PFL inks two-year broadcast deal with ESPN
The UFC now has some company on ESPN, as the Professional Fighters League (PFL) has inked a two-year deal with the network.
This news was first reported by Farah Hannoun on Twitter and subsequently confirmed by PFL CEO Peter Murray on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on Monday afternoon.
Some exclusive info regarding PFL: I’m hearing that ESPN have put out a 5 million dollar offer to ink a deal with PFL next season. NBC could match the offer though. #PFL #MMA
— Farah Hannoun (@Farah_Hannoun) February 25, 2019
This deal, which will run through until 2020, will see all 10 Professional Fighters League events air across ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and the streaming service ESPN+. The PFL previously aired on NBC.
Speaking on the show, Peter Murray also announced that the league has cut its men’s middleweight division accommodate at 155-pound women’s division helmed by Olympic judoka Kayla Harrison, who also appeared on the show. Harrison has competed previously in the PFL cage, but not in seasonal tournament bouts. Murray assured that the men’s middleweight division, which was conquered by veteran Louis Taylor on the debut PFL season, will be reintroduced in the coming years.
The roster for the new women’s lightweight division has not yet been completed. The league plans to announce the roster for this division, and its five men’s divisions, over the coming six weeks.
The PFL operates with a unique, season-based format, complete with playoffs and championships at the culmination of each year. The winner of each division is crowned the champion and handed a $1,000,000 check.
Stay tuned for further updates on this burgeoning MMA league as they emerge.
This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 2/25/2019.
