PFL has launched a new pay-per-view (PPV) series that will see the promotion split half the revenue with its fighters.
PFL taking things to PPV
PFL Founder Donn Davis had revealed to MMA Mania that the promotion will be launching a new PPV series that will take place every quarter, with four a year. It was all to kick off next year in 2023.
The promotion’s biggest star, two-time lightweight champion Kayla Harrison is the first fighter that is signed to the series. However, a new report clarifies that there will actually only be two events instead of four.
Although, with less shows than initially anticipated, there are some huge benefits to be had. Davis announced there will be 50/50 PPV shares between the promotion and the fighters.
“A lot of the capital from this new round is gonna go toward: we’re open for business for top fighters,” Davis. “We disrupted — call it the media business — with the league format.
“We have as good a product on TV — not pay-per-view — as UFC or anybody. But until today, we’ve never been in the pay-per-view business. So if you’re a pay-per-view fighter, Conor McGregor, you’re [Kamaru] Usman, Jon Jones, you’re people who — Kayla Harrison next year — you’re so good, you’re top two, three, four in your weight class, your economics demand you fight on pay-per-view.
“Until today, we’ve never been in that business. We’ve only been in the media business so far. Starting in 2023, outside of the league format, we’re going to put on two super fights.
“As of today, we’re open for business. But we’re going to do two things different. Just as we disrupted before, fighters will be true economic partners in their fights. 50/50 for pay-per-view shares. They will share 50 percent of the revenue of their pay-per-view fights.
“Never happened in the history of MMA, No. 1. And No. 2, until now in pay-per-view it’s been a one-company town. It’s now a two company town. If you’re a fighter, you have choice.
“When you have choice, you have opportunity. Before, the only company that put on successful pay-per-views were UFC and they’re great at it. Starting in 2023, there’s a second company.”
This is a huge move for PFL in regards to fighter morale, and will likely be a major selling point in free agency moving forward.
Revenue sharing in particular has been a big point of contention between most fighters in the UFC, and the Las Vegas-based mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion.
Only high-profile fighters such as Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, and several UFC champions truly get to reap the rewards of PPV and/or event revenue.
Now, the PFL has taken a major step forward in that regard. It will be interesting to see if any UFC fighters have anything to say about the promotion’s latest move.
