The Professional Fighter League (PFL), the most progressive and quickly growing sports league, has developed a multi-year media rights extension with the Brazilian TV network, Globo.
Following the pact, Globo now serves as the exclusive broadcast partner in the country for all PFL and Bellator live events, as well as archival footage and original content.
PFL and Bellator live events will be broadcast live on Combate channels (paid television channel, online, app, and social networks), as well as on Globo’s free-to-air network.
The league’s exceptional roster includes some of Brazil’s top combat sports fighters, with eight competing in the forthcoming 2024 PFL Regular Season.
Six Brazilians have won the PFL World Championships, which include two-time champion Larissa Pacheco, light heavyweight Antonio Carlos Jr., heavyweight fighters Renan Ferreira and Bruno Cappelozza, and lightweight fighters Raush Manfio and Natan Schulte.
PFL CEO, Peter Murray, commented, “The Professional Fighters League is thrilled to expand our partnership with Globo, the premium media company in Brazil, as the continued home of PFL. Brazil’s rich history in combat sports reigns supreme in the PFL, with six fighters achieving PFL World Champion status, and we are excited to continue delivering Brazilian MMA fans with access to the best action and fighters across the sport.”
Rafael Gruenbaum, Combate Channel Product Manager, said, “We are very happy with this new agreement. It represents not only the maintenance of a partnership that has brought great results for Combate but also the possibility of continuing to offer our subscribers, the Brazilian audience who loves fighting, two of the best MMA events currently.”
The PFL is the only mixed martial arts organisation that uses a sports-season schedule, with combatants competing annually in a regular season, playoffs, and championship. 30% of the fighters on the unified PFL and Bellator roster are independently ranked in the top 25 in their respective weight classes, which is the same percentage as the UFC. PFL has a broad worldwide vision for the sport and is establishing the “Champions League of MMA” with PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and further foreign leagues in the works. PFL is at the forefront of technology and innovation, with its own PFL SmartCage enabling fight statistics, real-time betting, AI scoring, and a next-generation viewing experience. PFL airs primetime on ESPN/ESPN+ in the United States and is televised and streamed in 150 nations through 20 premium media distribution partners.