PFL’s 2022 Season Off To Strong Start Thanks To Massive Digital, Global Reach

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) kicked off its 2022 season last week, setting the tone for what the American promotion expects to be its biggest season yet.

Its season-opening offering saw fan-favorite lightweight Clay Collard outpoint former UFC standout Jeremy Stephens in the main event, while defending champions Raush Manfio and Antonio Carlos Jr. both scored scintillating stoppage victories.

The ten-fight card, which aired live on ESPN and ESPN+ in the United States, featured six bouts ending by knockout or submission, which is indeed an exciting start to what could be a landmark season for the league.

While being broadcast on the US’ biggest sports network and streamed on one of the country’s premiere subscription-streaming services is already an indication of PFL’s strong presence, the league is also banking on its reach on the global and digital fronts.

PFL is currently available to over 160 countries worldwide, which includes a variety of platforms.

International growth, after all, is something that the organization has put a lot of effort into all the way back since before it kicked off its 2021 season.

Heading into this current 2022 season, the league ramped up its efforts for international growth by partnering with a number of top broadcasters in key markets such as Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa and Australia.

Its most recent partnerships include RMC Sport in France, Fighting.DE in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, Torneos in Latin America (via DirecTV), Sky in New Zealand, MBC Group in the Middle East and North Africa, Mola TV in Southeast Asia and Italy, ESPN for Sub-Saharan Africa, and Viaplay in the Nordics, Baltics, Poland and the Netherlands.

Of course, the strength of the league’s global and digital partnerships hinges on its product.

PFL is the only league that presents mixed martial arts (MMA) in a true sports-style tournament that features an elimination round, playoffs, and finals.

At the end of each season, champions from six different weight divisions are crowned and awarded with a million-dollar purse.

Apart from its one-of-a-kind season format, the league also prides itself in being an innovator in the sport of MMA, with next-level stats tracking methods like its proprietary SmartCage technology as well as Cagenomics.

PFL has also managed to build a world-class roster of athletes from over 25 countries, including the likes of Ray Cooper III, Kayla Harrison, Anthony Pettis, Manfio, Brendan Loughnane, and many others.

As the league continues to grow on all fronts, expect them to continue to push for even wider reach digitally and globally.

PFL’s 2022 season continues this week with PFL 2 on Thursday, April 28th. Catch it live in the United States on ESPN and ESPN+.