Is PFL headed towards Bankruptcy? Dana White believes fighter’s wanting to ‘Jump Ship’ is a glaring sign
UFC CEO Dana White takes another dig at rival promotion PFL claiming they might be on the brink of bankruptcy.
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Dana White talks about PFL (Image via Imago/Sportscal)
There has been an ongoing rivalry between UFC CEO Dana White and the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Over the years, various representatives from both promotions have commented on each other. Recently, the UFC bossman took a jab at PFL, suggesting that the rival promotion might soon be in deep trouble.
PFL has attracted significant attention from MMA fans, especially following the Battle of the Giants fight card a few months ago. In the aftermath of that event, there were several indirect digs between UFC CEO Dana White and PFL founder Donn Davis. Recently, White reiterated his criticism of the rival organization and suggested that PFL might be on the verge of bankruptcy.
Listen, the last couple of months we’ve been talking a lot about the PFL, you know? They’re canceling a lot of shows, I know that a lot of guys that are supposed to fight aren’t fighting and I mean, you guys know what the f**k is going on. When you see that start to happen, you’re running out of money, things aren’t looking good. You’re gonna have people that want to jump ship.
Dana White via UFC 310 post fight press conference
There are several controversies surrounding the PFL (Professional Fighters League). Many fighters have expressed their disappointment with the promotion. Recently, some of the top fighters and champions from PFL and Bellator have called for their contracts to be released.
One major reason for this dissatisfaction is the inactivity between fights, as PFL does not allow them to compete actively. In response to these concerns, White put forth an intriguing theory, suggesting that PFL might be on the verge of bankruptcy.
Dana White is asked about Patricio Pitbull wanting to come over to the UFC because he's not getting fights:
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) December 8, 2024
You guys know what the fuck's going on. When you see that start to happen, you're running out of money, things aren't looking good. You're gonna have people that want to… pic.twitter.com/j6WbF5wn9O
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time that the UFC CEO has spoken out against his rival promotion. Over the years, there have been several instances where White has criticized the PFL and its executives. In response, PFL founder Donn Davis has delivered scathing replies.
As such, Davis claimed that his promotion could generate more wealth and help its fighters earn substantial incomes. However, per White, this may only be feasible if the PFL consistently delivers high-budget events. Notably, a top MMA journalist has recently drawn comparisons between the UFC and PFL.
Ariel Helwani believes PFL could ‘never overtake’ Dana White’s UFC
The MMA community has witnessed the rise of UFC as a promotion in the world of MMA. As such, it now stands as the pinnacle MMA promotion of the world. Meanwhile, PFL is a budding MMA promotion which was incorporated back in 2018. Since then, it has made impressive strides by slowly elevating its stature. Notably, the PFL and Bellator collaboration was one of the steps taken by the promotion.
Although both promotions operate in the same field, the UFC and PFL have distinct business models. The UFC primarily emphasizes a ranking system, while the PFL does not.
Instead, the PFL follows a business model similar to that of the NFL and NBA, featuring knockout fights that give fighters the chance to win a million-dollar prize. According to top MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, this business model has significant drawbacks.
The fight game is not built on regular season, standings, playoffs, that’s not fighting. That’s the NFL… NBA and when you try to equate that model to the fight game, it does not work. It will never work. Will there be some level of success? Absolutely. But they will never overtake UFC in this regard.
Ariel Helwani on his show
Ariel talks PFL model.#HelwaniShow pic.twitter.com/t0giPx3yeg
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) December 2, 2024
Helwani emphasized that the rivalries among fighters in the UFC create significant excitement around the promotion. In contrast, the PFL does not generate the same level of engagement for its audiences. Consequently, the top MMA journalist has asserted that White’s UFC will always be superior to a developing organization like the PFL.
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Nilaav Gogoi
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