Cageside Press has confirmed with promotion officials that the now-former President of Fighter Operations has left the company, following an initial report by Uncrowned’s Ariel Helwani.

Sefo was a PFL mainstay and a holdover from the World Series of Fighting (WSOF). A former mixed martial artist and kickboxer himself, Sefo regularly handled post-fight press conferences for the promotion during the organization’s first several years, becoming the public face of the company.

Prior to the news of Sefo’s departure, former PFL CEO Peter Murray also parted ways with the organization. Murry had recently been shifted to the position of PFL International CEO, while John Martin has taken over the role of Chief Executive Officer for the league. The PFL is the brainchild of entrepreneur Donn Davis, and was born out of the ashes of the WSOF after it was acquired by an investment group in 2017.

Both Sefo and Carlos Silva, WSOF CEO, joining the newly formed PFL, though Silva left the company several years back. In November 2023, the PFL announced they had acquired rival Bellator MMA, formerly owned by Viacom and to that point the #2 brand in MMA, behind only the UFC.

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“The Professional Fighters League today announced that Peter Murray, CEO of PFL International Leagues, will be departing the organization,” League officials wrote in a statement released on Thursday. The reason behind Murray’s departure, and who initiated it, was not addressed.

“As founding CEO of PFL, Peter played an integral role over the last eight years in the league’s growth and evolution, helping to strengthen the organization’s business operations, expand its global footprint, and establish PFL as a force in the sport of MMA,” Thursday’s announcement by the promotion continued. “His leadership and commitment were instrumental during a period of significant development for the company.”

“PFL would not be here today without Peter Murray’s relentless entrpreneurship and selfless leadership,” PFL Founder Donn Davis was quoted as saying in Thursday’s statement. “He has been my trusted and valued partner building the company and I look forward to his continued support.”

During Murray’s PFL tenure, the league expanded to multiple territories, launching their PFL Europe, MENA (Middle-East North Africa), and Africa branches. It also acquired rival Bellator MMA, bringing in a good portion of that promotion’s talent, including Cris Cyborg, Johnny Eblen, and others, while letting names like Michael Page, Aaron Pico, and Patricio Pitbull jump to the UFC.

Earlier in 2025, the PFL announced that John Martin had taken over as CEO, while Murray was shifted to head up its international operations.

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Mousasi wound up on the outs with the promotion after it was acquired by rival PFL last year. He had previously threatened legal action if his contract was not honored; subsequently, the promotion released the high-profile fighter.

News of Mousasi’s lawsuit was first reported by John S. Nash. The lawsuit targets Bellator Sports Worldwide LLC and New Bellator LLC (a subsidiary of the PFL), as well as PFL Founder Donn Davis, PFL CEO Peter Murray, matchmaker Mike Kogan, President of Fighter Operations Ray Sefo, PFL Executive Vice President Of Business Affairs Jim Branson, and PFL VP, Business Affairs & Deputy General Counsel George Pineda.

Among the claims put forward by Mousasi and his lawyers is that the PFL engaged in an “anti-competitive scheme to maintain and enhance their monsopony power.” A monsopony exists when a given market has only one buyer; the term has become well-known to MMA fans due to the ongoing UFC antitrust lawsuit, which claims the UFC has abused their monsopony status. Mousasi’s claim contends that the PFL and UFC are the only places elite MMA fighters can ply their trade, and will likely rely on the league scooping up Bellator as evidence thereof.

Whether that will fly considering it describes a duopoly (and leaves out options like ONE Championship, RIZIN, KSW, and Oktagon MMA, all of whom have provided lucrative alternatives to an albeit small, select number of fighters) remains to be seen. The suit also alleges breach of contract, however, claiming that the PFL attempted to renegotiate Mousasi’s deal after taking control of Bellator MMA.

According to the Statement of Claim filed by Mousasi and his lawyers, when the star’s manager reached out to the promoter seeking a fight, PFL’s Davis replied via email stating “I am aware of Gegard given his very high compensation. Given Gegard is not a PPV draw, and is not a Champion, his deal is very surprising. PFL is a fighter first league, so we respect and empower all fighters. If he desires to have opportunities here then I can have Mike Kogan reach out to you and work on options with you.”

Mousasi’s contract with Bellator, pre-existing the PFL’s purchase of the promotion, entitled him to a guaranteed purse of $150,000 for his first four bouts, increasing to $200,000 thereafter. He also recieved a finish bonus for $50,000 for any fights won via stoppage, and a promotional fee per bout of $600,000. Meaning that, after his fourth fight for Bellator, he was entitled to either $800,000, or with a finish, $850,000 per fight.

None of Gegard Mousasi’s claims have been tested in court. The claims include breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, unjust enrichment, and a claim for relief for Monopsonization under the Sherman Act. He also claims to have been misclassified as an independent contractor.

The timing of the news of the lawsuit coincides with the PFL’s biggest even of the year, Battle of the Giants, set to feature the debut of Francis Ngannou. That takes place on October 19 in Saudi Arabia.

The post Gegard Mousasi Sues Bellator, Seeking 15 Million for Breach of Contract appeared first on Cageside Press.

That Dana White and co. opted to let one of the hottest talents in the flyweight division slip away, reportedly because he was difficult to deal with, took many by surprise. Yes, Mokaev brought much of it on himself when he sucker-punched UFC 304 opponent Manal Kape ahead of their fight, but that was far from the first time the UFC had endured such an incident.

23-years old, and undefeated, seemed like a get out of jail free card. It wasn’t.

Barely days later, PFL President of Fighter Operations Ray Sefo claimed the league wasn’t interested in Mokaev. “I’ve heard he’s a pain in the ass,” Sefo reportedly stated. After Mokaev suggested the PFL had reached out to him, former Bellator matchmaker and current PFL exec Mike Kogan publicly called him a liar.

Yet just as suddenly, it appears the PFL has changed course. In an exclusive interview with Sherdog, PFL CEO Peter Murray was signing Mokaev’s praises, calling him the future face of a possible flyweight division for the company.

“Whether it’s Muhammad coming into the PFL system in one of our franchises, whether that be the global season or Bellator, and others like him, I think it’s a real opportunity — in particular with international talent in the flyweight weight class. Muhammad is the real deal; a lot of respect for him,” Murray stated.

“I believe Muhammad Mokaev could absolutely be the future face of flyweights within the Professional Fighters League, should that be a weight class we open up in the Global Season or within our Bellator platform,” he went on to add. “It’s absolutely something we’re looking at and this kid [Mokaev] is impressive.”

Sounds like Mokaev could have a future with the league, should he still be interested.

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It certainly seemed that way on Friday at The Theater at Virgin Hotels. Lightweights and light heavyweights continued to find the finish, despite the talent pool being arguably deeper than ever.

That’s something PFL CEO Murray addressed after the event with media outlets including Cageside Press.

“The theme this season, the toughest test in MMA just got a lot tougher. With the addition of the Bellator fighters, half of that roster for the global season is made up of Bellator fighters” noted Murray. “When you really look at the caliber of talent within the PFL, the roster is second to none. And all of these fighters, not only are they taking on the top talent, but they’re taking on this format. To get to the championship and be in that fight, four fights in seven months.”

Suggesting that names like Randy Couture and Tyron Woodley, both now serving as analysts for the league, had been talking about the format, “this is grueling. It’s the gauntlet,” Murray added.

Perhaps some of the bigger news on Friday was that the PFL would be hitting some new destinations. Already, the league is headed to Chicago, and a Utah date will soon follow.

“New market for us,” noted Murray, adding “great fans in Salt Lake City, so we’re excited.”

The PFL Championship will also be leaving New York City, where it has been run for years.

“It will likely be a global destination for the first time for the global world championship, which we’re excited about.”

Watch the full PFL 2 press conference with PFL CEO Peter Murray above.

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On Sunday, the Brazilian star took to social media (or at least, whoever runs her social media did) to request a fight in the first half of the year, tagging both the PFL and Bellator MMA. She also tagged SRJ Sports Investment, a leading Saudi sports investment group that recently struck a deal with the PFL to invest in the promotion.

Cyborg, 38, added that “the longer I sit without an MMA fight the less likely [the Larissa Pacheco] fight happens in 2024.” Pacheco, the PFL’s women’s featherweight champ (and first double champ, having won the league’s lightweight tournament in 2023), is widely considered the biggest fight the PFL could make for Cyborg following Kayla Harrison signing with the UFC.

Jan, Feb, March, April, May, June.@PFLMMA or @BellatorMMA

Can I get a fight booked during the first half of 2024?!@PeteMurrayPFL @DonnDavisPFL

The longer I sit without an MMA fight the less likely @lpacchec fight happens in 2024 @srjsports

My last MMA fight was Oct. pic.twitter.com/QA4pdA1bTS

— CrisCyborg.Com (@criscyborg) February 4, 2024

In a response to a fan suggesting fights are booked on the phone rather than social media, Cyborg claimed that “My phone call to Peter [Murray, PFL CEO] after Kayla left to the UFC still hasn’t been returned.”

Cyborg (27-2, 1NC) previously suggested she would retire from mixed martial arts following her next fight, though it seems she may be reconsidering that notion if she’s open to taking a fight in addition to a potential Pacheco match-up. The fearsome Brazilian, who has held gold in Invicta FC, Strikeforce, the UFC, and Bellator MMA, is currently dabbling in a boxing career, where she is undefeated.

In her last outing this past October, Cris Cyborg defeated former UFC title challenger Cat Zingano. Aside from Pacheco, Bellator featherweight Leah McCourt, coming off a win over ex-UFC title contender Sara McMann, remains an option for Cyborg. Bellator, now owned by the PFL, heads to McCourt’s native Belfast in March.

The post Cris Cyborg Petitions for Fight in First Half 2024, Says Call to PFL Not Returned appeared first on Cageside Press.

During a media scrum following Wednesday’s PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions press conference, PFL CEO Peter Murray revealed that the organization will feature the women’s flyweight division as part of its six tournament divisions in 2024.

“We’re bringing women’s 125 up from PFL Europe. We haven’t talked much about that. Dakota Ditcheva, she’s an amazing athlete out of PFL Europe. So we’re bringing that— not only is Dakota coming up to the global season but the actual weight class, women’s 125, is coming up,” Murray announced on Wednesday. “Then when you marry the 125’ers that we developed in Europe with the Bellator women, the 125’ers, best 125 division in MMA. Period.”

Murray confirmed that the promotion of women’s flyweight will come at the expense of the women’s featherweight division.

“We decided to bring in women’s 125 as the women’s weight class alongside five men’s weight classes. But outside of that you’ll see Larissa [Pacheco] and [Cris] Cyborg on Pay-Per-View cards, potential Bellator cards, global events.”

That means women’s featherweight, which was topped by Larissa Pacheco becoming the first-ever two-division champion in PFL history in 2023, is out— though it will still be featured in standalone fights, with Pacheco vs. Cris Cyborg, the Bellator MMA women’s featherweight champ, possible.

Additionally, the PFL Challenger Series will be paused for 2024, though Murray stated it will return in 2025, highlighting the success Impa Kansanganay had in 2023.

“With respect to this year, we put it on pause. We’re taking on Bellator, we’re focused on putting that into the system but Challenger Series will be back next year for sure,” stated Murray.

Speaking of the Challenger Series, the 2023 edition featured the women’s flyweight division as well, meaning there’s a good chance a familiar name or two makes the regular season this year.

The post Women’s Flyweight Arrives, 145, Challenger Series on Pause for PFL 2024 Season appeared first on Cageside Press.

Murray doesn’t believe the setback will tarnish Burgos too much.

“Shane came over as a major top prospect. That one fight doesn’t define Shane,” Murray told media outlets including Cageside Press following the PFL 3 main card. “He’s now taking on the season, he’s taking on the format. I think you’re going to see a different Shane in the second fight. OAM is certainly solidifying his position as a champion, so I think that fight for me was one of the best of the night.”

Still, as Murray later put it, in the PFL, “the competition is no joke. Some of the best fighters on the planet are in the PFL, and you’re seeing that. So when we develop talent from within the system and then fighters come over from different organizations, it’s eye-opening in terms of the caliber of athletes that we have. And then the challenge of the format. It really is one of the toughest tests in MMA.”

Fighters like Stevie Ray (Scotland), Brendan Loughnane (England), and Olivier Aubin-Mercier (Canada) have been leading the charge for the PFL to visit foreign soil. They did so last year, hitting England and Wales.

“We’re really focused on global expansion, so beyond what we’re doing here in the U.S., we’re really proud that this year we’ve launched four franchises— we’ve at least announced four. We have the Challenger Series, we have the season format, we’ve announced and we have big plans for PPV in our super-fights division,” Murray said on that front. “Jake Paul will make his debut in MMA. Just this week he announced his next event or fight in boxing, against Nate [Diaz], and what’s to come is his debut in MMA.”

Murray also confirmed there would be a PPV event prior to Jake Paul getting into the cage. On the international front, Murray added that “there will be six regional leagues outside the U.S. within three years, and we’ll be making an announcement coming I would say in the next two months on where the second one will be. It’s already put in place, and we’ll launch that in 2024.”

The regional leagues are expected to provide “a pathway to PFL global to compete against the likes of talent that’s here in Vegas or on the global stage, and to become world champions,” he added.

While OAM and Loughnane want to see the PFL go global for this year’s playoffs, Murray revealed they will take place stateside. “The playoffs this year will be in the United States for sure. Internationally, for the championship, we’re having conversations outside the U.S., different opportunities.”

Still, the PFL exec recognizes that PFL athletes aren’t just fighting for themselves, or for titles, but “very much they’re fighting for country. They’re representing their countries. We have 28 nations represented on the roster, and not only do they want to be champion, world champion for themselves, but for their countries, and they’re very passionate like OAM. Bring the show to Montreal, or bring the show to Scotland. And you’ll see us stage events in different parts of the countries, not just our regional leagues but we’ll be taking the world championship to different markets around the world, we’ll be taking super-fights, our PPV division fights to different markets around the world. So more to come there.”

Watch the full 2023 PFL 3 media scrum with Peter Murray above.

Correction: Article updated to reflect that Peter Murrary spoke to the media following the PFL 3 main card.

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Instead, the league’s next season, still expected to air on ESPN, will take place in 20201.

“In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Professional Fighters League has rescheduled our upcoming 2020 season for Spring 2021.  PFL is a global MMA league with athletes from over 25 countries, and our decision is guided by the health and safety of our fighters, fans, partners, and event personnel,” the league wrote in a statement.

The big news beyond that is that fighters will get paid, although how much is not known and may be based off existing contracts. In its press release, the promotion stated that it will “pay its league fighters a monthly cash stipend to help support them and their families throughout 2020.”

It also intends to produce “new original programming for distribution across ESPN platforms and PFL channels.”

The league’s 2019 season was its first on ESPN. The merit-based tournament format has proven popular with hardcore MMA fans, who prefer to see winners earn title shots, rather than the process being based on a quasi-official popularity contest. The 2020 season had some fresh faces attached to it, including Canadian fighters Rory MacDonald and Olivier Aubin-Mercier. In addition, returning stars like Kayla Harrison and Lance Palmer were expected to take part.

In a statement included in Monday’s press release, promotion CEO Peter Murray was quoted as saying

“The PFL mission is to evolve and grow the sport of MMA, and we look forward to staging our unique sport-season format with Regular Season, Playoff and Championship events on ESPN platforms next year. PFL has always been focused on delivering the best made-for-TV MMA product and we will continue to deliver the most innovative fight experience going forward. Fans can also look forward to PFL elevating our roster with new championship caliber fighter signings such as Rory MacDonald.

“For the remainder of 2020, the PFL will support our fighters with a monthly cash stipend to help provide some relief during these challenging times. In addition, for sports fans who we know are looking for compelling content, the PFL will deliver new original programming across ESPN and PFL platforms.

“PFL will continue to be an innovator in the world of sports.

Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the COVID-19 coronavirus.”

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