When the International Combat League was first introduced again in 2024, there was loads of skepticism hooked up the promotion largely resulting from vital variety of outstanding fighters signed to contracts to not point out an almost similar idea being introduced three years earlier that by no means obtained off the bottom.
Again in 2021, former World Sequence of Combating govt Darren Owen announced plans to launch a team-based format called the WFL. Time handed, and the promotion by no means held a single occasion, however Owen returned in 2024 with an eerily comparable plan for the GFL, besides this time, a slew of fighters had been signed to contracts, together with quite a few ex-UFC champions corresponding to Tyron Woodley, Luke Rockhold, and Chris Weidman.
However nearly as rapidly because the GFL introduced plans for a two-night launch with a pair of playing cards set for Los Angeles, the exhibits had been cancelled and severe doubts had been raised about whether or not or not the fledgling promotion would ever get off the bottom.
“It type of sucks,” retired UFC welterweight Matt Brown mentioned on the most recent episode of The Fighter vs. The Author. “I really feel like we’ve learn this guide earlier than. We’ve seen this complete story earlier than.”
Sadly, quite a lot of MMA promotions have come and gone through the years, however GFL by no means even managed to get to the beginning line with the primary two exhibits already cancelled.
Whereas Owen mentioned in an announcement that he’s nonetheless looking for funding to launch the GFL someday in 2025, plenty of the fighters concerned with the promotion have successfully already jumped ship.
Paige VanZant launched a message on Instagram saying “free agent,” and ex-UFC fighter and former BKFC champion Alan Belcher revealed that the GFL made guarantees to guide him for a struggle however solely on the situation that he would earn a “revenue share and stuff if I would fight for not a guaranteed purse.”
“What a shit present,” Brown mentioned in regards to the GFL. “It sucks as a result of we do want extra promotions on the market I feel. I feel there must be extra competitors on the market. There must be somebody to step up, nevertheless it’s only a robust f*cking enterprise mannequin. I don’t know if it’s ever going to occur, perhaps ever. We will speak about issues that would wish to occur for that to occur. It doesn’t look good on any entrance.
“I don’t understand how they get traders to do that. In case you’re going to open a enterprise and also you’re searching for an funding, you present some type of proof of idea. You do your market analysis, all these items. Are these traders even taking a look at what occurs? This can be a frequent story. We’ve learn this guide earlier than.”
Promised paydays for GFL had been by no means reported, however a number of athletes spoke out in regards to the astronomical charges they had been set to earn, which a minimum of partially defined how so many outstanding names signed with the promotion earlier than a single occasion was held.
With solely so many choices accessible exterior of the UFC, Brown understands why fighters may take an opportunity on GFL however on the similar time he at all times had severe doubts and he’s undecided why there wasn’t extra due diligence completed by the managers representing the athletes.
“I don’t understand how anyone fell for it,” Brown mentioned. “Hopefully, they determine one thing out. There’s not a complete lot to even say about it. We’ve learn this guide so many instances, and we’re identical to, I simply hope all of the fighters acknowledge what it was.
“In the event that they didn’t, it’s in all probability due to their shit ass managers. The f*cking managers on this sport are the worst. That’s the most important drawback once we speak about issues like this.”
Whereas Brown concedes there are “completely some good folks” representing fighters in fight sports activities, he’s additionally personally seen the opposite aspect of the game after spending 15 years within the UFC.
In fact, Brown additionally acknowledges that he was lucky to spend the overwhelming majority of his profession with the most important group in MMA however he is aware of that received’t be the case for a lot of fighters. That’s why he truly hopes promotions like PFL discover success in the long term however he additionally is aware of the UFC may find yourself because the final promotion standing it doesn’t matter what.
“I want anyone would get it collectively,” Brown mentioned. “It’s not a superb enterprise. Any individual must do it.
“You’ve obtained to offer props to Dana [White] and firm. They took over the f*cking sport and so they constructed it from nothing, kind of, and so they’re a powerhouse. There’s no room on the market for lots of promotions. There’s not even room for it. The UFC is the f*cking monster.”
