MMA league PFL to launch European tournament with winners qualifying for dramatic $1m winner-take-all season
THE Professional Fighters League is set to launch a European season - with winners qualifying for the $1million winner-take-all league.
The tournament-style format consists of two regular season bouts, where points are earned according to the method of victory, and then the play-offs.
The top four in each weight then progress into a semi-final which sets up the finale fight where a $1million prize cheque is on the line.
Next year, for the first time in PFL history a whole season will be hosted in Europe, as revealed by SunSport.
And the winners will earn a full PFL seasonal contract and fight their way into the dramatic league where $1m is up for grabs.
This season's semi-finals will be contested over three weeks, starting on August 5 in New York.
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But the PFL will then come to Cardiff on August 13 and London a week later.
On both undercards, eight fighters in four separate bouts will compete to qualify for the European season in 2023.
The final semis, held at the Copper Box Arena, will conclude and determine the first eight stars in next year's league.
PFL CEO Pete Murray said: “I am pleased to announce the PFL will launch PFL Europe in 2023 to further advance the sport of MMA and fuel PFL’s next phase of global expansion starting in Europe, the number one international MMA growth region.
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“Europe is rich with top fighters who are ready to compete in the PFL’s season format on a major stage and passionate MMA fans throughout the region will now have access to premium events staged in Europe.”
Former UFC welterweight and ex-Bellator champion Rory MacDonald, 32, is among the headliners in Wales.
And then a week later, two-time Olympic and PFL champ Kayla Harrison, 31, returns to England ten years after her first gold medal.
Manchester's Brendan Loughnane, 32, also features on the bill against featherweight rival Chris Wade, 34, all live on Channel 4.