What Is PFL? Where Did It Come From?

The PFL (Professional Fighters League) is a mixed martial arts organisation that competes with the UFC, Bellator & One FC. It generally operates as a competitive league rather than the usual fight promotion and generally holds grand prix and participates in crossovers. PFL was founded in 2018 and is growing quickly in popularity with its unique approach and growing star power. 

A feature that makes PFL unique is the season-based approach to its schedule. They engage in a regular season, a playoff a championship and recently, a crossover with other promotions. During the regular season, fighters accumulate points based on their performance. The best performers in each division then advance to the playoffs, where they compete in a series of elimination fights until a champion is established in each division.

An appealing aspect of PFL is the prizemoney. The promotion is attracting more and more talent due to the ability for brand sponsorships and an attractive prize pool. On top of traditional payments for fighters to show, the PFL offers generous payouts to winners of each weight class championship. Fighters are awarded 3 points for a win, if a fighter loses, they are awarded 0 points, if they win in the first round they get an extra 3 points, 2 points in the second round and an extra 1 in the final round. Because of this system, every round counts and every fight is important. This approach offers a linear path for fighters to earn big money based on their success in the promotion. For example, Rob Wilkinson who won the PFL Light-Heavyweight tournament won $1 Million. 

The PFL roster is growing at an alarming rate. The PFL roster is full of ex-UFC veterans and young hungry prospects. The league is attracting strong talent from all over the world, which is making for more exciting fights for fans. Even stars like Jake Paul and Francis Ngannou have signed with PFL. Female boxing legend Claressa Shields has also signed with the PFL, and remains undefeated in the promotion at the time of this article. 

The PFL is generally available to watch on Stan Sport in Australia. Plus, with plans to expand to Australia, its accessibility is growing rapidly. PFL offers a unique approach to mixed martial arts. It's a refreshing take on the sport and it continues to grow and evolve. The league-style approach and a focus on fighter earnings means talent is evolving. PFL is now a significant player in the MMA landscape, providing great shows and opportunities for fighters to boost their brand. The promotion is also increasing their events across the world, bringing more new fans into the sport. 

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