There’s no doubt that even though Professional Fighters League (PFL) put on some big cards last year, like Francis Ngannou’s return to mixed martial arts (MMA) and a Bellator vs. PFL super fight event, it was a lackluster and forgettable year for them.
However, according to PFL co-owner Donn Davis, it wasn’t the promotion’s fault; in fact, several different outside factors contributed to it, and Davis explained it all in a LinkedIn post.
“Building companies is really hard with many setbacks, filled with uncertainty and pain, requiring creativity and perseverance. Most social media posts celebrate the triumphs of success, and I had great time last week doing that PFL post,” Davis wrote. This post is the opposite . . . We all took hard punches in 2024 and are still here to fight. We all had bad things happen this year . . . and survived!
5️⃣ BAD THINGS that happened to PFL in 2024:
1️⃣ Several potential new investors wasted thousands of hours of our time, and entrepreneurs time is precious
2️⃣ Big new advertiser agreed to deal, was in final contract, and then new management came in and stopped deal
3️⃣ Some Bellator star fighters complained on social media about not fighting, making PFL look like not meet our contracts
4️⃣ We are growing so fast with our new international leagues that costs in some regional areas are too high
5️⃣ Major new initiative and expansion is delayed one full year by one of our partners, through no fault of PFL.
Like all entrepreneurial companies, PFL battled, navigated, and solved . . . PFL enters 2025 in our BEST POSITION EVER. Do NOT let others foil you, keep you down, stop you. To ALL entrepreneurs – you survived – declare victory!”
Davis can spin the narrative all he wants, but it all comes down to the product and the ridiculous decisions the promotion made in 2024.
Whether it be not keeping their best fighters, Patricio “Pitbull” Freire and Patchy Mix, on the sidelines or having several international events like PFL Mena but not having a broadcast option for the U.S. audience to watch or just bad fights in their regular season – 2024 was not good for PFL.
Nevertheless, Davis has big plans for 2025 and has asked for “less MMA noise and disinformation” in hopes of bouncing back.
Before I wrap this up, I must say that I really, really want PFL to succeed, even though it seems like I’m burying it. MMA is better when there is more competition, and while PFL will never catch the UFC (no one will), fighters need another promotion to go to, and PFL needs to be that option.
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