<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Professional Fighters League has announced a nine-bout card for April 23.</li><li>It is the first <keyword id="1715557" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="PFL">PFL</keyword> show since 2019 as it postponed its 2020 season amid the coronavirus pandemic.</li><li><keyword id="3893074" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Anthony-Pettis">Anthony Pettis</keyword> fights <keyword id="9579757" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="clay-collard">Clay Collard</keyword> in a main event that will be broadcast on ESPN.</li></ul>The former UFC champion Anthony Pettis headlines <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/pfl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Professional Fighters League</a>'s season opener April 23, competing in a lightweight match against <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/boxing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boxing</a> cult hero <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/clay-collard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Clay Collard</a>.Pettis vs. Collard will headline the PFL's first show since 2019.The American <keyword id="6403489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma">MMA</keyword> firm postponed its 2020 season so it could preserve the integrity of its league format amid the coronavirus pandemic, the co-founder and chairman <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-professional-fighters-league-wants-to-change-mma-forever-2020-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donn Davis told Insider last year</a>.While other MMA companies restarted their live event operations, the PFL expanded on its content offerings and bolstered its roster with big-name talent acquisitions behind-the-scenes.One of those acquisitions was Pettis, who <a href="https://www.insider.com/former-ufc-champion-anthony-pettis-agrees-to-join-pfl-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed a PFL deal in December</a>, and will make his debut for the company in the coming months alongside other signings like Fabricio Werdum, <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-claressa-shields-could-master-mma-in-pfl-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Claressa Shields</a>, and Rory MacDonald.Pettis and Collard's 155-pound clash tops a nine-bout bill that will be broadcast on ESPN from a site in Las Vegas.The co-main event features two-time PFL lightweight champion <keyword id="10815815" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="natan-schulte">Natan Schulte</keyword> against another PFL debutant, Marcin Held, a Polish submission specialist with 33 bouts on his record.Another two-time PFL champion, the featherweight ruler <keyword id="10815814" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="lance-palmer">Lance Palmer</keyword>, fights "Bad Man" Bubba Jenkins - an accomplished wrestler who has fought 11 times in Bellator MMA.You can see the full April 23 schedule below:<ul><li>Main card: Anthony Pettis vs. Clay Collard, Natan Schulte vs. Marcin Held, Movlid Khaybulaev vs. Jason Soares, and Lance Palmer vs. Bubba Jenkins</li><li>Undercard: Loik Radzhabov vs. Johnny Case, Joilton Lutterbach vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier, Akhmed Aliev vs. Mikhail Odintsov, Jon Sungbin vs. Tyler Diamond, and Brendan Loughnane vs. Sheymon Moraes</li></ul>"The PFL's season kickoff on April 23 is one that is sure to be a showstopper and full of nonstop action," PFL CEO Peter Murray said in a statement to Insider."The talent that exists within these matchups is unparalleled and we can't wait to see the outcome of each fight."The PFL is unlike other combat <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> companies because it does not hold standalone matches designed to propel the winners up divisional rankings and into eventual title shots.Instead, it functions as a typical North American sports league like the NFL, NBA, and MLS, where there is a regular season, playoffs, and finals.After returning on April 23, regular season events will be held on April 29, May 6, June 10, June 17, and June 25.The PFL then moves into its playoff events, the dates of which are yet to be confirmed.The finals are staged on December 31 each year and are worth $1 million to successful fighters.

Former UFC champ Anthony Pettis fights cult boxing hero Clay Collard as the PFL returns for its first show in over a year

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Professional Fighters League has announced a content partnership with <keyword id="6354616" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Twitter">Twitter</keyword>.</li><li>The social media platform will broadcast highlights from <keyword id="1715557" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="PFL">PFL</keyword> events, as well as other content.</li><li>PFL returns Friday with its first event since 2019. Pettis fights Collard in the main event.</li></ul>Twitter will live stream <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/pfl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PFL MMA</a> content in a new deal announced four days before the start of the combat <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> promotion's new season.The New York-headquartered company is unlike other <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a> firms because it structures itself in a league format commonly associated with major American sports like the NBA and the NFL.This differs to the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a>, which PFL hopes to one day rival, as the <keyword id="6403489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma">MMA</keyword> market leader holds standalone matches designed to propel winners up rankings systems until they one day challenge the champions in each weight class.PFL's 2021 season begins Friday and will be broadcast on ESPN in the US. Social media platform Twitter, though, will live stream fight content, as well as real-time highlights from the show."Twitter and PFL are looking forward to advancing the sport by delivering a premium viewing experience to MMA fans worldwide," PFL CEO Peter Murray said in a statement sent to Insider."Our partnership with Twitter, the place where MMA conversation thrives, will bring fans closer to the action by providing real-time content for our global fan base."That content includes goings-on before the fight, during the fight, and after the fight, inclusive of general fight week activities like the bubble experience, weigh-ins, and post-event press conferences involving fighters."We are pumped about our new collaboration with the Professional Fighters League," said TJ Adeshola, who is the head of US sports partnerships at Twitter."MMA fans on Twitter are very engaged, and they're looking for creative new ways to experience fight content directly within their timelines."The PFL delivers an innovative product for the MMA community on Twitter and we look forward to bringing this epic partnership to life."The partnership begins this week and will be in place for the PFL's first show in the COVID-era on April 23.The PFL postponed its 2020 season because of safety concerns related to the pandemic, stating that it wanted to protect the integrity of its league system.The first half of the 2021 season takes place in a quarantined zone at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City.Former UFC champion Anthony Pettis fights the Top Rank boxing cult hero Clay Collard in Friday's main event.Natan Schulte and Lance Palmer, both past PFL champions, compete in separate bouts at the show. Up-and-coming prospect Brendan Loughnane, who is capable of enjoying a breakout year, will also compete.

Twitter will live stream PFL MMA content in a new deal announced 4 days before 2021 season

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11136371" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="brendan-loughnane">Brendan Loughnane</keyword> has what it takes to win the $1 million <keyword id="1715557" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="PFL">PFL</keyword> <keyword id="6403489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma">MMA</keyword> tournament in 2021.</li><li>That's according to PFL analyst and ex-fighter Kenny Florian, who is impressed by the British competitor.</li><li>The PFL starts its 2021 season on Friday. It will be broadcast on ESPN+ and ESPN 2.</li></ul>British fighter Brendan Loughnane has enough talent and potential to win the $1 million <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/pfl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PFL MMA</a> featherweight tournament.That's according to PFL analyst and commentator Kenny Florian, a former fighter himself, who recently told Insider that he is blown away by the striker's footwork and believes the 31-year-old could come of age in 2021."I've been watching Brendan for a long time and always felt like he's one of those guys who had a tremendous amount of potential," former UFC athlete Florian said. "It now seems like he's realizing that potential."Loughnane has fought twice in PFL before but competes in the 145-pound competition Friday as the company's new season begins after a 16-month COVID-enforced hiatus. Loughnane fights Sheymon Moraes in the first round.The first event in the new season, PFL 1, takes place behind-closed-doors at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, and additional points will be awarded to fighters if they win by knockout or submission. The earlier the finish, the more points that athlete gets. These extra points can prove vital as fighters vie for league rankings, and a playoff push later in the campaign, before a high-stakes $1 million final at the end of the year.The featherweight bracket is home to 2019 champion Lance Palmer, who will be hoping to retain his title this season.But Florian expects Loughnane to impress in 2021."Watching him compete over the last few years it seems like he's a much more mature fighter who is really believing in his skills, and putting it all together extremely well," said the commentator."For me, he's one of the favorites. He's in a tough division, but the way he moves and fights … this tournament is coming at a very good time for Brendan, and I think he can go very far and potentially even take the whole thing."It is easy to analyze Loughnane's striking and say he can throw good kicks and nasty elbows, but Florian said what really separates him from other strikers is his expert footwork."Brendan possesses excellent footwork," Florian said. "He knows how to get in, and get out. And for the most part, he's defensively responsible."This is unlike a lot of mixed martial art strikers. There's a lot of good offensive strikers out there, but I think Brendan balances his defense extremely well while staying active. That's a rarity in MMA, generally speaking."His footwork sets him apart, certainly from Sheymon Moraes who is a dangerous striker but doesn't really possess the in-and-out footwork, and understanding of angles, like Brendan."<div type="image" title="Kenny Florian joins PFL MMA" height="500" width="1000" msid="82183637" hostid="261"></div>Florian tipped <keyword id="11136372" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="movlid-khaibulaev">Movlid Khaibulaev</keyword> as a dark horse in the competition because the Russian athlete has the benefit of being schooled by Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, the late father and trainer of recently-retired UFC king Khabib Nurmagomedov.But it is Loughnane who Florian believes is a clear tournament favorite."Brendan can throw everything at you and, for me, it's really his fight to lose. He's good with knees, kicks - low level kicks, high level kicks, body - he knows how to attack the body with his hands. He knows how to mix it all up."And he's not a one-dimensional striker. That gives him the ability to go far in this tournament because he has a lot of tools, and he knows how to use them."Loughnane and Moraes contest the very first match and open the PFL 1 show.<a href="https://www.insider.com/korean-falcon-gives-impassioned-stop-asian-hate-speech-before-pfl-2021-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sung Bin Jo, otherwise known as the Korean Falcon, fights Tyler Diamond</a> on the preliminary card on ESPN+ ahead of a main card on ESPN that features Anthony Pettis against Clay Collard in the main event.

British fighter Brendan Loughnane could win the $1 million PFL tournament, according to analyst Kenny Florian

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11134941" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="sung-bin-jo">Sung Bin Jo</keyword>, a fighter and celebrity from South Korea, returns to <keyword id="6403489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma">MMA</keyword> competition Friday at <keyword id="1715557" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="PFL">PFL</keyword> 1.</li><li>Better known as <keyword id="11134940" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="korean-falcon">Korean Falcon</keyword> for his ability to hunt and finish, Sung fights Tyler Diamond on ESPN.</li><li>Ahead of the fight he called for peace and used his platform to give a speech against anti-Asian hate.</li></ul>MMA fighter Sung Bin Jo, better known as Korean Falcon, gave a passionate speech about stopping anti-Asian hatred during an interview with Insider just days before his <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/pfl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Professional Fighters League (PFL)</a> debut Friday.Korean Falcon had been soaring in Asian <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a> up until a one-fight call-up to the UFC where his performance level did not match what he had shown throughout his career in South Korea.The 28-year-old, who is as capable of knocking opponents out with strikes as he is submitting them with chokes, is hoping to recapture any lost momentum as he competes in PFL's highly-anticipated 2021 season.They call him the Korean Falcon because of his ability to finish a fight with a variety of different techniques on a moment's notice - much like the falcons when they hunt."They never miss," he said of the bird that inspired his nickname.Ahead of the PFL 1 event, which will be broadcast on ESPN from the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, Korean Falcon wanted to use his media platform to call for peace."There have been a lot of Asian-related hate crimes near New York and around the States," he told us via a translator, referencing a rise in COVID-related abuse against Asian Americans.<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-56218684" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to the BBC</a>, recent crimes include a Filipino-American who was slashed with a box cutter and a Chinese woman who was set on fire.In March, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/atlanta-shooting-victims-6-of-8-dead-were-asian-women-2021-3">eight people were shot dead,</a> including six Asian women, in an attack on three Atlanta massage parlors.Commenting on atrocities such as these, Korean Falcon said: "We're all humans, and I just wish the best for everyone."I hope for peace at the end, and for everybody to make good harmony around the communities. I will always try my best to do that as well."<h2>Korean Falcon fights Tyler Diamond at PFL 1 on Friday</h2><div type="image" title="Sung Bin Jo" height="625" width="1250" msid="82179714" hostid="261"></div>Korean Falcon got into <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> from a young age and, through MMA, has become a celebrity in Korea. He filmed a drama with a famous actor in his homeland, shot a commercial, and took part in a variety show.At 21, he enlisted into the army for his mandatory service and told us he was smart to do that from a young age. Military service taught him patience, and to try to understand the viewpoints of other people, he said.He spoke to us while in quarantine, as part of the PFL's bubble in Atlantic City, and said he relaxes by watching movies, playing games, and singing K-Pop, Korean ballad, and rap songs.Despite preparing for his first pandemic-era fight, he said he is approaching his athletic peak and is ready for Friday opponent Tyler Diamond."Tyler Diamond may have an edge over me with his wrestling technique, but I won't be easy to take down, and I have the edge over the striking position," he said."I'm not setting huge goals right now because I'm focusing solely on the steps in front of me at the PFL and my first match against Tyler Diamond, though I'm aware the biggest threat at featherweight is Lance Palmer - the two-time winner of this tournament."In a closing remark, Korean Falcon said: "Please love all the players in PFL, and love the tournament."Since I came across from Korea, please remember the Korean Falcon because I'll do my best and always try to make a good impression."

MMA fighter Korean Falcon gave a passionate 'Stop Asian Hate' speech just days before his PFL debut

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6403489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma">MMA</keyword> firm Professional Fighters League has announced $65 million of fresh investment.</li><li>The funding will go toward "international expansion and top talent acquisition," <keyword id="1715557" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="PFL">PFL</keyword> MMA said.</li><li>The upcoming PFL season begins Friday, April 23 in Las Vegas.</li></ul><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/pfl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Professional Fighters League (PFL)</a> has added $65 million of financing as it looks to expand international and accelerate its growth, the fight firm told Insider Thursday.The PFL acquired the World Series of Fighting in 2017 and debuted with its inaugural season the following year.The New York-based mixed martial arts firm follows conventional North American league structures like the NBA and the NFL, featuring a regular season, playoffs, and finals. That makes it unlike promotions such as the UFC which focus on standalone matches that can propel winners up rankings until they force title shots.The PFL has completed two seasons to date, and restarts its live events business on Friday, April 23, having postponed its 2020 season because of the coronavirus pandemic.Competitors could fight up to five times throughout the year, culminating with $1 million final bouts in six weight classes in a big show on December 31.This latest $65 million investment in the PFL business brings total funding to $175 million so far.The new capital will "fund international expansion, top talent acquisition, new product innovation, and global audience growth," a company statement said.The funding round was led by Ares Capital, Elysian Park Ventures, and Knighthead Capital."PFL is the disruptive company in the massive MMA market," PFL chairman and co-founder <keyword id="9216803" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="donn-davis">Donn Davis</keyword> said. The cash injection will "fuel aggressive growth," he added."In the PFL, fans follow individual fighter 'win and advance' journeys throughout the regular season, playoffs, and championship," the PFL CEO Peter Murray said in a statement sent to Insider."There is no undercard in the PFL - every fight matters in the PFL," Murray added.The PFL's roster strengthens year-on-year thanks to a combination of home-grown talents like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kayla-harrison-says-ronda-rousey-comparison-unfair-as-shes-better-2019-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">women's MMA star Kayla Harrison</a>, returning champions like Lance Palmer and Ray Cooper III, and big-name acquisitions such as the <a href="https://www.insider.com/former-ufc-champion-anthony-pettis-agrees-to-join-pfl-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">former UFC champions Anthony Pettis,</a> Fabricio Werdum, and the former Bellator champion Rory MacDonald.Women's boxing superstar Claressa Shields will also make her MMA debut for the PFL, but will do so in a standalone match separate to the league structure.Her first fight will be "a massive, global event" in June," <a href="https://www.insider.com/pfl-hopes-to-reimagine-combat-sports-with-new-season-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Murray told Insider in December</a>.<div type="image" title="Claressa Shields PFL MMA" height="1000" width="1500" msid="81092827" hostid="261"></div>The upcoming PFL season will take place in Las Vegas. "Las Vegas is, in my view, the pinnacle of combat events and for legacy," Murray told us."And we're looking forward to coming back and having Las Vegas as the home for the 2021 PFL season."<h2>PFL expects 'explosive' viewership growth on ESPN</h2>While the PFL's live event business was on pause in 2020, the company launched PFL Studios, which tells audio-visual stories about MMA, the PFL, and PFL's athletes. It also launched the PFL MMA app, which is a platform for those PFL Studios stories, and the company's archival footage of live events."We've evolved from an event-driven company to a year-round content company, and now we're going to be a media company and destination for broader combat," said Murray.Other innovations in the new season include more extensive data pooled from its SmartCage, which will provide statistics for athletes in-camp and then fight fans watching on a live broadcast.This, Murray said, provides "invaluable data for how athletes are measuring aspects of their performance against different opponents, like speed, for example."The PFL has enjoyed growing ratings on its US broadcast partner ESPN, and Murray told Insider recently that the company expects its viewership figures in the country to double from the 361,000 viewers who tuned in to ESPN2 for its 2019 championship event."It's going to be our most exciting season to date and we expect absolute, continued, explosive growth."

Professional Fighters League raises $65 million financing round to fuel international expansion and accelerate growth

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Professional Fighters League hopes to continue its mission of reimagining the world of combat <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> when its new season begins in 2021.</li><li>The <keyword id="1715557" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="PFL">PFL</keyword> has been an outlier this year as the <keyword id="6403489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma">MMA</keyword> firm postponed its 2020 season because of the coronavirus pandemic.</li><li>During the year it has enhanced its digital offerings and added significant names to its roster for the new season, next year.</li><li>The CEO <keyword id="5885869" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Peter-Murray">Peter Murray</keyword> told Insider this month about what's to come, and spoke about the detail of its behind-closed-doors residency in Las Vegas from April.</li></ul>The Professional Fighters League (PFL) hopes to continue its mission statement of reimagining the world of combat sports when its new season begins in April 2021.PFL MMA was the only major fight organization to postpone operations for the entire year because of the coronavirus pandemic.Other MMA companies like the UFC, Bellator MMA, and ACA use standalone matches during a fight night, with the winners and losers moving up and down divisional rankings.But the PFL is different. It integrated an NFL-style season, playoff, and championship format into its model, and so decision-makers did not hold events in 2020.Peter Murray, the CEO of PFL, told Insider earlier in the year that the company focused on its digital offerings, PFL Studios, and an OTT app, while also exploring the free agency market to enhance its roster when operations restart.With the new season five months away, Murray spoke to Insider again to look ahead at his firm's offer for the new season - its third since its founding in 2018.He told us about:<ol><li>Details of a Las Vegas residency for events in 2021</li><li>Talent management and new PFL signings</li><li>Tech innovations and market response to 2020 digital offerings</li><li>Hopes to double its audience share on the ESPN platform in the US</li></ol><h2>Creating a bubble environment at a Caesars Entertainment venue</h2><div type="image" title="Caesers Entertainment" height="600" width="1000" msid="79824355" hostid="261"></div>When Insider interviewed Murray earlier in the year, he spoke of his excitement at the potential for a vaccine arriving, which could drastically alter the live event industries.As the FDA has now approved Pfizer and Moderna as vaccine candidates for mass rollout in the US, and considering partial fan allowances are already in place for some big boxing events in the country, is there a possibility PFL could shift away from a behind-closed-doors bubble environment before or midway through the 2021 season?It is, for Murray, too early to say."We are first and foremost planning for the worst, and should the landscape change as it relates to safety for fighters, operational staff, and of course fans, then we will open up our events in 2021 to fans," he told us this month."But, at this point, we're planning a live, made-for-TV and streaming experience at a single site in Las Vegas, in partnership with Caesars [Entertainment]."<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/timcasey/2020/10/20/professional-fighters-league-returning-to-action-on-april-23-in-las-vegas/?sh=3501c3715244" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to Forbes</a>, the site's frontrunners will be Caesars Palace - which has a rich fighting history having hosted mega-fights involving Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard - or Rio - a casino that held MMA events under the Final Fight Championship banner."We're excited," Murray told us."Las Vegas is, in my view, the pinnacle of combat events and for legacy. And we're looking forward to coming back and having Las Vegas as the home for the 2021 PFL season."<h2>PFL's talent management tested </h2><div type="image" title="Lance Palmer MMA PFL" height="1331" width="2000" msid="79824356" hostid="261"></div>The PFL's ability to manage talent was tested in October when Lance Palmer, a two-time PFL tournament winner, tweeted that fighters were suing the PFL because of how it postponed the season due to COVID-19.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Lance Palmer (@LancePalmer) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1313112586326618113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2020</a></blockquote>PFL founder and chairman <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-professional-fighters-league-wants-to-change-mma-forever-2020-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donn Davis previously told Insider</a> that it would be paying fighters not to fight, with a monthly stipend of $1,000 paid to the athletes under contract.Murray added that the PFL has sympathized with the fighters on its roster, honored the stipend, and allowed fighters to compete in other regional MMA promotions or different disciplines outside of MMA.He added: "There's a sub-set of fighters who voiced concern and frustration, and of course, we get that."Candidly, that's in the rear-view mirror, though. There have been no lawsuits imposed on the PFL - no litigation. We'll be back in the cage with the best season ever coming in April, and that's what the conversation [with fighters] is about now."<h2>There have been significant additions to the PFL roster</h2><div type="image" title="Claressa Shields" height="1000" width="1500" msid="79824358" hostid="261"></div>The former Bellator MMA welterweight champion Rory MacDonald, the former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum, and the former two-time Olympic gold medal-winner Claressa Shields are three significant athletes who will be making their debuts in 2021 for the New York-headquartered firm.Signing Shields may have come as a surprise for some, considering she is an undefeated boxer in the prime of her career in that sport.However, it is a relationship Murray has fostered for years.Murray, a former senior executive at Under Armour, has worked with many big-name athletes in sponsorship and knew Shields well as he helped outfit the US Olympic team in 2016."I signed the USA Olympic team, we outfitted the team, and Claressa was a prominent athlete. I was inspired by her years ago."Murray said her debut in the PFL would likely be "a massive, global event" in June. She will fight twice in MMA at a minimum, but there could be scope for a third bout before she heads into the 2022 season in the 155-pound division."She's going to absolutely leave her mark in the sport of MMA," Murray said.Of course, Werdum has already made his mark as one of the best heavyweights ever to grace MMA.At 43 years old and with 34 matches under his belt, he's also a veteran. But his addition has excited the PFL's heavyweight division."He was an incredible signing by [PFL President] Ray Sefo," Murray said. "And I know our other fighters in the heavyweight division are also excited."Considering the hype surrounding Shields and the roster's interest in Werdum, it is easy to forget that 2019 addition MacDonald is still to make his first fight for PFL."Boy, Rory is chomping at the bit," said Murray. "He wants to be top dog, and he's ready to prove, in his view, that he can run through the welterweight division."There are also more signings to come."There are big, new signings in every weight class," Murray said. "We've announced some of them … but there are more to come [next 60 days]."<h2>The market response to its digital offerings has pleased PFL</h2><div type="image" title="PFL MMA app" height="500" width="1000" msid="79824359" hostid="261"></div>Integral to the PFL's content drive in 2020, during a year when its live events business was on pause, Murray launched PFL Studios, which tells audio-visual stories about MMA, the PFL, and PFL's athletes, together with the PFL MMA app, which is a platform for those PFL Studios stories, and the company's archival footage of live events."We're focused on our mission to reimagine the world of sport," he said. "And obviously, we're going to do that with our compelling live events, with our long-form storytelling distributed to our partners, including ESPN, which keeps the brand visible."For our OTT app, we're seeing excellent month-over-month usage of the app in the US and internationally. We have a full archive of the 2018 and 2019 seasons, every fight, every event. As well as the World Series of Fighting archive."Murray said that the PFL would be celebrating the Olympic year in combat sports by distributing live events through its app, together with broader combat across different, single disciplines.This will include traditional Olympic combat sports like taekwondo and judo and kickboxing, and jiu-jitsu."We've evolved from an event-driven company to a year-round content company, and now we're going to be a media company and destination for broader combat."We will feature regional MMA promotions around the world, as well as kickboxing and perhaps even wrestling."Other innovations in the new season include more extensive data pooled from its SmartCage, which will provide statistics for athletes in-camp and then fight fans watching on a live broadcast.This, Murray said, provides "invaluable data for how athletes are measuring aspects of their performance against different opponents, like speed, for example."Athletes will have real data on themselves and their opponent, for things like average punch speed and the type of damage that can do, and what you can do to avoid that damage, Murray said."And the same goes for kick speed as well as other data."<h2>Murray expects ESPN ratings to double</h2>The 2019 championship - which saw six $1 million checks awarded to the tournament winners - drew 361,000 viewers on ESPN2, <a href="https://frontofficesports.com/professional-fighters-league-ott" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Front Office Sports</a>.The roster signings, tech innovations, and Las Vegas residency combined with the ESPN platform will see twice as many people tune in to watch the $1 million finals at the end of 2021, Murray hopes."It's going to be our most exciting season to date and we expect absolute, continued, explosive growth," he said.<ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/callum-smith-full-of-anguish-waiting-for-canelo-fight-contract-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Inside one of boxing's biggest bouts of the year as Callum Smith attempts to upset the odds against Canelo Alvarez - the sport's marquee attraction</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/conor-mcgregor-probably-skeptical-about-fighting-in-covid-white-said-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor was 'probably' skeptical about competing when the UFC said it would hold events through COVID, Dana White said</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/watch-jake-paul-drop-sweary-50-million-conor-mcgregor-offer-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jake Paul offers Conor McGregor $50 million to fight him in an insult-filled, expletive-laden video posted on social media</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-claressa-shields-could-master-mma-in-pfl-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Claressa Shields could master MMA at a 'rapid rate' as she's already got the mind of a warrior, PFL stablemate Clay Collard says</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/weve-entered-a-golden-era-of-boxing-exhibitions-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">We've officially entered a golden era of showbiz boxing, and it's all down to Mike Tyson, Jake Paul, and Floyd Mayweather</a></li></ul>

PFL MMA hopes to continue its mission of reimagining the world of combat sports when its new season begins in April 2021

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="3170175" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="One-Championship">One Championship</keyword> and <keyword id="10108031" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="dominance-mma">Dominance MMA</keyword> struck a partnership in the summer.</li><li>According to One founder <keyword id="3492993" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="chatri-sityodtong">Chatri Sityodtong</keyword> the benefits of a relationship work both ways.</li><li>It means Dominance — which lists Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, and Kayla Harrison as clients — spreads its power base beyond America, Sityodtong told Insider.</li><li>He added that it also opens up Dominance's roster, one which contains the Ferraris and Lamborghinis of the <keyword id="6403489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma">MMA</keyword> world.</li></ul>One Championship's relationship with Dominance MMA means the next Khabib Nurmagomedov or Justin Gaethje could head to Asia.Las Vegas-based Dominance, run by <keyword id="9513480" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="ali-abdelaziz">Ali Abdelaziz</keyword> who is one of the most powerful agents in combat <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword>, lists some of the greatest mixed martial artists as clients.Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje feature prominently on Abdelaziz's roster, who fight in the UFC 254 main event on Saturday, October 24 at <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/fight-island" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Fight Island festival</a> in Abu Dhabi.But Abdelaziz and Dominance also guide the careers of other big-name athletes like the PFL MMA superstar Kayla Harrison, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, PFL titleholder Lance Palmer, and skilled contenders such as Cody Garbrandt, Gilbert Burns, and Zabit Magomedsharipov.Dominance has championship-caliber fighters in the UFC, the PFL, and athletes who compete in Bellator MMA.The company has no champions in the Singapore-based fighting firm One, but that could soon change considering Abdelaziz and One Championship founder Chatri Sityodtong have forged a new alliance.Insider spoke to Sityodtong recently and asked the One boss whether a new Nurmagomedov, Gaethje, or Harrison for the new era could head to Asia because of this partnership."Yeah," he said. "For me, there are three major world organizations in MMA. There's One Championship, UFC, and Bellator, and all of us are genuinely looking for the best talent on the planet."I'm sure that we'll win some and we'll lose some, UFC will win some and lose some, and Bellator will win some and lose some."But it's a big world and the fact there are three global players is a good thing. It gives fans a choice, it gives athletes a choice, and yet the market is big enough that three global promotions can succeed as each has its own flavor and approach."<h2>The partnership has links to the submission specialist Renzo Gracie</h2><div type="image" title="Ali Abdelaziz" height="1000" width="2000" msid="78664952" hostid="261"></div>Sityodtong told Insider that the birth of the new partnership has been years in the making.It was founded through mutual links to the sixth-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu Renzo Gracie, who was an accomplished fighter himself and a BJJ trainer for stars like Georges St. Pierre.Gracie is listed as a Dominance client but is also a close friend of Sityodtong's. "Ali and I have known each other for 10 years because we both happen to be students of Master Renzo Gracie," he told Insider."Ali's a black belt under Renzo Gracie and I'm a purple belt under Renzo Gracie who has always been trying to get Ali and I together."Renzo Gracie is a phenomenal BJJ master and a legendary martial artist but he's a very dear friend. We speak almost every week on WhatsApp, and so when Ali and I decided to work together, Renzo was super happy. Renzo, an extraordinary soul, orchestrated this."The benefits of the partnership work both ways, according to Sityodtong, as it means Dominance spreads its power base beyond America."It obviously helps Ali and Dominance establish a global reach instead of just being dominant in America. They can now branch out and be more global," Sityodtong said.For One Championship it means potentially having access to Dominance's prospect, unsigned, or free agent fighters.Sityodtong said Abdelaziz is one of the top managers in MMA and the relationship opens up "the Lamborghinis and Ferraris in his roster."Sityodtong continued: "Ali is probably the most well-known manager in the sport of mixed martial arts today."He has so many champions in his roster whether it's UFC, Bellator, PFL. The only champions he doesn't have on his roster are in One Championship."Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/video-watch-multiple-angles-of-joaquin-buckleys-extraordinary-ko-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">There are now multiple angles of Joaquin Buckley's video game knockout dubbed one of the best finishes in UFC history</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-tom-breese-scores-hammer-fist-ko-on-fight-island-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A 29-year-old floored his UFC opponent with a jab, then hit his skull with hammer fists until the referee waved the bout off for good</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-tom-aspinall-battered-alan-baudot-in-95-seconds-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A heavy-hitting heavyweight destroyed his UFC opponent in 95 seconds but looked moody and annoyed after the win</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-chris-daukaus-scores-45-second-ko-on-fight-island-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">An American cop called Chris Daukaus remains unbeaten in the UFC after scoring a brutal 45-second knockout on Fight Island</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/cory-sandhagens-fight-island-win-was-a-ufc-masterclass-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cory Sandhagen scored a highlight-reel spinning wheel kick, then hit his UFC opponent with even more punches on the ground</a>

One Championship's relationship with Dominance MMA means the next Khabib Nurmagomedov could head to the Asian fighting firm instead of the UFC

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Professional Fighters League, an <keyword id="6403489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma">MMA</keyword> tournament, restarts its live events business Friday.</li><li><keyword id="1715557" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="PFL">PFL</keyword> 1 will be broadcast on ESPN+ and ESPN2 from a bubble environment in a $200 million casino.</li><li>PFL CEO <keyword id="5885869" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Peter-Murray">Peter Murray</keyword> told Insider why he thinks 2021 will be his company's biggest yet.</li></ul>Wanton violence returns to ESPN Friday as the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/pfl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Professional Fighters League</a> showcases its unique brand of <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mixed martial arts</a> from a state-of-the-art bubble inside a $200 million casino in Atlantic City.The PFL postponed its entire 2020 season because of the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, as it wanted to preserve the structure of its league format.The New York-headquartered company is unlike other fight promotions that rely on standalone matches designed to propel winners further up rankings until they can potentially challenge the champion in their weight class.Instead, the PFL has a similar structure to the NFL and NBA, with a regular season and playoffs before tournament finals worth $1 million to each winner."We couldn't be more excited to start the season, and get back to action," PFL CEO Peter Murray told Insider this week.The regular season will take place behind-closed-doors at the Ocean Casino Resort. As there will be no fans at the venue, the PFL will maximize the space inside its studio to enhance the made-for-TV product, Murray said.There's an improved roster with talent acquisitions like <a href="https://www.insider.com/anthony-pettis-confident-of-a-big-win-clay-collard-pfl-2021-4">the former UFC champion Anthony Pettis, who features at the PFL 1 main event in a lightweight bout against Clay Collard.</a>And there are technological innovations that will showcase unique data points and camera angles through its smart cage and referee cam. Other new innovations include a live damage meter for fighters, almost like something from a video game."I'm super pumped about the damage meter where we measure damage inflicted and damage absorbed with real analysis, and unique live integration and graphics," Murray said.The PFL leaned on the NFL's quarterback rating (QBR), which encapsulates a quarterback's statistics into one number, and has applied that type of formula for it's Fighter Performance Rating (FPR)."This is about what's taking place in the cage with the damage meter, and giving it broader context on our athletes and how they compare to one another," Murray said. "It's story-telling, that will enhance the presentation."<h2>Competitors have endured a 17-day quarantine - here's why</h2><div type="image" title="Clay Collard vs. Anthony Pettis" height="750" width="1000" msid="82220511" hostid="261"></div>One of the unique features of PFL's bubble is a mandatory 17-day quarantine for athletes.For Murray, the fight firm wanted to err on the side of being "super conservative" about COVID safety.He said he looked at what worked and what did not work at other bubbles in other <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword>, from the NBA to other combat sports, including MMA.PFL's focus is always on ensuring that those who begin the season are able to complete it, he said, allowing the promotion to preserve the integrity of the league."We have to structure it like a traditional season format and what 17 days [can] provide, is we test the fighters before they get on a plane to arrive. These are our tests, we ship it to them in advance."We then test them on arrival, and no matter what, they go into quarantine for a window of time. When they're all clear, we test them every day."If a fighter lands, and for whatever reason tests positive, that fighter still has a chance, if they're not experiencing symptoms, to quarantine for an extended time in that window and if they then test negative, with no symptoms, they can still fight, having stayed in the bubble."Murray said there have only been a few instances of positive tests in the bubble - including trainers - but all fighters have so far tested negative, meaning PFL 1 has a full slate of fights.<h2>PFL hopes to have escaped lower sports viewership in the middle stages of the pandemic</h2><div type="image" title="Rory MacDonald PFL MMA" height="1331" width="2000" msid="82220515" hostid="261"></div>A New York Times article in October <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/22/sports/tv-ratings-sports.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted how TV sports ratings were down across the board</a>.Murray said upheaval to people's lives, as well as disruption to the structure of sports, likely caused a decrease in interest."We made the right decision to pivot and reschedule our season," Murray said. "We came out of 2020 a lot stronger with increased capital, star signings, an enhanced technology with respect to smart cage features, and new sponsorships. While also keeping our fighters safe."Now, when we look at the landscape of sports, there was a lot of disruption with COVID. It affected attendance, and people's head space."We were all dealing with a world of disruption in society and in our lives. At home, with our families. Occupation, and business. While sports is a great distraction, that created disruption in viewership and patterns."Sports were on pause, some came back but in different iterations. People like the seasonality and continuity of things."So that disruption and with everything going on with COVID, affected fans engagement."Murray expects that to recalibrate as vaccination drives continue to progress, and the worst of the pandemic remains in the past.He foresees a pent-up demand for MMA in April and beyond."There's added marketing that ESPN is putting behind the property," he said. "There's a digital and social focus. It's lining up for an incredible debut of the season on Friday."Here are select fights taking place at PFL 1 on ESPN2 and ESPN+:<ul><li>Anthony Pettis vs. Clay Collard - lightweight</li><li>Natan Schulte vs. Marcin Held - lightweight</li><li>Lance Palmer vs. Bubba Jenkins - featherweight</li><li>Sung Bin Jo vs. Tyler Diamond - featherweight</li><li>Brendan Loughnane vs. Sheymon Moraes - featherweight</li></ul>In the weeks ahead, the former UFC fighter Rory MacDonald makes his PFL debut, Fabricio Werdum makes his PFL debut, and Claressa Shields - the self-described GWOAT of boxing - makes her MMA debut."We have it all lined up to be the best season yet for the PFL," said Murray."The audience will surpass where we've been in years past, and we're poised to grow even further."

PFL MMA is gearing up for its biggest season to date, and is leaning on innovations from the NBA and NFL

Here are all of the Republican elected officials backing Trump's 2024 campaign

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5dc1fb157eece5471e0c5c05-1920/conch%20in%20the%20bahamas.jpg" border="0" alt="Conch in the Bahamas" data-mce-source="Christian Harris" data-mce-caption="Bahamian divers have to catch conch by hand.">Christian HarrisBahamian divers have to catch conch by hand.</img></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Conch is an important part of the Baham's economy and culture. Conch exports brought in over $5 million to the Bahamas in 2018, and conch salad is a cultural icon of the islands.</li><li>But the conch population is threatened by extreme weather and overfishing. Populations have declined as much as <a href="https://www.cio.noaa.gov/services_programs/prplans/pdfs/ID236_Queen_Conch_Final_Status_Report.pdf">91% in certain islands</a>, eliminating the fisheries there.&#xa0;</li><li>The Bahamian government is now considering new regulations to protect the animal, including a limit to its fishing season.</li><li>Bahamian fishermen and vendors, who depend on the conch industry for income, fear that these new possible laws will jeopardize their livelihoods.</li><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.</a></li></ul>&#xa0;Following is a copy of the transcript.Conch exports brought in over $5 million to the Bahamas in 2018. The sea snail is an important part of the country's economy, and fresh conch salad is a cultural icon of the islands.The government is considering new regulations to protect the marine animal, but many Bahamians fear that these laws will harm their livelihoods."People won't be able to feed their families because a lot of people make money off of it everyday," said Champ Strachan, owner of It's Aboat Time Charters.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5dc2f2107eece54ac803c5e6-1920/diving%20for%20conch.jpg" border="0" alt="Diving for conch" data-mce-source="Christian Harris" data-mce-caption="Conch divers harvest the food.">Christian HarrisA conch diver can harvest up to 1,000 conchs in one trip.</img></div></div></div>The hunt for conch begins in search of dark grey water, a sign of the animal's hunting grounds."You go to the right spot, you will meet them there like a whole ant's nest," said diver Shane Lionel Williams.On a good day, Williams can pick up 800 to 1,000 conchs in one trip. But right now, it's hard to find that many in the water. The grassy areas where the snails like to feed are pretty empty.Stormy season is always a challenge for the conch industry. Fishermen can't go out as often, the water gets muddy, and conchs aren't in their usual places. This year, Hurricane Dorian made things even more difficult."They're so displaced right now because of the weather," explained Strachan.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5dc303083afd3768406f65b3-1920/overfishing%20is%20a%20problem%20in%20the%20bahamas.jpg" border="0" alt="Overfishing is a problem in the Bahamas" data-mce-source="Christian Harris">Christian HarrisConch's slow reproduction rates contribute to the snail's shrinking populations.</img></div></div></div>Overfishing has also been an issue. Conchs take three to five years to reach reproductive maturity, and they rely on spawning groups of at least 50 in order to mate. Since there is no conch season in the Bahamas - and no limit to how many snails a fisherman can catch per day - the population has struggled to grow.To top it off, existing regulations in the Bahamas like export quotas and protected marine areas have been loose and hard to enforce. After a <a href="https://www.sheddaquarium.org/about-shedd/press-releases/study-says-changes-needed-to-protect-conch">recent study</a> found that the country's conch industry could disappear in 10 to 15 years, the government decided to run a survey about new possible laws to sustain the conch population.Something it's considering is introducing a conch season to give the snails time to reproduce, but many in the industry don't support it.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5dc304683afd376a1d20baf3-1920/fisherman%20cant%20go%20out%20to%20harvest%20conch%20in%20bahamas.jpg" border="0" alt="Fisherman can't go out to harvest conch in Bahamas" data-mce-source="Christian Harris" data-mce-caption="Hurricane Dorian has made is increasingly difficult for fisherman to harvest conchs in the water.">Christian HarrisFishermen expressed concerns that shrinking conch populations and possible quotas will affect their livelihoods.</img></div></div></div>"I haven't spoken to any fishermen that want it to happen," said boat captain Lance Palmer.The government is also thinking about banning commercial exports or restricting harvesting to conchs that have already reached maturity."Right now it would hurt the small man because he's saying, 'I need to feed my family. I need to go today and get 500 conch,'" said Strachan. "So he's thinking about today, but sometimes we have to actually look for long term for your kids."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5dc301e97eece56a7c662028-1920/bahamian%20fisheries%20have%20closed.jpg" border="0" alt="Bahamian fisheries have closed" data-mce-source="Christian Harris" data-mce-caption="Because of declining populations, some Bahamian fisheries have closed altogether.">Christian HarrisBecause of declining populations, some fisheries in the Americas have closed altogether.</img></div></div></div>Over the decades, conch fisheries have closed in a number of other countries, including Venezuela, Bermuda, and the United States. But that hasn't ended demand. Today, almost all of the conch consumed in the US comes from the Bahamas. Conch exports are a key part of the economy, but the government says that 80% of what is caught in the Bahamas actually remains in the country.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5dc3022b7eece56b09722123-1920/montagu%20beach%20in%20nassau.jpg" border="0" alt="Montagu Beach in Nassau" data-mce-source="Christian Harris" data-mce-caption="Montagu Beach in Nassau is where fresh conch is bought and sold locally.">Christian HarrisMontagu Beach in Nassau is a gathering place for fresh conch to be bought and sold locally.</img></div></div></div>Montagu Beach is one spot in Nassau where fresh conch is bought and sold locally. Many here are aware of the new possible restrictions on the conch-fishing season, like Aljournal Miller, who's been selling conch for 37 years."Well, you're gonna hurt a lot of business," said Miller. "Because a lot of Bahamian people, they love conchs. The restaurants, the hotels, all about their conchs. So, I don't know."When asked whether a closed conch season would affect his livelihood, Miller responded, "Yeah, but I'll find something else to do. Yeah."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5dc3029a7eece56bc9635544-1920/fresh%20conch%20salad.jpg" border="0" alt="Fresh conch salad" data-mce-source="Christian Harris" data-mce-caption="Conch salad is a cultural icon in the Bahamian islands.">Christian HarrisConch salad is a cultural icon in the Bahamian islands.</img></div></div></div>Until then, here at the dock, business goes on as usual. The stands are bustling&#xa0; - Bahamians opening conch, cutting conch, selling conch, and preparing conch to eat.A shop called Barbie and Yellow's is making conch salads. The man chopping ingredients said he makes 60 or 70 salads a day, but "sometimes on the weekend it could be more."For the crew on the boat, eating conch is so ingrained that the idea of ever not having it is unthinkable."It definitely became a part of the culture," said Palmer, the boat captain. "It's really far-fetched to be thinking we'd be without it."<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FBusinessInsiderToday%2Fvideos%2F2568072743230215%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/this-mom-is-winning-halloween-with-movie-inspired-crocheted-costumes-2018-10">This mom is winning Halloween with her movie-inspired crocheted costumes</a></h3> <div> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/hHYiAidA-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script> </div> </div>

Conch may disappear from the Bahamas, so its government is stepping in

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5dbca787e0ee7e61d3383f23-2000/ali%20isayev.jpg" border="0" alt="Ali Isayev" data-mce-source="Twitter / PFL MMA" data-link="https://twitter.com/ProFightLeague/status/1190100838892441600" /></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Ali Isaev, a Russian wrestler, came-from-behind to win a buzzer-beating knockout on Thursday.</li><li>Isaev is one of 12 fighters competing for a million dollar payday on December 31.</li><li>The PFL Championships take place at the end of the year and will make six champions much richer.</li><li>Watch Isaev's finish below.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul>Ali Isaev, a Russian wrestler, scored a wild, dramatic, buzzer-beating knockout win over his opponent Denis Goltsov at Professional Fighters League 9 (PFL) to become one of 12 athletes competing for a $1 million payday at the end of the year.Isaev fought twice in one night Thursday to win a place at the PFL 10 event on December 31 at the Hulu Theater, Madison Square Garden, New York. Earlier in the evening he had beaten Kelvin Tiller by decision.Isaev needed the finish, which he scored with just one second left on the clock, as he may well have been trailing on the cards after an edgy fight with Goltsov.Watch it here:He is now in one of the six million dollar bouts on New Year's Eve.Here are the December 31 fights in full:<ol><li>Women's lightweight - Kayla Harrison vs. Larissa Pacheco</li><li>Welterweight - David Michaud vs. Ray Cooper III</li><li>Featherweight - Lance Palmer vs. Daniel Pineda</li><li>Lightweight - Natan Schulte vs. Loik Radzhabov</li><li>Light Heavyweight - Emiliano Sordi vs. Jordan Johnson</li><li>Heavyweight - Ali Isayev vs. Jared Rosholt</li></ol><h2>The December 31 event caps the second year for fledgling MMA firm PFL</h2>PFL says it operates differently than other mixed martial arts firms like the market-leading UFC, ONE Championship, and Bellator, which has expanded its reach into Europe.While those three MMA firms operate on a ranking system, PFL runs on a season format which mirrors leagues like the NFL and NBA.PFL co-founder Donn Davis and company CEO Peter Murray told Business Insider about the difference between their business, and the others."They have to have fighting credentials to get into the PFL," Murray said. "This year we had 68 fighters. We had 15 countries represented on the roster. It's a meritocracy. Fighters earn their way."They get two guaranteed fights in the regular season from May through August, then come the playoffs in October, fighters have the opportunity to make their way into a Championship where each champion will win $1 million in their respective weight class."There haven't been many MMA athletes who have fought for more than $1 million in one night and we have an event where we have six of those."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d68e32e2e22af3bbb3ccf22-2400/kayla%20harrisons%20armbar.jpg" border="0" alt="Kayla Harrison's armbar" data-mce-source="Professional Fighters League" /></div></div></div>Davis also told us that while Bellator, as an example, is in the free agent business, attracting big-name athletes like Cris Cyborg when their respective contracts expire, PFL is in the star-building business.Davis said the rises of Magomed Magomedkerimov and Kayla Harrison in particular are testament to their star-building ability. "We make stars," he said.While Magomedkerimov did not advance to the million dollar finals on December 31, Harrison, the jewel in PFL's roster did, and will fight Larissa Pacheco for the women's lightweight championship on New Year's Eve.Read more:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wladimir-klitschko-plotting-boxing-comeback-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wladimir Klitschko is plotting a spectacular boxing comeback, and he wants to break an old heavyweight record</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-michael-conlan-boxing-revenge-next-fight-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ireland's next top boxer has a rare shot at retribution after losing at the Olympics because of a 'fixed' fight: 'It's personal for my career, my legacy'</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/conor-mcgregor-luke-keeler-challenges-ufc-fighter-to-stay-sober-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">An Irish boxer is challenging Conor McGregor to 'stay sober' long enough so they can end their war of words and fight for a world title</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-tyson-fury-really-like-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The real Tyson Fury is quiet, shy, and introverted, according to an Irish boxer who knows him well</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-will-conor-mcgregor-fight-in-his-comeback-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor is linked with comeback bouts against 4 fighters only weeks after being considered an 'irrelevant' has-been</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/carl-frampton-wants-to-be-irelands-greatest-boxer-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A second successive loss could finish Carl Frampton, but he fights to be called Ireland's greatest boxer: 'It's make or break'</a><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">AT THE FINAL BELL! Wow, Ali Isaev! 🔥🔥 Wrapping up the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PFLPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PFLPlayoffs</a> in style. <a href="https://t.co/b1TDMwARVa">pic.twitter.com/b1TDMwARVa</a>- PFL MMA (@ProFightLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1190100838892441600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2019</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

An unbeaten Russian fighter scored a wild, last second knockout to win the chance to compete for a $1 million payday on December 31

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="9216802" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="professional-fighters-league">Professional Fighters League</keyword> (<keyword id="1715557" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="PFL">PFL</keyword>) was the only major combat <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> company to postpone its entire calendar when the rate of coronavirus infections began spiking around the world.</li><li>The PFL will not restart operations until April, when it begins its 2021 season.</li><li>But that does not mean it has not been kept busy during lockdown, as it has launched PFL Studios, a PFL <keyword id="6403489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma">MMA</keyword> app, and has been monitoring the free agent market.</li><li>It aims to return next year bigger than ever with a more complete content offering, together with an optimal roster which could include athletes like Paige VanZant and Fabricio Werdum.</li></ul>The Professional Fighters League is used to being an outlier in the combat sports landscape.Unlike other mixed martial arts firms where athletes vie for rankings in standalone matches, the PFL has a league structure with a play-off and a post-season.Every year builds toward a big, New Year's Eve show where 12 fighters compete against one another in different weight classes. The six winners leave the arena with a $1 million check each.The PFL stayed true to that outlier tendency in 2020 as it was the only major fight firm to postpone its entire year when the coronavirus infection rate began escalating around the world.Other MMA businesses scrambled behind-the-scenes to get back to business. After a brief period of live event cancelations, the UFC returned to operations in May, while One Championship and Bellator MMA restarted their calender of live events last month."We applaud the UFC as MMA really ushered sports back," the CEO of the PFL, <keyword id="5885869" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Peter-Murray">Peter Murray</keyword>, told Insider.Murray's company, unlike its rivals, will not be up and running again until April next year, when its 2021 season begins."For us, it would have been impossible to execute our season," he said. "For safety, and also preservation of our season format since we're still an early-stage company and league."With respect to COVID, based on our decision, I continue to feel it was the right move. Is it frustrating for us, the fighters? Of course. But with fighters from 25 different countries, the need for safety, maintaining the integrity of a season model where fighters fight five times over seven months if they make it to the championship. All the travel and everything involved in that … impossible."But I'm excited about next year," Murray said. "We'll have the learnings, perhaps a vaccine and other treatments in place. We'll be made for TV, ESPN is on board as our partner, and we'll have our own form of a bubble."<h2>PFL has been working on content offerings and athlete recruitment</h2><div type="image" title="PFL winners check" height="674" width="900" msid="77484442" hostid="261"></div>Regardless of the season's postponement, the PFL has been kept busy during lockdown."Believe me, there's plenty to do! Every day it's like we're working harder than when we were in live event mode," Murray said."Our focus has been on, number one — ensuring the PFL maintains its relevancy and drives awareness inside and outside the US, leaning on content."Integral to this, Murray said, is PFL Studios which tells audio-visual stories about MMA, the PFL, and PFL's athletes.There's also now a PFL MMA app, launched this month and available on Apple TV, Roku, Fire, Android, and iOS devices, which is a platform for those PFL Studios stories, together with the company's archival footage of live events."We launched PFL Studios which is long and short-form content distributed by ESPN," Murray said.The next step, he added, is to "refine our product, expand distribution, and further establish our season format and event model."Sports business news publication <a href="https://frontofficesports.com/pfl-digital-content-growth/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Front Office Sports</a> reported this year that TV ratings for the PFL had risen 95% year-on-year, with 2019 figures in the US 50% higher than the year before.It said: "The season-ending 2019 PFL Championship drew 361,000 viewers on ESPN2 on New Year's Eve."Murray told Insider the rising viewer figures show that MMA fans support and have interest in the PFL, and would "consume more content."This means the business plan now, is "to go direct to consumer," according to Murray."49% of all sports is consumed on mobile devices and soon in the coming years, mobile will overtake TV. But as it relates to OTT [over-the-top, a term for content streamed through devices like Smart TVs], and the role it plays in content, media, and sports, it will continue to grow."<h2>PFL's new app could determine where future live events are held</h2>"We are excited to launch the first ever PFL OTT platform," Murray said. "Our focus and model is, it's free, and provides fans access to premium MMA content specifically full PFL fights in our archive, stories, access to fighters, and exclusive never-before-seen footage."The PFL was previously known as the World Series of Fighting (WSoF), which helped develop current UFC stars Marlon Moraes and Justin Gaethje. The full WSoF archive will also be made available on the app.<div type="image" title="Justin Gaethje and Tony Ferguson" height="1355" width="2000" msid="77484444" hostid="261"></div>The PFL is unofficially calling the app "Fight Central" — which could, perhaps, one day rival UFC Fight Pass, a video streaming service with an on-demand library of more than 20,000 fights from 35+ fight promotions.For now, though, the PFL is focused on its own content. "We're focused on engaging our archival content," Murray said."The main driver of launching our PFL platform is international," he said. "There's explosive growth in the sport outside the US and the demand for quality MMA is there. So this gives us the opportunity to go direct-to-consumer."Murray said data from its recently-launched app could determine where future events are held as it intends to globalize its business in the coming years."That data is extremely valuable as we grow our fan-base and can identify where there are opportunities and interest, as well as locations where to stage events, absolutely."Looking forward to next year, staging events tied to our regular events and other extensions internationally [will be happening]."There's great demand in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and obviously Russia. We will be staging events in 2021 outside the US, going much deeper in 2021. We have certain [non US] destinations bidding to host our global championships.<h2>PFL will be exploring the free agency market to optimize its roster</h2>The PFL has worked hard to create its own stars like two-time PFL champion Lance Palmer and Kayla Harrison, or further develop the careers and name-value of others, like Magomed Magomedkerimov and Ray Cooper III.But it's also continually looking to optimize its roster with talented and in-demand free agents.The debut of American fighter Rory MacDonald when the season restarts is highly-anticipated, for example.And there are big-name free agents available right now, like Paige VanZant, known for her Dancing With The Stars appearances <a href="https://www.insider.com/paige-vanzant-posts-nudes-on-instagram-says-everybody-likes-it-2020-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">and Instagram modeling</a> as well as her fighting, and veteran heavyweight Fabricio Werdum.<div type="image" title="Kayla Harrison, PFL" height="655" width="983" msid="77484447" hostid="261"></div>Recruitment is ultimately a decision for the PFL president and head of fighter operations Ray Sefo, Murray told us, but he did call VanZant "an incredible athlete" who "is in the mix."He said: "Ray is having all those relevant conversations. Paige and others … are planning to go into free agency. When fighters are available, that's when the PFL engages."Murray said the lure of a $1 million check should you win the championship match at the end of a season could be enough to tempt certain fighters."We've got two successful seasons under out belt," he said. "We've written 12 million dollar checks and crowned champions. It's a different conversation now than when it was two years ago when people thought we were out of our minds."PFL is in every major conversation, athletes rolling off their existing contracts. We're part of changing the game, a global leader in MMA, and a different type of opportunity and journey which really speaks to athletes which is about meritocracy."We're proud of our stars like Rory MacDonald, Kayla Harrison, and Ray Cooper."COVID has given us time to further engage in the athlete marketplace with top athletes and top managers. They're looking for alternatives. And we'll be competitive in that marketplace even if we're selective because we have a limited number of roster openings for next season."We are opening the checkbook for top tier talent. I'm talking top five, top 10. You'll see more fighters go into free agency, controlling their destiny. And PFL will be in the mix."Though PFL won't restart its combat calendar for another nine months, it appears determined to use this downtime to come back stronger than ever.Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/floyd-mayweather-leonard-ellerbe-says-hes-received-comeback-offers-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Floyd Mayweather's business partner says he's received 'a few sick offers' as the retired boxer talks-up a $100 million exhibition tour</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/conor-mcgregor-is-teasing-a-boxing-comeback-manny-pacquiao-linked-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor has been teasing a comeback, and one option could involve a $250 million mega-bout against Manny Pacquiao</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/watch-joe-george-land-an-uppercut-his-opponents-body-stiffens-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">An unbeaten American boxer landed an uppercut so hard his opponent's body stiffened, losing by instant knockout</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/daniel-kinahan-ran-boxing-using-fear-and-bullying-sources-say-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daniel Kinahan, a suspected $1.1 billion gang lord, ran boxing using fear and bullying, sources say</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/conor-mcgregor-nurmagomedov-will-s-his-pants-in-gaethje-fight-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor said Khabib Nurmagomedov will be 's----ing his pants' when he fights Justin Gaethje in October</a>

You Searched For "lance palmer" and got 13 results

Former UFC champ Anthony Pettis fights cult boxing hero Clay Collard as the PFL returns for its first show in over a year

Alan Dawson

Twitter will live stream PFL MMA content in a new deal announced 4 days before 2021 season

Alan Dawson

British fighter Brendan Loughnane could win the $1 million PFL tournament, according to analyst Kenny Florian

Alan Dawson

MMA fighter Korean Falcon gave a passionate 'Stop Asian Hate' speech just days before his PFL debut

Alan Dawson

Professional Fighters League raises $65 million financing round to fuel international expansion and accelerate growth

Alan Dawson

PFL MMA hopes to continue its mission of reimagining the world of combat sports when its new season begins in April 2021

Alan Dawson

One Championship's relationship with Dominance MMA means the next Khabib Nurmagomedov could head to the Asian fighting firm instead of the UFC

Alan Dawson

PFL MMA is gearing up for its biggest season to date, and is leaning on innovations from the NBA and NFL

Alan Dawson

Here are all of the Republican elected officials backing Trump's 2024 campaign

Bryan Metzger,Oma Seddiq

Conch may disappear from the Bahamas, so its government is stepping in

Hannah Jiang,Dylan Barth,Dylan Barth

An unbeaten Russian fighter scored a wild, last second knockout to win the chance to compete for a $1 million payday on December 31

Alan Dawson

Inside the coronavirus-enforced postponement of the 2020 PFL season, and how the company intends to return stronger than ever

Alan Dawson

WHIP COUNT: Here's which members of the House voted for and against impeaching Trump

Grace Panetta