMA fans will immediately recognize.
The roster unveiled features ten former UFC champions: Tyron Woodley, Rashad Evans, Luke Rockhold, Wanderlei Silva, Frank Mir, Benson Henderson, Anthony Pettis, Andrei Arlovski, Fabricio Werdum, and Junior dos Santos.
I spoke to Woodley in October and he told me he was returning to MMA, but couldn’t give all the details. It seems this is what he was referencing.
In addition to those names, the GFL has a host of other fighters who have spent time in the PFL, Bellator, UFC, and other organizations.
In a press release provided to me, the GFL was described as “a new team-based MMA property.” According to the press release:
“The GFL is committed to providing unparalleled financial benefits while prioritizing fighter health and safety. Additionally, the league will actively work to eliminate extreme weight-cutting practices to foster a healthier and more sustainable environment for athletes. This initiative reflects the league’s commitment to protecting its athletes and promoting longevity in their careers.”
Darren Owen, the founder of GFL, was a guest on Helwani’s show, but he also provided a quote in the press release.
“Our new league is a logical evolution for MMA,” said Darren Owen, longtime fight sport competitor, trainer, and entrepreneur, and Founder of the Global Fight League. “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 organization closed a multi-million-dollar seed round, and its first season is set to launch in April 2025. Because the league is team-based, there will be a draft held on January 24. The teams will be city-based, but the locations haven’t been revealed.
The press release says they will have male and female fighters, but the roster that was shared only includes men. It stands to reason the GFL will unveil a few of the women who have signed soon.
Former UFC title contender and World Series of Fighting veteran Marlon Moraes is the Head of the GFL’s Athlete Association.
“This is a new chapter for fighters,” Moraes said. “The GFL is built on fairness, respect, and opportunity. Fighters now have a voice and a stake in the sport’s future.”
What to Make of the GFL?
Team-based combat sports make me nervous. I’ve never seen it work, and I’m hesitant to believe the league will be able to get fans invested in any city-based team’s results in boxing or MMA.
Gym-based teams like American Top Team vs. Kill Cliff and American Kickboxing Academy vs. The Fighting Nerds would have a much better chance of getting over with the fans, but I digress.
The fighters mentioned have big names, but most are well past their primes as fighters. Will people have some level of interest in their fights? Yes, but I wouldn’t expect fans to take a Wanderlei Silva vs. Luke Rockhold fight too seriously.
That said, the big names could carry the weight of the commercial push while some lesser-known, younger fighters could carry the less-novel weight of the promotion.
While there were no women mentioned in the press release notes, I suspect this to be an area the GFL could find a niche. It’s unrealistic to attempt to compete with the UFC on a 1-to-1 basis. The head start is too big to overcome.
However, there are some wins to be had in some of the areas the UFC doesn’t cover as well, and women’s MMA is one of those spots. The UFC doesn’t have an atomweight division or a weight class above 135 pounds.
Are those spaces where the GFL can build stars? If so, they may only be giving them a stepping stone to the UFC, but there can be a niche as a feeder organization. There are some possibilities, but like the PFL with its season format, the GFL’s attempt to be too different from the UFC could be its biggest issue.
