ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reports that the Professional Fighters League has suspended its entire 2020 season with the league returning in 2021. Contracted athletes will receive a monthly stipend according to the promotion’s CEO Peter Murray.
On March 30th, Murray sent out a statement that the company would be “adjusting our plan for the rest of this year and look forward to starting our next season as soon as it is feasible.” The company signed a two-year broadcast deal which was set to end this season. According to Okamoto’s report, it looks as though the two parties agreed to extend the deal into 2021 to compensate for this year’s lost one due to the pandemic.
UPDATED: PFL sends out release confirming report of cancelling season
BREAKING: Professional Fighters League Reschedules 2020 Season to 2021 Due to Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.
— PFL MMA (@ProFightLeague) April 20, 2020
Full Press Release: https://t.co/WKx6WrexZE pic.twitter.com/zEzBieKpWM
Breaking: PFL has suspended its entire 2020 season, with plans to pick up its season/playoff format in 2021, on ESPN. Contracted athletes will receive a monthly stipend, per PFL CEO Peter Murray. More to come on @ESPN.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) April 20, 2020
The television deal with ESPN called for the network to air 10 PFL events including a regular season, playoff and championship fights. Last year, the regular season took place in the spring, throughout the summer and with the playoffs in October and finals on New Year’s Eve.
Due to the pandemic which has required the nation to alter all public gatherings and shutter sports, this season will not happen. One would think that logistics with where to hold events was an issue as well as the safety of the fighters.
Notably, fighters that were contracted to be a part of this season will be paid a stipend until next year.
Payout Perspective:
First and foremost, for the PFL, it will be given a “makeup” season in 2021 with ESPN allowing the company a chance to showcase itself before it enters into a stage of the business where it must find a television contract. This is important for the investors and the league if there are hopes of sustaining the business. This was an inevitable decision due to the uncertainty with the reopening of various states. Unlike the UFC, PFL doesn’t have an Apex to hold an event or an island to stage them. Still, the company is making a good faith (and good PR) effort in offering stipends to its fighters. Its not known how much the stipends will be, but one might assume that they are a sufficient amount that would not result in a backlash from the fighters.
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