The Global Fight League is doing take two and has announced plans to restart operations in 2026.
The GFL announced their intention to finally get events started through a statement on social media — the promotion’s first statement since the spring.
To the athletes, fans and partners, thank you for your patience and support. We’ve been hard at work and look forward to sharing what’s next. Stay tuned, more to come on our plans for 2026.#TogetherWeFightpic.twitter.com/uyL7CHp1hS
“To the athletes, fans and partners, thank you for your patience and support. We’ve been hard at work and look forward to sharing what’s next,” the GLF’s statement said. “Stay tuned, more to come on our plans for 2026.”
The GFL also announced a rematch between former UFC middleweight champions Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold, which the GFL also promoted through a social media post. No information about an event date or location has been revealed, however.
The GFL was formally launched in late 2024, intending to re-introduce the team-based format that was seen with the IFL in the mid-2000s. The plan was to have six teams be formed, based in London, Dubai, Sao Paulo, Miami, Los Angeles, and New York, with a points-based system and events held throughout the year at each of the various locations and a champion team crowned at the end of the year.
The league promoted various different benefits from fighters not seen in other MMA promotions, including revenue share, retirement benefits, and insurance coverage.
The latest blow to the legitimacy of the Global Fight League (GFL) hasn’t come as a shock to many.
In recent months, the newly created GFL — the latest attempt at making a team format successful in MMA — announced a lengthy list of signings ahead of its launch in 2025, including multiple former champions from the UFC and other promotions.
And following a shaky draft in January that some deemed to have been staged, dates were finally released for the first cards.
Just weeks on, however, those plans have already crumbled.
Journalist Ariel Helwani took to social media Wednesday night to report that the Global Fight League has canceled its first two events. The promotion’s founder, Darren Owens, subsequently cited issues with an “investor” but still pointed to June as a realistic target for the delayed launch.
GFL has canceled its first two events, scheduled for May 24 and 25 in Los Angeles, per multiple sources and confirmed by CSAC executive director Andy Foster.
There are serious doubts about the future of the promotion.
Reached out to founder Darren Owen but no reply at this…
Having announced a number of fighter-first initiatives such as a 50/50 revenue split and had plenty of its fighters touting the major paydays awaiting them, the GFL’s finances were quickly questioned. As most expected, skeptics were evidently right to do so.
Fans and pundits were quick to give their reactions on social media, with the majority seemingly unsurprised by the news. Making fake fighter signings and drafting athletes without their consent had already brought eyebrows up in the community.
And given that many have since predicted the Global Fight League to flounder before staging an event, the cancellation of next month’s cards and uncertainty surrounding founder Darren Owens’ statement has only fanned the flames.
I feel terrible for the fighters who got suckered into this. It was painfully obvious everyone involved were in over their heads. Red flag after red flag. How did the charade even get this far? https://t.co/TuBzf9uyho
GFL, which boasts a roster of over 300 fighters including multiple former champions from elite organizations, had mapped out an ambitious slate of 31 fights featuring matchups between all six city-based teams.
OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL: 31 fights. 2 nights. 6 teams. 1 global stage. The first GFL Season launches in Los Angeles with a two-day team vs team MMA mega-event at the iconic Shrine Auditorium – May 24 & 25. Tickets will be on sale in April, stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/3aBtDgr4kn
However, on Wednesday, MMA journalist Ariel Helwani reported that GFL’s highly anticipated debut events had been officially scrapped, citing confirmation from California State Athletic Commission executive director Andy Foster.
GFL has canceled its first two events, scheduled for May 24 and 25 in Los Angeles, per multiple sources and confirmed by CSAC executive director Andy Foster.
There are serious doubts about the future of the promotion.
Reached out to founder Darren Owen but no reply at this…
In a statement to Uncrowned, GFL founder Darren Owen explained that the cancellation stemmed from a missed financial commitment by one of the promotion’s key investors. Despite the setback, Owen expressed confidence in navigating the issue and hinted that California may no longer be the destination for their launch. He also revealed that the new target dates of June 15 and 16 are currently on the table as the promotion looks to regroup and move forward.
GFL’s first two fight cards were stacked with star power, boasting marquee names like Tony Ferguson, Holly Holm, Urijah Faber, Renan Barao, Alexander Gustafsson, Dillon Danis, Chad Mendes, Gleison Tibau, Anthony Pettis, Benson Henderson, Paige VanZant, and Cat Zingano.
Beyond the opening lineup, the promotion’s fighter pool is equally impressive, featuring veterans such as Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Yoel Romero, Douglas Lima, Ovince Saint Preux, Todd Duffee, Chris Weidman, and Luke Rockhold.
Several fighters signed to GFL, including VanZant, have publicly praised the promotion’s generous offerings, highlighting perks such as full insurance coverage, a 50-50 revenue-sharing model, and even pension plans. While the benefits have turned heads across the MMA world, they’ve also sparked skepticism regarding how the promotion can sustain such a model over time.
Dillon Danis has declared his intention to conclude Tony Ferguson’s professional MMA career.
Danis, boasting an undefeated record of two wins and zero losses, representing GFL’s Team New York, is scheduled to face Ferguson, who has a record of 25 wins and 11 losses, representing Team Los Angeles. The two fighters will clash in a lightweight main event on May 25 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
Ferguson enters this contest on a difficult streak. He has lost his last eight consecutive matches in the UFC, a record within the organization. His most recent defeat occurred in August of last year, when Michael Chiesa submitted him. This string of losses has led Danis to confidently state that he will “put the nail in the coffin of Tony Ferguson’s MMA career.”
Danis, initially scheduled to box KSI in a highly anticipated 185-pound match, saw the bout canceled due to KSI’s unexpected illness. This cancellation extended Danis’s period of inactivity, as he had not competed since his disqualification loss to Logan Paul in a boxing match back in October of 2023.
His previous MMA contest occurred in June 2019, when he achieved a submission victory over Max Humphrey at Bellator 222. Despite this, the polarizing grappler is confident of his superiority over Ferguson.
“I’m going to retire Tony Ferguson and bury ‘El Cucuy’ in the same grave as his win streak,” Danis told MMA Junkie in a text message Tuesday.
The Global Fight League (GFL) is set to launch with not one, but two inaugural events.
On Monday, the GFL unveiled plans for its first two events, featuring seasoned veterans, both set to take place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. The action kicks off on May 24, with a second night of fights following on May 25 at the same venue, with broadcast details and ticket sales information set to be revealed in April.
In the GFL’s unique team system, fighters earn points for their performances in every fight. A win by finish awards 4 points, a decision victory brings 3 points, a draw earns 2, and a decision loss gives 1 point. However, if a fighter is stopped, their team receives no points for that matchup.
Fighters from all six GFL teams — Los Angeles, New York, London, Dubai, São Paulo, and Miami — will clash in a total of 31 bouts across two action-packed nights. Additionally, the May 24 event will feature a few highly anticipated trilogy fights.
Here’s a look at the current lineups:
GFL Day 1 – Saturday, May 24, Los Angeles
Urijah Faber (LA) vs. Renan Barao (SP): bantamweight
Anthony Pettis (MIA) vs. Benson Henderson (LON): lightweight
Holly Holm (NY) vs. Julia Budd (LON): women’s bantamweight
Chad Mendes (LA) vs. Maike Linhares (SP): featherweight
Derek Brunson (DUB) vs. Omari Akhmedov (DUB): middleweight
Sage Northcutt (LA) vs. Lucas Martins (SP): lightweight
Marlon Moraes (MIA) vs. Ray Borg (LA): bantamweight
Aspen Ladd (LA) vs. Alejandra Lara (SP): women’s bantamweight
Robelis Despaigne (MIA) vs. Todd Duffee (DUB): heavyweight
Cat Zingano (MIA) vs. Alexa Conners (DUB): women’s bantamweight
Neiman Gracie (NY) vs. Danny Roberts (LON): welterweight
Jessica Penne (LA) vs. Joice Mara (SP): atomweight
Charles Rosa (MIA) vs. Khumoyun Tukhtamuradov (DUB): featherweight
Marisa Messer-Belenchia (NY) vs. Kelly Staddon (LON): atomweight
Gleison Tibau (MIA) vs. Alex Oliveira (SP): welterweight
Ovince Saint Preux (NY) vs. Alexander Gustafsson (LON): light heavyweight
Uriah Hall (LA) vs. Douglas Lima (SP): middleweight
Paige VanZant (MIA) vs. Randi Field (DUB): strawweight
Louis Glisman (LA) vs. Abubakar Nurmagomedov (DUB): lightweight
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (LA) vs. Viviane Pereira (SP): strawweight
Alan Belcher (NY) vs. Stuart Austin (LON): heavyweight
Thiago Santos (MIA) vs. Devin Clark (NY): light heavyweight
Lorenz Larkin (LA) vs. Carlos Petruzzella (SP): welterweight
Jimmie Rivera (NY) vs. Cameron Else (LON): bantamweight
Natasha Kuziutina (MIA) vs. Jessica Aguilar (DUB): strawweight
Phil Hawes (NY) vs. Grant Neal (LA): middleweight
Kai Kamaka III (NY) vs. Mike Grundy (LON): featherweight
Da Woon Jung (LA) vs. Ronny Markes (DUB): light heavyweight
Miao Ding (NY) vs. Josefine Knutsson (LON): strawweight
OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL: 31 fights. 2 nights. 6 teams. 1 global stage. The first GFL Season launches in Los Angeles with a two-day team vs team MMA mega-event at the iconic Shrine Auditorium – May 24 & 25. Tickets will be on sale in April, stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/3aBtDgr4kn
It seems that former UFC title challenger Yoel Romero has a new target in his sights for this year’s Global Fight League launch.
After years of preparation, the GFL is expected to stage events for the first time this year, as the promotion looks to succeed in the fight game with a team-based format and season structure. The organization initially claimed that 15 cards are planned up until August, after which two playoff events and one final will take place before the year’s end.
Following the release of the six city teams, as well as a manager and head coach for each, 120 fighters were picked as part of the inaugural draft toward the start of 2025. And while little is known about dates and venues for the first events, which were originally slated for April, the matchups have begun to roll out.
During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Romero announced that his fight with Rua is off and he will instead collide with Team London’s Gegard Mousasi. “Soldier of God” also revealed a date and location for the clash.
“(Rua’s) out, he is out. And now, I moved for middleweight again and I am fighting Gegard Mousasi,” Romero said. “That is happening June 22 in New York. That is the fight that is coming for me. I don’t know what happened with ‘Shogun,’ but my manager called me last week. … I said, ‘Okay, beautiful, I am ready.’
“For me, both guys are legends. I have very good respect, big respect for both guys,” Romero continued. “Both have a very good history in MMA. For me, it is a great honor to fight now Gegard. But I (was) very excited when the people said ‘Shogun.’ … This is a medal for me. Because when I finish in my career, I’d say, ‘I fought with that guy.’”
BREAKING NEWS: @YoelRomeroMMA will fight @mousasi_mma at GFL New York on June 22nd (Shogun Rua is out of the fight) 🔥
First-round matchups taking place in June would seemingly disrupt the GFL’s original plan of 15 events up until August. And with March coming to its end, the goal of April cards also appears to have been scrapped.
The legitimacy of the new organization has also been brought into question due to a number of fake announcements. Both Rashad Evans and Jeremy Stephens were drafted in January but have since rejected claims they signed contracts. “Lil Heathen” has now re-signed with the UFC instead.
While 48 years old, the game doesn’t appear to have left Yoel Romero as of yet. Since a loss in his Bellator debut, the Cuban has won three out of four fights in the cage, most recently defeating fellow former UFC title challenger Thiago Santos under the PFL banner last February.
He’s currently days away from returning to action under the banner of Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing Championship this weekend.
Mixed martial arts veteran Jeremy Stephens (29-21, 1 NC) is back for a 35th appearance in the UFC Octagon.
Stephens’ unexpected return to the sport’s leading promotion comes almost four years on from his exit. “Lil Heathen’s’ submission defeat to Mateusz Gamrot left him winless across his last six fights, a run dating back to 2018.
A brief stint in the PFL didn’t go too much better, with the 38-year-old going 1-2 and failing to reach the playoffs in his sole season. But he’s since bounced back in a new realm, winning three straight in bare-knuckle boxing.
A couple of months later, however, an unexpected announcement has revealed Jeremy Stephens’ sudden return to the UFC for a homecoming fight in Des Moines on May 3. The veteran will face another returning face in Wales’ Mason Jones (15-2, 1 NC) at 155 pounds.
The news marks another blow to the legitimacy of the GFL. The new promotion was previously accused of announcing fighters for its draft who had not agreed to be included, and that trend has continued since the teams’ selections. After Rashad Evans refuted his signing after being drafted, Stephens has now become the latest to sign elsewhere.
Jones, meanwhile, returns to the UFC after an unbeaten 4-0 run under the Cage Warriors banner. “The Dragon” will now look to impress in his second stint on MMA’s biggest stage.
With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC Des Moines on May 3 are as follows:
Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (bantamweight)
Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal (middleweight)
Marina Rodriguez vs. Gillian Robertson (women’s strawweight)
Jeremy Stephens vs. Mason Jones (featherweight)
Marlon Vera vs. Mario Bautista (bantamweight)
Yana Santos vs. Miesha Tate (women’s bantamweight)
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Daniel Rodriguez (welterweight)
Montel Jackson vs. Daniel Marcos (bantamweight)
JeongYeong Lee vs. Trevor Peek (featherweight)
Cameron Smotherman vs. Serhiy Sidey (bantamweight)
Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir won’t be making his return to mixed martial arts competition anytime soon.
Mir was among the veteran names to sign with the newly created Global Fight League ahead of its inaugural draft this past January. The 45-year-old was ultimately picked alongside Andrei Arlovski for Team Los Angeles.
But those plans will be put on hold after Mir revealed in a post on Instagram that he “underwent an emergency spinal fusion and laminectomy of (his) entire thoracic spine.”
“I wanted to take a moment to update you on my health and share a bit about my recent journey,” Frank Mir wrote. “As many of you know, I’ve been dedicated to martial arts since I was just four years old. My love for hard training has driven me to push my limits as a professional athlete. However, this passion comes with its challenges.
“Recently, I faced a significant hurdle: I underwent an emergency spinal fusion and laminectomy of my entire thoracic spine. Although it was a tough decision, I’m happy to report that the surgery was a complete success!
“Now, I’m diving into rehabilitation and focusing on my recovery. This is just another challenge that I intend to overcome, and I’m committed to coming back stronger, both mentally and physically, than ever.
“Thank you all for your support during this time. Your encouragement means the world to me, and I can’t wait to share my progress with you.
“It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”
Mir, who boasts a 19-13 record in pro MMA, last competed under the Bellator banner in 2019. He outpointed fellow vet Roy Nelson to record his first victory in five fights and four years.
It remains to be seen when the 45-year-old, who beat the likes of Brock Lesnar, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Tim Sylvia, and Mirko Cro Cop during his prime in the sport, will return to the cage.
Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson is under no illusion about his current condition and deteriorating motivation to compete in mixed martial arts.
After 15 years and 18 fights, Gustafsson brought his lengthy stint on MMA’s biggest stage to an end recently. But that doesn’t mean his journey as an active fighter is over.
During an interview with Sveacasino.se, Gustafsson — who is part of the UFC Hall of Fame owing to his first fight with Jon Jones — described his decision to leave the UFC and join the new organization, admitting he’s past his prime and no longer has the “hunger” required to mix it up with the elite of the sport.
“I see myself as an elite athlete but I feel it’s the time for the new generation,” Gustafsson said. “I feel like I’m not in my top game anymore. It was a while ago. In my opinion, the fighters who fight for the UFC need to be on their top level. It is the best level of fighting in the UFC. I’m not there anymore. … I’m still doing my best in training, and I have a couple of fights left in me. But I’m not at the UFC level anymore. That’s how I feel. I’m real to myself. My teammates, my team is real to me. … I don’t have the real fire anymore or the hunger. It was a decision to make and I believe we made the right decision. And I feel good about it, too. I could have done another UFC fight, of course, but I feel a little bit of the pressure because you’re fighting for the best organisation in the world. You need to deliver. I’m not competing to accept a loss. I feel I’m not able to deliver like I did many years before.
“You need to think about yourself, and also I’m not 25, 28 anymore. I’m 38 years old,” Gustafsson continued. “I have a family. I’m not really worried about the damage you take in the fight. It’s more, the training camps you have. I’ve done many training camps in my career, and the training camp leading up to the fight. You need to deliver on the highest level. It’s a little bit of pressure because you need to recover between sessions. There are many factors involved in the whole thing. That‘s why we made the decision. We also have the GFL contract on the table, too. I have some other offers, too. I feel like I’m not going to do this for a very long time, so let’s make the best of it, and squeeze it out as much as possible. Then I’m done.”
🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨@BarnattOfficial and Carl Prince select Light Heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson from 🇸🇪 for GFL London in the Second Round! 🌍
Gustafsson has lost his last four fights, all by way of finishes. “The Mauler” was most recently knocked out by Nikita Krylov in just 67 seconds back at a 2022 UFC Fight Night in London.
The Global Fight League’s rollout of matchups for its inaugural season isn’t exactly being met with positive reactions, especially the most recently confirmed bout between former UFC heavyweight champions Frank Mir and Fabrício Werdum.
This year, the GFL is set to stage events for the first time, as the new organization targets success in mixed martial arts with a team-based format. 15 shows are apparently lined up until August, before a pair of playoff cards and one final event goes down at the end of 2025.
And more matchups driving further “Grandad Fight League” jokes among fans look to be on the way, starting with a heavyweight clash between 45-year-old Team Los Angeles representative Mir and 47-year-old Werdum, of Team São Paulo.
That was pointed out by some fans while reacting to his first fight since a 2023 decision loss to Junior dos Santos under the Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA banner. Mir, meanwhile, hasn’t fought in MMA since 2019 and lost both his professional boxing debut and Triad Combat bout 2021.
A number of veterans have their first outings under the Global Fight League (GFL) banner confirmed, and the opening matchups include a rematch between former UFC middleweight champions Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold.
After years of preparation, the GFL is set to stage events for the first time this coming April, as the promotion looks to succeed in the fight game with a team-based format and season structure. 15 cards are planned up until August, after which two playoff events and one final will take place before the year’s end.
The official GFL social media account announced the first fight on Thursday. As expected after Luke Rockhold was traded from Team Dubai to Team Los Angeles, the Californian will run it back with Team New York’s Weidman, a fellow former UFC middleweight champion.
The pair first collided way back in 2015, with Rockhold emerging victorious from the Fight of the Night at UFC 194 after stopping the then-defending champ in round four.
Rockhold, who was also the last 185-pound titleholder in Strikeforce, has competed just once in MMA since 2019. After consecutive knockout losses to Yoel Romero and Jan Błachowicz, the 40-year-old memorably bowed out of the UFC in defeat against Paulo Costa. He’s since gone 1-1 away from MMA, losing to Mike Perry in BKFC and stopping Joe Schilling under the Karate Combat banner.
Weidman, meanwhile, initially appeared to announce his retirement from the sport last month but was quickly announced as the GFL’s latest big-name signing. The Baldwin native has had his hand raised once in three fights since returning from a broken leg. Weidman was most recently finished by Eryk Anders at UFC 309 last November.
The rematch between Rockhold and Weidman wasn’t the only confirmed first-round matchup, with the GFL also revealing a clash between Team Miami’s Yoel Romero and Maurício “Shogun” Rua of Team São Paulo.
The inclusion of Rua was among many that raised concerns in the MMA community. The 43-year-old looked a shadow of his former self when he was knocked out by Ihor Potieria in January 2023. Despite the retirement that followed that fight being widely supported, the former UFC and PRIDE standout now has Romero’s power to deal with.
While four years older than Rua, the game doesn’t appear to have left “Soldier of God” as of yet. Since a loss in his Bellator debut, the Cuban has won three out of four fights in the cage, most recently defeating fellow former UFC title challenger Thiago Santos under the PFL banner last February.
There appears to be a new confusing conversation surrounding the GFL at each turn. When the Global Fight League first started announcing a huge list of athletes that would be entering into their draft which took place last Friday, there were a lot of questions.
It quickly became apparent that all of those names wouldn’t actually be signed to the promotion, only the fighters that were picked up by one of the six teams but things haven’t been that simple. We now know the teams and which fighters were picked but there is still an on-going debate around the legitimacy of the draft following the news that some fighters didn’t agree to be taking part in it.
The most vocal of those names was Rashad Evans who claimed on social media that he didn’t consent to being in the GFL draft after already being picked as a member of the Los Angeles team. GFL founder Darren Owen looked to explain this during his recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show.
Owen said that out of the 120 fighters who were selected, only a “couple” of them hadn’t signed their contracts before the drafts took place which could be for multiple reasons. He specifically mentioned that in the case of Evans, they had already been told by his management that they had the all clear to put Evans in.
He stated that the GFL doesn’t want to sign fighters that don’t want to be there so every member of the roster had the option to part ways with the promotion after being drafted. With that in mind, Owen believes that this is just like any other draft where there are some final boxes to tick before the Global Fight League gets underway in April.
“We’ll see. Literally the day before the draft I’m like, ‘Ali, we’re good to put him in?’ And he’s like, ‘Yes brother, yes brother, we’re good to put him in.’ So we put him in and obviously Rashad came out afterwards and said like, ‘Hey I didn’t sign.’ I think if you look at the history of drafts, are any of those athletes signed before they get drafted to the team? No… There’s a lot of examples of thing that happen post-draft and this is just similar format to that.”
Ahead of its inaugural draft Friday, the Global Fight League (GFL) has claimed to have signed former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson.
In recent weeks and months, the newly created GFL — the latest attempt at making a team format successful in MMA — has announced a lengthy list of signings ahead of its launch in 2025, including multiple former champions from the UFC and other promotions.
And while the inaugural draft takes place today, the organization is still rolling out some notable names.
Among its latest slew of social media announcements, the GFL posted that it has signed Ferguson, whose UFC future has been uncertain after his losing skid reached a record-breaking eight straight setbacks last year.
15 GFL cards are planned up until August, after which two playoff events and one final will take place before the year’s end. The first is slated to go down in April.
The promotion’s team format will see six city teams — Los Angeles, Miami, New York, São Paulo, London and Dubai — select 20 fighters each (two per division) from a pool of over 400 fighters at Friday’s draft.
Each team has been assigned a prominent coach and team manager, with the likes of Ray Longo, Javier Mendez, and Conan Silveira confirmed as trainers and Cain Velasquez, Lyoto Machida, and Thiago Alves as managers.
Among the most notable fighter signings are former UFC champions Luke Rockhold, Tyron Woodley, Fabrício Werdum, Benson Henderson, Anthony Pettis, Frank Mir, Junior dos Santos, Andrei Arlovski and Renan Barão. That’s in addition to high-profile veterans like Alexander Gustafsson, Yoel Romero, Gegard Mousasi, Aleksei Oleinik, Paige VanZant, Kevin Lee, Thiago Santos, Jeremy Stephens, Hector Lombard and Jimmie Rivera.
A number of other comebacks have also raised skeptical eyebrows, including the latest return from retirement for Brazil’s Marlon Moraes. The ex-WSOF champ most recently hung up the gloves after a brief stint in the PFL extended his losing skid to seven straight fights.
The GFL introduces an innovative team-based format, featuring six teams from cities around the world competing in a league structure that includes playoffs. The first draft is scheduled for Jan. 24.
The GFL disclosed the latest draft entrants in a recent press release, as well as the cities that will represent each team and the managers and coaches set to lead them.
The new draft pool features notable names such as Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Yoel Romero, Chad Mendes, Renan Barao, Douglas Lima, Ovince Saint Preux and Todd Duffee. Meanwhile, the six teams will represent some of the world’s most iconic cities: Los Angeles, Miami, New York, São Paulo, London and Dubai.
Here’s a look at the managers and coaches appointed to lead the six teams in the GFL:
Los Angeles: UFC Hall of Famer Wanderlei Silva has been named the manager of Team Los Angeles, with the renowned Rafael Cordeiro stepping in as the head coach.
Miami: Thiago Alves will manage Team Miami, with Conan Silveira as the head coach.
New York: The manager for Team New York is still to be announced, with the team set to be coached by the famed Ray Longo.
São Paulo: Team São Paulo will be led by Brazil’s own former UFC champion Lyoto Machida as manager, with the legendary Andre Pederneiras as the team’s coach.
London: UFC veteran Luke Barnatt will take the reins as manager, while Carl Prince of Manchester Top Team will serve as the head coach for Team London.
Darren Owen, the company’s co-founder, has outlined an array of unique benefits tailored to prioritize fighters’ welfare.
These include comprehensive training support, insurance coverage, a 50-50 revenue-sharing model, pension plans, and various other perks aimed at ensuring financial stability and fostering long-term professional well-being for the athletes.
The promotion has, however, come under fire for signing a number of aging veterans for the upcoming draft, including Frank Mir, Marlon Moraes, and Tyron Woodley.
The Global Fight League, or GFL, have announced a huge amount of names who will be eligible for the promotion’s upcoming draft this month. GFL is set to host its first event around April where the team-based season format will kick off once fighters have been selected by their chosen teams.
Many of the names on the current roster, particularly on the men’s side, are former UFC fighters who will add a certain amount of name value to the promotion from the very start. Amongst them is former UFC interim lightweight title challenger Kevin Lee who recently appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show to go into more detail about the promotion and his initial impressions of working with them.
Lee spoke during the interview about other names that could be joining him in the promotion who could be potential opponents for him at some stage. He specifically mentioned a former opponent of his who has been on a difficult run inside the Octagon as of late.
One of the criticisms of the GFL thus far has been the amount of fighters on the roster who are perceived to be over the hill or in some cases, already at the end of their careers. That would also be the narrative surrounding Tony Ferguson whose name still carries a degree of weight despite the fact that he has lost his last eight fights in a row which is a record for the MMA leader.
It appeared following his last defeat against Michael Chiesa that “El Cucuy” had one foot in retirement after he took off one of his gloves inside the cage before he later confirmed that he isn’t done yet. During his losing streak, Dana White has repeatedly made it clear that he hopes Ferguson retires with his 41st birthday being just around the corner.
However, according to what Lee has heard, it looks like Ferguson could be beginning a new chapter rather than closing the book for good.
“I’ve heard a couple of names tossed around, the one that interests me the most is Tony Ferguson,” Lee told Helwani. “He’s had his ups and downs in his career but we’ve had a great fight for the UFC championship and I think that’s something that a lot of people can get behind and that’s a fight that I really, really want. He’s in talks with them.”
"I've heard a couple of names tossed around. The one that interests me the most is Tony Ferguson… That's a fight that I really, really want." – @MoTownPhenom
Cain Velasquez is now set to channel his fighting spirit into a managerial role with one of the newest MMA organizations on the scene.
On Friday, the Global Fight League (GFL) revealed in an official statement that former UFC heavyweight champion Velasquez has signed on with the promotion as a team manager. Accompanying him in this venture is his trusted associate, the esteemed American Kickboxing Academy coach Javier Mendez, who will take on the role of head coach for Velasquez’s team.
The 42-year-old Californian is facing allegations of firing several shots at Harry Goularte, who was allegedly involved in molesting Velasquez’s then-four-year-old son. In the chaos of the high-speed pursuit, Velasquez struck Goularte’s stepfather, Paul Bender, instead.
Velasquez was arrested without resistance by local authorities and, due to the severity of the charges, spent eight months in incarceration. He was eventually granted bail in November 2022, set at a $1 million bond.
GFL is set to make its debut in April, though the exact date remains under wraps. Unlike traditional formats, GFL introduces a league-based structure with playoffs, offering a fresh approach by incorporating a team-oriented format, unlike the PFL’s individual-centric model.
The promotion has already signed an impressive roster of over 300 fighters, many of whom are well-known names from major organizations like the UFC, Bellator, and PFL. Notable fighters such as Paige VanZant, Tyron Woodley, Luke Rockhold, and other prominent figures will headline the action.
GFL brings together the best in MMA:
🏆 World Champions: Wanderlei Silva, Fabricio Werdum, Anthony Pettis, Luke Rockhold
🔥 Top Contenders: Kevin Lee, Alex Gustafsson, Pannie Kianzad, Stuart Austin
Former UFC prospect Paige VanZant is set to make her mixed martial arts comeback in 2025 under the banner of a new organization.
The one highly touted “12 Gauge” started life on MMA’s biggest stage 3-0 but had her momentum stalled by losses to the likes of Rose Namajunas and Michelle Waterson-Gomez. And a submission setback to Amanda Ribas in 2020 that marked her third setback in four fights ultimately came as the end of her UFC journey.
Since then, VanZant has tried her hand at just about everything, from OnlyFans content creation and professional wrestling away from combat sports to bare-knuckle boxing, influencer boxing, and Power Slap in it.
Now, the 30-year-old Oregon native is set to come full circle with a return to MMA, which she announced during a recent episode of her podcast alongside husband Austin Vanderford.
VanZant revealed that she’s become the latest notable name to put pen to paper on a deal with the newly created Global Fight League (GFL) as it gears up to launch this year.
“I need to be in the gym harder and stronger than ever,” VanZant said. “I’m changing gears again. I’m going to shock the world again. … I’m lucky I’m in such a good position that I do get a lot of opportunities that I get to wade through and pick what kind of sparks my interest the most and what’s the most exciting.
“Yeah, I think that I’m stepping back into the world of MMA,” VanZant added. “They (GFL) offered me a contract and I said, ‘Yes’. So, I’m going back to MMA, and I think this is the perfect opportunity because I definitely didn’t leave MMA because I wasn’t passionate about it anymore.”
The former UFC fighter continued, explaining the appeal of adding her name to the upcoming GFL draft this month ahead of the inaugural season.
“Now there’s this new MMA organization that actually made me really excited to fight for them. They are legit paying their athletes,” she said. “Everyone that I’ve heard that has negotiated their contracts so far is extremely excited and happy.
“They’re doing a pension fund for the fighters, and I think health insurance. … You just never know when it’s over, so I wanna do everything I can to make the most money while I can, and be able to provide for my family forever.”
The GFL is claiming to be firmly fighter-first, with a number of advantages for those who compete under its banner. The promotion is adopting a historically debated format in MMA, with city teams competing throughout the year after choosing a roster of 20 fighters split two per weight class.
Over the last two decades, MMA fans have witnessed numerous promotions rise and fall, with the UFC standing as the dominant force throughout.
Organizations such as Strikeforce, PRIDE Fighting Championships, WEC and even ambitious ventures like Affliction failed to establish a lasting presence in the combat sports landscape.
The latest contender attempting to challenge the UFC’s dominance is the Professional Fighters League (PFL), which made waves in 2023 by acquiring Bellator MMA. This acquisition positioned the PFL as the second-largest MMA promotion. However, the transition has been rocky, with high-profile fighters — including champions Patricio “Pitbull” Freire and Patchy Mix — requesting releases due to inactivity and other frustrations.
Former UFC fighter Matt Brown shared his skepticism about the business strategies of promotions like the PFL during an episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer. Brown argued that the “fighter-first” model, which includes significant payouts like the PFL’s $1 million prize per weight class, might not be sustainable in the long term.
“There’s only been one truly successful fight promotion in history — the UFC. They didn’t build it by helping fighters. I think that’s where they’re all kind of messing up,” Brown said. “I say that as a former fighter — I want to see everybody get paid and do well. But the UFC built their business by lowballing fighters and still almost went out of business. Even now, people debate how they treat their fighters. So, making it a fighter-centric promotion is admirable, but I have a hard time believing it’s the way to build a lasting business.”
Brown questioned how the PFL has managed to sustain itself so far and expressed doubts about its ability to compete at the UFC’s level.
“To be honest, I’m not sure how they’ve existed this far. If they keep doing whatever they’re doing, maybe they’ll keep existing. They bought Bellator, and we thought maybe they’d become a clear No. 2. But they were already claiming that before, acting like they were close to the UFC, and it’s like, no — not really. It’s basically the UFC, and then there’s everybody else.”
PFL 2024 Year In Review @PFLMMA set new records, achieved new milestones, had new successes
Reflecting on the history of successful promotions, Brown noted that growth often requires a long-term, incremental approach.
“If you look at the big players in combat sports — boxing and the UFC — they all started small and took years to build. You can’t start at the top unless you have immense resources, like Saudi Arabia throwing billions around to fund cool fights as a luxury. That’s a completely different game.”
The PFL’s ambitious strategy has garnered attention, but whether it can establish a sustainable model to challenge the UFC’s dominance remains uncertain.
And the same can be said for the recently announced Global Fight League (GFL), which is set to launch in 2025 and boasts of high pay and advantages fighters under its banner will have.
Patrício Pitbull has been very outspoken about his desire to leave the PFL after claiming that he has not been offered any fights in the second half of 2024. The Bellator champion states that during preparations for a recent return, the fight was cancelled and he was not given a new date or opponent.
The Brazilian recently posted a series of messages on social media where he provided the latest update in his communications with the promotion. Pitbull started by saying that following a call between the PFL’s Pete Murray and his management, it was made clear that he will not be granted his release from the promotion with his contract running out in May.
He criticized the promotion for claiming to be fighter first whilst planning to book him in April next year instead of allowing him to be active. In one of several posts, the champion wrote:
“It’s really absurd and disappointing that I have to come on X to voice all this. Do the right thing and release me @PeteMurrayPFL @DonnDavisPFL. I was a @BellatorMMA fighter and it no longer exists. The promotion is gone and so should I.”
It’s really absurd and disappointing that I have to come on X to voice all this. Do the right thing and release me @PeteMurrayPFL@DonnDavisPFL. I was a @BellatorMMA fighter and it no longer exists. The promotion is gone and so should I. @arielhelwani (3/4)
The GFL also claims to be putting the fighters first and has implemented systems like a revenue share and retirement fund in order to prove this stance. The new promotion on the block recently commented on the recent situation regarding Pitbull and his PFL contract by criticizing the way that he has been treated.
“The GFL was designed, in part, to avoid these kinds of issues. ‘Fighters’ are athletes, and more importantly, people. They needn’t be treated merely as commodity. We hope there is a positive resolution to this issue for @PatricioPitbull.”
The GFL was designed, in part, to avoid these kinds of issues. "Fighters" are athletes, and more importantly, people. They needn't be treated merely as commodity. We hope there is a positive resolution to this issue for @PatricioPitbull. https://t.co/YhJSY6Toh4
Tyron Woodley has become one of the earliest fighters to sign with the Global Fighting League (GFL), a new mixed martial arts promotion set to launch next year. Since his UFC release in 2021, Woodley had transitioned to boxing but has now been drawn back to MMA by the enticing opportunities offered by GFL.
The former UFC welterweight champion recently expressed his eagerness to return to the sport, citing the league’s lucrative contract as a significant motivator.
Woodley left the UFC on a four-fight losing streak, but his signing signals a fresh start. He joins a roster that includes notable names such as Benson Henderson, Junior dos Santos, Andrei Arlovski, Fabricio Werdum, and Alexander Gustafsson — just a few of the high-profile veterans who have signed with GFL.
“I’ve been wanting to get back into MMA. I really just kind of put it on pause — I kind of ghosted it for a minute — but it never really ghosted me when I needed it,” Woodley said on The Ariel Helwani Show. “This was a good opportunity. It had some Ric Flair drip with the payout, and it made sense for me.”
Woodley emphasized his commitment to the organization, which he claimed is paying him “boxing money in MMA.”
“I’m fully in with the GFL. So many people called me and asked if I was really signed because they know I wouldn’t step up to something that’s bullsh*t. I’m not going to be part of anything that doesn’t pay me super handsomely or offer a platform that helps build my brand. Everyone that’s signed — probably 90 percent — called me to make sure I was in.
“The OGs get paid, man. Getting boxing money in MMA is a whole flex, and I’m just excited to be a part of the new wave. I’ve been wanting to get back in MMA.”
Despite this being a major announcement in the MMA landscape, the reaction from a lot of fans wasn’t overly positive because many of the top names that have come to terms with the GFL are fighters that are either in the final years of their careers or seen to be past their primes. Given his previous comments on other promotions that have looked to change the MMA landscape, it’s not surprising that UFC boss Dana White was sceptical to say the least.
Rather than criticizing the GFL, White welcomed them to come and try their hand at mixed martial arts during his post-fight press conference in Tampa this past weekend. With a smirk on his face, he is happy to see how other promotions will attempt to compete and do things differently.
“I actually don’t know anything about it. I saw this all the time, I welcome everybody. Listen, there’s no barrier to get into this sport. I hear a lot of people saying that we ‘don’t do this right’ or we ‘don’t do that right’. Come on in everybody, dive in.”
Though White said that he wasn’t familiar with the promotion’s recent announcement, after having a list of some of the top signings read out to him, he gave his response to hearing some of the names that GFL has acquired. There was a particular emphasis places on the inclusion of Wanderlei Silva who at 48-years old, hasn’t fought since he departed the UFC in 2013 and returned to fight twice in Bellator in 2017 and 2018.
Alexander Gustafsson, widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists to never capture a UFC title, is officially parting ways with the promotion after 15 years and 18 fights.
The Swedish star’s most iconic moment came at UFC 165 in September 2013, where he pushed Jon Jones to the limit in a fight many consider one of the greatest in UFC history. Although Gustafsson lost by decision, some fans and analysts believed he had done enough to win. He later challenged for the light heavyweight championship on two more occasions, falling short against Daniel Cormier and in a rematch with Jones.
In recent years, “The Mauler” has struggled to find his footing, losing his last four fights. These include a knockout loss to Jones in their rematch, submission defeats to Anthony Smith and Fabricio Werdum, and a KO loss to Nikita Krylov in July 2022, which marked his most recent bout.
In a recent interview with Matias Andres of Maximum Sports, Gustafsson’s manager, Majdi Shammas, revealed that the veteran fighter had requested and been granted his release from the UFC.
“We asked the UFC to release Alex from his contract,” Shammas said. “They agreed, and we’re grateful for that.”
Gustafsson has since signed a lucrative deal with the Global Fight League (GFL), although the terms allow him to pick and choose his fights rather than locking him into an exclusive contract.
“There are a lot of interesting things that could come up along the way,” Shammas explained. “The GFL has given us a very appealing deal at this stage of our careers, and it’s simply the right time and the right place to strike a deal like this.”
🚨The Global Fight League will launch in April 2025 🗓️ #HelwaniShow
✅6 teams ✅4 continents ✅MMA Draft ✅300+ fighters eligible to be drafted ✅120 fighters will be drafted ✅20 fighters ✅10 divisions (2 fighters per division) ✅GFL Draft will begin in January 2025… pic.twitter.com/oD7tl4odVs
In addition to his GFL deal, Gustafsson has reportedly received an offer from the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). He is expected to debut against a well-known former UFC or Bellator fighter, potentially adding an exciting new chapter to his storied career.
GFL looks to stand out from other promotions by running 15 events next year that will see fighters being drafted to different teams before they compete in a season format. Many of the new signings announced by Owen will be familiar to fight fans with well-known names and former UFC champions like Luke Rockhold, Tyron Woodley, Fabricio Werdum, Anthony Pettis and Frank Mir among many, many others.
The announcement has been met with mixed reactions thus far with some fans taking issue with the team-based format and some of the talent that has joined the promotion. Many of the noteworthy names are fighters towards the end of their careers or in some cases, former competitors that had already announced their retirements.
Not to mention fighters like Wanderlei Silva and Fabricio Werdum who at 48 and 47-years old, recently revealed that they suffered from irreversible brain damage in the antitrust lawsuit against the UFC that has now been settled.
Fight fans gave their response on social media to the catalogue of names that the GFL have signed with six teams drafting 20 fighters from a pool of 300 at the start of the season.
“Bro please read all the names on this list. This is gonna be like the washed fighter Olympics”
Bro please read all the names on this list. This is gonna be like the washed fighter Olympics😭 https://t.co/s8s12gYMEk
The newly created Global Fight League (GFL) has announced a lengthy list of signings ahead of its launch in 2025, including multiple former champions from the UFC and other organizations.
After years of preparation, the GFL is set to stage events for the first time next April, as the promotion looks to succeed in the fight game with a team-based format and season structure.
15 cards are planned up until August, after which two playoff events and one final will take place before the year’s end. GFL founder Darren Owen outlined that and more during an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned.
Perhaps most notably, he revealed some of the major names who have put pen to paper on deals with the GFL and will be in the mix for the inaugural draft on Jan. 24, when six city teams will select 20 fighters (two in each of the 10 divisions) from a pool of 300 athletes.
Among them are former UFC champions Luke Rockhold, Tyron Woodley, Fabrício Werdum, Benson Henderson, Anthony Pettis, Frank Mir, Junior dos Santos, Andrei Arlovski, and Renan Barão, in addition to high-profile veterans like Alexander Gustafsson, Gegard Mousasi, Aleksei Oleinik, Kevin Lee, Thiago Santos, Jeremy Stephens, Hector Lombard and Jimmie Rivera.
Elsewhere, a number of other comebacks have raised skeptical eyebrows, including the latest return from retirement for ex-WSOF champ Marlon Moraes, who most recently hung up the gloves after a brief stint in the PFL extended his losing skid to seven straight fights.
For the full list of names confirmed by Owen and those on the GFL website, see below:
Heavyweight (265lbs)
Alan Belcher (18-8)
Aleksandr Maslov (11-1)
Aleksei Oleinik (61-18-1)
Andrei Arlovski (34-24)
Fabrício Werdum (24-9)
Frank Mir (16-11)
Greg Hardy (7-5)
Guto Inocente (11-6)*
Junior dos Santos (21-10)
Oli Thompson (18-9)
Philipe Lins (18-5)
Robelis Despaigne (5-2)
Roggers Souza (15-8)
Stuart Austin (18-9)
Tanner Boser (21-10)
Image: UFC.com
Light Heavyweight (225lbs)
Alexander Gustafsson (18-8)
Cleiton Silva (16-4)
Emiliano Sordi (23-10)
Ilir Latifi (16-9, 1 NC)*
Rafael Carvalho (17-8)
Thiago Santos (22-13, 1 NC)*
Image: UFC.com
Middleweight (200lbs)
Gegard Mousasi (49-9)
Chauncey Foxworth (19-10)
Glaico Franca (23-8)
Hector Lombard (34-10)
Jozef Wittner (16-4)
Kyle Daukaus (15-4)
Luke Rockhold (16-6)
Markus Perez (14-6)
Phil Hawes (15-4)
Wanderlei Silva (35-14)
Image: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
Welterweight (180lbs)
Abubakar Nurmagomedov (17-4)
Austin Tweedy (11-4)
Benson Henderson (30-12)
Dominick Meriweather (8-1)
Francisco Trinaldo (32-14)
Jordan Mein (31-14)
Julio Spadaccini (8-3)
Michael Irizarry (14-5)
Rousimar Palhares (19-11-1)
Ruan Machado (7-2)
Tyron Woodley (19-7)
Image: UFC/YouTube
Lightweight (165lbs)
Amirkhon Alikhuzhaev (11-4)
Anthony Pettis (25-14)
Ayinda Octave (5-0)
Ayton De Paepe (12-4)
Charles Rosa (14-8)
Feruz Usmonov (4-1)
Gabriel Souza Galindo (9-1)*
Jefferson Pontes (6-1)
Jeremy Stephens (29-21)
John Makdessi (18-9)
Kevin Lee (20-8)
Killys motta (15-4)
Lucas Martins (22-7)
Mohamed Tarek Mohey (9-4)
Oscar Ownsworth (8-3)
Raimundo Batista (18-3)
Sidney Outlaw (19-6)
Stephen Beaumont (11-3)
Will Brooks (26-5)
William Lima (6-3)
Yan Cabral (15-3)
Image: PFL MMA
Featherweight (155lbs)
Alexsandro Cangaty (10-4)
Andre Harrison (22-3-1)
Claudeci Brito (11-4)
Deberson Batista (12-4)
Lance Palmer (22-5)
Lucas Martins (22-7)*
Marcel Adur (16-5)
Marcelo Dias (14-6)
Marlon Moraes (23-13)
Patrizio de Souza (18-6)
Renan Oliveira (11-2)
Image: PFL MMA
Bantamweight (145lbs)
Andre Soukhamthath (14-10)*
Andre Harrison (22-3-1)*
Bubba Jenkins (21-9)*
Cameron Else (11-6)*
Denis Palancica (10-1)
Diego Teixeira (7-4)
Jimmie Rivera (23-5)
Marciano Ferreira (13-3)
Omar Arteaga (11-1)
Pedro Carvalho (13-10)*
Renan Barão (34-0)
Image: UFC.com
Women’s Bantamweight (140lbs)
Alexa Conners (8-5)
Kalindra Faria (19-10-1)
Pannie Kianzad (16-9)
Tonya Evinger (19-8-1)
Women’s Flyweight (130lbs)
Chiara Penco (9-5)
Karolina Owczarz (5-3)*
Miao Ding (18-8)
Women’s Strawweight (120lbs)
Bi Nguyen (6-9)
Silvania Monteiro (11-4)
Image: UFC.com
*Fighter’s weight class for the 2025 draft not yet disclosed on the GFL website
While the chances of a team-based format succeeding in MMA have been doubted by plenty of analysts in the media space, Owen explained to Helwani why he’s confident of it working.
“We’re able to create unique storylines that have never existed in the sport,” Owen said. “That’s one thing we keep hearing. Everyone loves the sport of MMA but the storylines are often not there. What this brings is the talking points, the, ‘OK, are these two fighters going to be teammates or are they going to be potentially fighting?’ And different strategies that come in, different betting elements that come in.
“The No. 1 driver in sports fandom proven is cheering for your favorite team. Favorite teams have never really existed in the sport of MMA. So we’re just creating what already exists and you see it across all the major professional leagues in the world, and this is just the implementation of that team-based league model for the third most popular sport in the world.”
Fighter contracts with the GFL will be exclusive and include a rare 50/50 revenue split. The promotion is also promising to contribute eight percent of each athlete’s purse into a retirement fund and two toward insurance.
“Whatever revenue we receive, whether it’s media rights deals, sponsorships, ticket sales, all of that, 50% goes into the fighter revenue pool from that specific event and then those fighters that are on that event are the ones who share in that revenue percentage.
“Athletes get paid either or — whatever is greater — their guaranteed amount or their revenue share percentage. So someone might have a $50,000 guaranteed purse and they earn 1% revenue share, but if there’s $10 million in that revenue pool for that event, then they’re going to receive $100,000 instead of what they were thinking was $50,000.”
A lot seemingly still needs to come together before the GFL’s launch in 2025, including a broadcast deal before events are staged in April.
Owen confirmed talks are set to take place regarding that in January, and if no agreement is made with an outside entity, he told Helwani the organization is prepared to create its own platform to stream on.
