PFL Announces 2019 Playoffs Heading to Las Vegas

Satoshi Ishii PFL 3
Satoshi Ishii Credit: Dan Doherty/Cageside Press

Las Vegas will host the PFL 2019 Playoffs, marking the first time the mixed martial arts league has touched down in the fighting mecca.

The PFL 2019 season has been coming along nicely, with the second batch of regular season fights kicking up again next week in Atlantic City, NJ. In advance of that, the promotion announced via press release Tuesday that its playoffs, which last year were hosted in Long Beach, CA, would be coming to Las Vegas — the first time the MMA league has touched down in the fighting hotspot.

In particular, events will be held October 11, 17 and 31 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Key in making this development possible was the Nevada State Athletic Commission approving the PFL playoff format, which involves fighters competing twice in a single night.

“We’re proud to stage the 2019 PFL Playoffs in Las Vegas, the fight capital of the world and home to major league sports and larger than life entertainment events,” said Peter Murray, CEO of the PFL in Tuesday’s press release. “Our focus has been on partnering with leading brands and properties such as ESPN, and we are now excited to team with another world class organization in MGM Resorts as our Playoff partner in October. For the first time ever in Las Vegas, MMA fans will experience fighters fighting twice in one night to reach the PFL Championship, where six elite athletes will earn their divisional championship belts and $1 million each.”

The Professional Fighters League 2019 playoffs will air on ESPN2, ESPN+, and ESPN Deportes, as well as TSN in Canada.