Latest news with #DonnDavis
Forbes
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Donn Davis And PFL Africa Plant Their Flag With Landmark Inaugural Event In Cape Town
2025 PFL Championship Series at the Grand West Arena in Cape Town, South Africa Saturday, July 19, ... More 2025. (Matt Ferris / PFL) The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has officially planted its flag in Africa with the launch of PFL Africa's inaugural season, marking a historic milestone not only for the league but for the future of mixed martial arts (MMA) across the continent. MMA has seen rapid growth in Africa in recent years, fuelled by passionate fans and a wealth of emerging talent eager for a global platform. For Donn Davis, founder, chairman, and co-owner of PFL, this launch is more than just expansion, it's a carefully calculated bet on a market bursting with potential, defined by two essential ingredients for success: passionate fans and world-class fighters ready to make their mark. 'When we looked at launching new international leagues, we looked at two things – the fans and the fighters,' Davis explained in an exclusive interview with ahead of the inaugural PFL Africa season in Cape Town, South Africa. 'When we looked at the fans and the fighters in Africa, we saw two incredible, ready groups of people. We saw fans who would be very passionate, a big MMA fan base, and we saw fighters who could be the best in the world.' The Francis Ngannou Factor LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 15: Francis Ngannou speaks during the Anthony Joshua v Francis Ngannou ... More Press Conference at Outernet London on January 15, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by) This strategic expansion is underpinned by inspiring stories, such as that of Francis Ngannou, the Chairman of PFL Africa. He rose from humble beginnings in Cameroon to become the UFC heavyweight champion after leaving the continent in pursuit of his dreams. For Davis, Ngannou's journey exemplifies both the challenges faced and the immense potential awaiting discovery. 'Francis Ngannou had to leave the continent to start his journey to be world champion. Well, there are many potential Francis Ngannous waiting to become the next world champion,' he said. 'There is fantastic MMA talent in Africa, and they're also entertaining fighters.' That last point is crucial. Davis explained that often fighters fall into two categories: great fighters who aren't entertaining, or entertaining fighters who aren't technically great. Africa, he says, is uniquely positioned with athletes who embody both qualities. Why Launch in Cape Town? Donn Davis, founder, chairman and co-owner of the Professional Fighters League (PFL) PFL Africa kicked off in Cape Town with intention. 'Cape Town was just, it's so historic, right? And it's just a city that the world knows,' Davis said. For PFL Africa, beginning here was about more than just location; it was about setting the tone and proudly announcing the brand's African identity to the world. 'Over the next two or three years, it'll be everywhere. PFL Africa will visit almost every single country. So wherever you're from, you can count on seeing PFL Africa in the coming years.' MMA History Made at Grand Arena PFL Africa's first event delivered on every promise of elite competition and spectacle. In the main event, Costello 'The Spaniard' Van Steenis (17-3) stunned the MMA world with a comeback submission win over previously undefeated Johnny 'Pressure' Eblen (16-1) to become the new PFL Middleweight World Champion. With just seconds left in the fifth and final round, Van Steenis took Eblen's back and sank in a rear naked choke, putting the defending champion to sleep. 2025 PFL Championship Series at the Grand West Arena in Cape Town, South Africa Saturday, July 19, ... More 2025. (Matt Ferris / PFL) For Van Steenis, the victory marked his arrival as champion and validated his unwavering dedication behind the scenes. 'My team and I are all killers. We don't have a plan B, only a plan A,' he shared after the fight. "My brother and I live and breathe this, and we give 100%, so how can we fail?' Dakota Ditcheva (15-0) stayed undefeated with a striking masterclass against Sumiko Inaba (8-2) in the co-main event. Former Bellator Featherweight Champion AJ McKee won a unanimous decision over Akhmed Magomedov, while Artur Zaynukov dominated Takeshi Izumi to extend his winning streak to six. Among the standout performances was Nigerian rising star Juliet Ukah (7-0), who defeated Ceileigh Niedermayr (3-3) via unanimous decision to keep her unbeaten record intact. Her resilience shone through despite sustaining an eye injury mid-fight. 'When my eye popped the second time, I thought to myself, Juliet, are you going to give up? I said, No, never,' she recalled. 'I kept one eye open and one eye low to make sure I finished that fight.' Reflecting on her victory, Ukah said, 'I feel so, so good, so great about this fight in PFL Africa. It's one of the best things that has ever happened to me.' She described the inaugural event as a dream realised. 'From the smart cage to the crowds, everything was perfect. Thank you, PFL Africa, for making my dream come true.' 2025 PFL Championship Series at the Grand West Arena in Cape Town, South Africa Saturday, July 19, ... More 2025. (Matt Ferris / PFL) Balancing Global Consistency with Local Resonance One of the biggest challenges for any international sports brand is ensuring a globally consistent identity while resonating deeply within local markets. For the PFL, Davis says the approach is simple to explain but hard to execute - a strategy that has proven successful in both Europe and the Middle East and North Africa. 'We respect the local culture, but we bring in our global expertise,' he said. 'Those are easy to say, but those are hard to do.' RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - NOVEMBER 29: Abdullah Al-Qahtani of Saudi Arabia fight against Mervan ... More Belghouit of Morocco in the final bout organized by the Professional Fighters League (PFL) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 29, 2024. (Photo by Mohammed Saad/Anadolu via Getty Images) This respect goes far beyond marketing. It touches everything from how fighters are managed, how ticket prices are set, to how products are distributed and business models are structured. 'It's also how you present the product,' Davis explained. 'All of those have really local considerations. We've tried to be smart and respectful to make sure this is, as I said, the people's league.' Five years from now, Davis hopes that people across Africa will equate MMA with PFL Africa. 'We want them to say I love PFL Africa. It's not UFC, it's PFL.' Investments and Strategic Backing Establishing a sports league, let alone an MMA league in Africa, requires significant investment. PFL Africa partnered with Helios Investment Partners, a private investment firm that also backs NBA Africa, to make this possible. 'Our minority partner is Helios. So they've put in a significant investment. But PFL ourselves, we've also put in a significant investment,' Davis shared. 'Both of us have invested a lot of cash dollars into growing this over the next couple of years. It will not be profitable for several years. We're making a real investment.' Beyond funding, PFL Africa benefits from the league's established global infrastructure, from fighter networks to TV production capabilities. 'These are assets we don't have to build from scratch; they're already in place,' Davis said. 'This kind of investment allows PFL Africa to deliver a premium product at a comparatively lower cost.' Quality Without Compromise 2025 PFL Championship Series at the Grand West Arena in Cape Town, South Africa Saturday, July 19, ... More 2025. (Matt Ferris / PFL) Despite the scale of operations and expansion costs on the continent, Davis is adamant that quality will not be compromised. 'This is not going to be your regional MMA product. People will be blown away by the quality of the event: the video, the graphics, the stage. This is something they haven't seen before.' While the full rollout of Smartcage technology and real-time fighter stats will take time, with significant upgrades expected in year two, PFL Africa's immediate priority has been investing in fighter purses. 'The first place we put the investment was in the quality of the product and then the quality of the fighters,' Davis said. 'We want this to be the highest-paying opportunity for fighters on the continent. Fighters here will make more than anywhere else. On top of that, champions receive a $100,000 bonus, which is truly life-changing money.' This expansion is also guided by a broadcast-first strategy that uniquely positions Africa within PFL's global model. Davis described Africa as potentially the most mobile-first PFL market worldwide, helping to eliminate traditional access barriers from the start. 'Our goal is to achieve roughly 90% coverage. If people want to watch PFL in Africa, we want 90% of the population to have access,' he said. 'Right now, only about five per cent of Africans can watch UFC fights; they're locked behind an exclusive double paywall. We want PFL to be the people's MMA league.' Broadcast and streaming partnerships are already in place, with Davis confident this ambitious coverage target will be met by mid-season. 'Whether through streaming or mobile platforms, we want the vast majority of the continent to be able to watch PFL.' Building an MMA Ecosystem 2025 PFL Championship Series ceremonial weigh-ins at the Grand West Arena in Cape Town, South Africa ... More Friday, July 18, 2025. (Matt Ferris / PFL) Beyond hosting events, PFL Africa aims to build a sustainable MMA ecosystem, including youth programs, coaching initiatives, gym partnerships, and training scholarships. Yet, Davis emphasises that competition itself remains the league's most vital contribution. 'Most athletes need a pay check and real competition,' he said. 'Too often, people settle for academies as the easy route because they don't do what we do. We're creating an entire company, a full league in Africa. This isn't an academy; it's a league.' This means real fights with real pay checks, an environment where athletes sharpen their skills under genuine pressure. 'That's the only way you get sharp. Earning or losing a pay check is what drives true growth.' This year, PFL Africa features 32 athletes, with plans to expand to 48 next year. Following the Cape Town event, semifinal matchups were confirmed in the Bantamweight and Heavyweight divisions. The tournament continues on August 9th at Carnival City, Johannesburg, where Featherweight and Welterweight fighters will battle for their shot at glory. What Success Looks Like in Five Years Looking ahead, Davis has set three clear benchmarks to define PFL Africa's success. First, he aims for the league to become profitable within five years, establishing a strong business foundation. Second, he wants to see a PFL African champion rise to win a world tournament title, showcasing the region's top athletic talent. Finally, Davis hopes that MMA fans across Africa will come to see PFL as the go-to name for the sport, reflecting genuine fan loyalty. Hitting these milestones would be a major step forward for MMA on the continent, giving fighters the chance to chase their dreams at home and giving fans a place where they truly see themselves on the global stage. For Davis and the PFL, Africa isn't just another expansion; it's a region that can change the future of MMA worldwide.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
PFL exec offers Donald Trump a White House card with Francis Ngannou prior to UFC event
The idea of hosting fights at the White House has the entire MMA world going crazy, and PFL wants in on the action. During a recent speech, president Donald Trump revealed the idea of hosting a UFC event at the executive residence as a part of the country's 250th anniversary. Trump wants to go big and host 25,000 spectators, similar to a typical UFC pay-per-view event on Independence Day in 2026. Even though there were no additional details, Trump's press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president was "dead serious" about the event. Advertisement Now, PFL wants to be part of the festivities, creating an all-day MMA extravaganza. PFL chairman and founder Donn Davis tagged Trump in a message on X (formerly Twitter), offering a stacked lineup of seven fights that would take place prior to UFC event. The proposed fight card includes the biggest names in the promotion including Francis Ngannou, Cris Cyborg, Dakota Ditcheva and Usman Nurmagomedov. "MMA at White House great idea @realDonaldTrump for July 4, 2026," Davis wrote. "PFL has WOW fight card for MMA fans to celebrate USA 250 anniversary! @PFLMMA afternoon @ufc evening" The full fight card proposed by Davis includes: Advertisement Francis Ngannou vs. Vadim Nemkov Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes Dakota Ditcheva vs. Liz Carmouche Renan Ferreira vs. Denis Goltsov Johnny Eblen vs. Corey Anderson Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco AJ McKee vs. Jesus Pinedo While the president may be serious about hosting an MMA event on the White House grounds, there are significant logistical hurdles. The White House is not a sports event venue, and does not have an indoor area large enough to host an event at the scale Trump wants. Therefore, the event would have to take place outdoors, which major promotions typically avoid due to weather. The UFC has always maintained a firm stance against hosting fights outdoors due to conditions that could affect the fighting surface, potentially causing problems for the fighters. However, considering the relationship between Trump and UFC CEO Dana White, the promotion may make an exception to pull off the event. If it goes forward, PFL hopes to be a part of the action too. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: PFL exec offers president Donald Trump a White House card for 2026
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Bill Advances as Team Owner and College Tax Breaks in Peril
The omnibus 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' passed by the House of Representatives Thursday morning takes aim at team owners' coveted ability to write off most of the purchase price of a sports team, with a clause that would remove billions of dollars from being deducted on taxes. 'The bill itself, vis-a-vis sports teams ownership, isn't really a great thing,' Irwin Kishner, a partner at the law firm of Herrick, Feinstein, said on a phone call. 'You could argue the valuations of sports teams would be less than they were prior to that tax treatment.' More from Baseball America the Latest to Be Target of 'Bork Bill' Congress May Have to Settle NCAA Athlete Eligibility Issue Coffey Talk: Donn Davis on PFL's Rise and Sports 'Ego Money' The bill, now numbered H.R. 1, covers a multitude of spending priorities including border security, defense and taxation, among others. The legislation also takes a hatchet to amortization, which is the depreciation of non-tangible assets often termed goodwill. Typically, 90% or more of a team's purchase price is goodwill, which excludes physical assets a team might possess, such as its stadium and weight room equipment. 'Team owners were allowed to deduct 100% of the purchase price over 15 years, and now they're only allowed to deduct 50% over 15 years, if it comes to law,' Robert Raiola, director of the sports and entertainment group at PKF O'Connor Davies accounting firm, said on a phone call. Amortization is an accounting principle meant to assess a decline in value over time, like its cousin depreciation, which is meant to account for physical assets wearing out, such as machinery. In sports, values don't typically decline. The 1973 New York Yankees sale to George Steinbrenner is believed to be the last time a franchise from the big four U.S. leagues traded hands at a loss. The amortization of team values is an under-the-radar tax benefit that is a key part of the calculus used in the decision to buy a U.S. sports franchise—and it plays a role in the skyrocketing prices paid for franchises in recent years. For example, under existing law, a team owner paying $1.6 billion for a franchise where $1.5 billion is intangible goodwill could deduct that $1.5 billion over 15 years. That $100 million annual deduction of taxable income probably saves the average team owner $40 million in actual taxes, assuming a 40% blended federal and state tax rate. Those deductions do raise the taxable income if and when the team is sold—all $1.5 billion would be a gain to be taxed—but not paying taxes today is preferable to paying them in the distant future. The proposed law, which now moves to the Senate, means team owners would still get a $20 million annual tax savings under the example above. As drafted, it would cover all professional sports teams, and specifies football, hockey, soccer, baseball and basketball as examples. The amortization reduction applies only to new purchases after the bill becomes law, so any revenue bump to the federal government would be muted by the fact current team owners will be exempt under the proposal. 'The general public doesn't really feel sorry for these people either way, but for the owners themselves, it has a huge impact,' Kevin Thorne, managing partner of tax-focused Thorne Law Group, said on a phone call. 'I think it's going to be changed by the time it goes fully through [the Senate and reconciliation process]. A lot of people are going to be getting phone calls on The Hill.' Two years ago Congress eliminated the ability of team owners to immediately depreciate the value of tangible assets of their franchises. Tax benefits 'are a big part of the calculus' of buying a team, Kishner said. 'But it's still a regulated asset in that supply is less than demand and people have historically done very well owning these franchises.' H.R. 1 also seeks to tax college athletic department licensing revenue. Typically, all nonprofits must pay income tax on revenue from activities not central to their tax-exempt status to avoid giving charities a competitive advantage over for-profit businesses. Yet under current law, income from the sale or licensing by a college of its name and logo is exempt from unrelated business income taxation. This money can be significant: Ohio State University's athletic department for example, made $34.1 million in licensing and advertising revenue in the latest reported year, according to the Sportico College Sports Finances Database. Athletic department logos of seemingly every college in the U.S. are widely licensed for apparel and other goods. That money would now be subject to the 21% corporate tax rate—at the same time the NCAA is proposing expanded scholarship limits and direct payments to athletes. Another clause in the budget as passed would allow health savings account money to be used to pay for gym membership, capped at $500 a year per person and $1,000 per family. Publicly traded gym operators Planet Fitness (PLNT) and Life Time Group Holdings (LTH) were up modestly in trading today, outpacing the broader market. H.R. 1 passed the full House by a vote of 215-214 with one abstention, and it will likely see changes in the Senate, despite the Republicans' six-seat advantage. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has set a July 4 target date to pass the legislation. The bill, weighing in at more than 1,100 pages, will now be referred to the Senate finance and budget committees, which may propose amendments that will need to be reconciled with the House version. Both bodies will need to approve by majority vote a final version before it can be sent to President Trump to be signed into law. With assistance from Michael McCann Best of Most Expensive Sports Memorabilia and Collectibles in History The 100 Most Valuable Sports Teams in the World NFL Private Equity Ownership Rules: PE Can Now Own Stakes in Teams
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Bill Advances as Team Owner and College Tax Breaks in Peril
The omnibus 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' passed by the House of Representatives Thursday morning takes aim at team owners' coveted ability to write off most of the purchase price of a sports team, with a clause that would remove billions of dollars from being deducted on taxes. 'The bill itself, vis-a-vis sports teams ownership, isn't really a great thing,' Irwin Kishner, a partner at the law firm of Herrick, Feinstein, said on a phone call. 'You could argue the valuations of sports teams would be less than they were prior to that tax treatment.' More from Baseball America the Latest to Be Target of 'Bork Bill' Congress May Have to Settle NCAA Athlete Eligibility Issue Coffey Talk: Donn Davis on PFL's Rise and Sports 'Ego Money' The bill, now numbered H.R. 1, covers a multitude of spending priorities including border security, defense and taxation, among others. The legislation also takes a hatchet to amortization, which is the depreciation of non-tangible assets often termed goodwill. Typically, 90% or more of a team's purchase price is goodwill, which excludes physical assets a team might possess, such as its stadium and weight room equipment. 'Team owners were allowed to deduct 100% of the purchase price over 15 years, and now they're only allowed to deduct 50% over 15 years, if it comes to law,' Robert Raiola, director of the sports and entertainment group at PKF O'Connor Davies accounting firm, said on a phone call. Amortization is an accounting principle meant to assess a decline in value over time, like its cousin depreciation, which is meant to account for physical assets wearing out, such as machinery. In sports, values don't typically decline. The 1973 New York Yankees sale to George Steinbrenner is believed to be the last time a franchise from the big four U.S. leagues traded hands at a loss. The amortization of team values is an under-the-radar tax benefit that is a key part of the calculus used in the decision to buy a U.S. sports franchise—and it plays a role in the skyrocketing prices paid for franchises in recent years. For example, under existing law, a team owner paying $1.6 billion for a franchise where $1.5 billion is intangible goodwill could deduct that $1.5 billion over 15 years. That $100 million annual deduction of taxable income probably saves the average team owner $40 million in actual taxes, assuming a 40% blended federal and state tax rate. Those deductions do raise the taxable income if and when the team is sold—all $1.5 billion would be a gain to be taxed—but not paying taxes today is preferable to paying them in the distant future. The proposed law, which now moves to the Senate, means team owners would still get a $20 million annual tax savings under the example above. As drafted, it would cover all professional sports teams, and specifies football, hockey, soccer, baseball and basketball as examples. The amortization reduction applies only to new purchases after the bill becomes law, so any revenue bump to the federal government would be muted by the fact current team owners will be exempt under the proposal. 'The general public doesn't really feel sorry for these people either way, but for the owners themselves, it has a huge impact,' Kevin Thorne, managing partner of tax-focused Thorne Law Group, said on a phone call. 'I think it's going to be changed by the time it goes fully through [the Senate and reconciliation process]. A lot of people are going to be getting phone calls on The Hill.' Two years ago Congress eliminated the ability of team owners to immediately depreciate the value of tangible assets of their franchises. Tax benefits 'are a big part of the calculus' of buying a team, Kishner said. 'But it's still a regulated asset in that supply is less than demand and people have historically done very well owning these franchises.' H.R. 1 also seeks to tax college athletic department licensing revenue. Typically, all nonprofits must pay income tax on revenue from activities not central to their tax-exempt status to avoid giving charities a competitive advantage over for-profit businesses. Yet under current law, income from the sale or licensing by a college of its name and logo is exempt from unrelated business income taxation. This money can be significant: Ohio State University's athletic department for example, made $34.1 million in licensing and advertising revenue in the latest reported year, according to the Sportico College Sports Finances Database. Athletic department logos of seemingly every college in the U.S. are widely licensed for apparel and other goods. That money would now be subject to the 21% corporate tax rate—at the same time the NCAA is proposing expanded scholarship limits and direct payments to athletes. Another clause in the budget as passed would allow health savings account money to be used to pay for gym membership, capped at $500 a year per person and $1,000 per family. Publicly traded gym operators Planet Fitness (PLNT) and Life Time Group Holdings (LTH) were up modestly in trading today, outpacing the broader market. H.R. 1 passed the full House by a vote of 215-214 with one abstention, and it will likely see changes in the Senate, despite the Republicans' six-seat advantage. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has set a July 4 target date to pass the legislation. The bill, weighing in at more than 1,100 pages, will now be referred to the Senate finance and budget committees, which may propose amendments that will need to be reconciled with the House version. Both bodies will need to approve by majority vote a final version before it can be sent to President Trump to be signed into law. With assistance from Michael McCann Best of Most Expensive Sports Memorabilia and Collectibles in History The 100 Most Valuable Sports Teams in the World NFL Private Equity Ownership Rules: PE Can Now Own Stakes in Teams Sign in to access your portfolio
Forbes
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Donn Davis Talks 2025 PFL World Tournament Changes, Upsets And More
PFL (Professional Fighters League Europe) founder and president Donn Davis answers journalists ... More questions during the Professional Fighters League Europe (PFL) event at the Accor Arena in Paris, on March 7, 2024. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images) The Professional Fighters League is in the early stages of its 2025 World Tournament. This week, the promotion is in Orlando, Florida, for Week 3 of the tournament, which features the first-round matchups in the middleweight and lightweight divisions. Three former PFL tournament winners are involved in this week's event. PFL founder and chairman Donn Davis answered some questions about the current PFL Tournament ahead of Friday's event, which ESPN will carry live. The first two events of the 2025 PFL World Tournament took place on April 3 and April 11 at Universal Studios in Orlando. That site also hosts the upcoming April 18 event. Unlike the first two cards, which streamed on ESPN+, the PFL World Tournament 2025 3 fight card will be carried on ESPN proper while also streaming on ESPN+. ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 03: Jason Jackson celebrates after fighting against Andrey Koreshkov during the ... More first round of the PFL 2025 World Tournament at Universal Studios on April 3, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by) Davis told Forbes he is happy with the viewership numbers of this year's first two fight cards, "Yes, we're very pleased," said Davis. "Across our global media partners, digital platforms, we have seen a significant uptick from last season, and it shows that fans are responding to the fresh look of the PFL World Tournament and the stakes that surround each also have seen that MMA fans viewing habits are now heavily streaming-focused, and we are seeing growth there." In previous years, the PFL moved things around for its first-round events, hosting the fight cards in different cities. This year, the promotion decided to hold its first four events in the same location, Universal Studious in Orlando, Florida, before hitting the road for the future rounds of the tournament. "By holding the first round of our 2025 World Tournament at Universal Studios Florida, we've created a high-quality production environment to launch this historic change in our format," Davis said of staying in Florida for the first round. "This residency streamlines our logistics, enhances the global broadcast, and gives us a controlled setting that allows us to put on our best product." The decision to hold the first-round events in one location was not the only change the PFL made heading into the 2025 PFL World Tournament. One of the more attention-grabbing changes was the prize for winning the tournament went from $1 million to $500,000. "Let's be clear: $500,000 is still the highest tournament prize in MMA today," said Davis. "And in 2025, through the $20 million total prize pool, we're investing more broadly across fighter pay, including higher base purses and performance incentives. It's about creating sustainable careers. Our model puts more fighters in position to earn more, more often. That's real progress for the sport." The first two events of the year have seen upsets and weight misses, knocking some of the early betting favorites from the tournament; this is something the PFL has taken in stride and perhaps expected and even looked forward to in the case of the upsets. ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 11: Liz Carmouche speaks with Dan Hardy after defeating Ilara Joanne during the ... More first round of the PFL 2025 World Tournament at Universal Studios on April 11, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by) "This is the beauty and the brutality of a world tournament. You've got to make weight. You've got to win. No politics. No picking and choosing opponents. It's win or go home," said Davis. "While unfortunate, it also creates room for new stars to emerge and showcases the depth of global talent in our roster. That's what makes our format so compelling. You've already seen upsets also, like Ekaterina Shakalova from Ukraine, or Justin Wetzell, who was the biggest betting underdog I can remember. You never know what will happen." The 2025 PFL World Tournament 3 fight card takes place on Friday, April 18. We will have live results for both the prelims and main card. Prelims begin at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN+, while the ESPN main card starts at 7 p.m. ET. HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA - AUGUST 16: Impa Kasanganay gestures after his light heavyweight fight against ... More Josh Silveira during the PFL 2024 Playoffs at Hard Rock Live in Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on August 16, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida. (Photo by) 2023 light heavyweight tournament winner and 2024 PFL 2105-pound tournament finalist Impa Kasanganay vs. former Bellator title middleweight title challenger Fabian Edwards headlines Friday's event. Also on the main card is the winner of the 2024 lightweight tournament, Gadzhi Rabadanov, who faces former UFC fighter Marc Diakiese. 2022 welterweight PFL tournament winner Sadibou Sy is also part of the main card. He faces Dalton Rosta.
