PFL coverage in the U.K and Ireland is expanding, and more eyeballs than ever before will be on the product this year.
The Professional Fighters League announced on Tuesday that coverage of its 2022 events will be carried Channel 4 in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The deal will kick off with the launch of the PFL Challenger Series on February 18, and sees Channel 4 pick up exclusive live coverage and streaming rights for the events.
In addition to over 20 live events throughout the year, the broadcaster also gets access to the promotion’s fight library, plus other original content.
“The Professional Fighters League is thrilled to announce our media partnership with Channel 4 in the United Kingdom and Ireland,” PFL CEO Peter Murray was quoted as saying in a press release on Tuesday. “MMA fans in the UK and Ireland will now have unprecedented access to year-round live MMA events featuring star PFL fighters competing in a unique sport season format. Our partnership with Channel 4 illustrates MMA has further evolved into a mainstream sport and PFL is the fastest growing and most innovative league in the world.”
In addition to the broadcast deal the league also announced the PFL Scholarship initiative in the United Kingdom. That initiative, in partnership with Great Britain Top Team, will see the league cover the costs of training and gym membership for five UK-based fighters deemed “talented but underprivileged” for a period of one year. At GBTT, those athletes will work under the likes of Ashleigh Grimshaw and Brad Pickett.
