Professional Fighters League Chief Aims to Tackle New Fans With October 19 ‘Superfight’
variety.comBrian Steinberg Senior TV Editor One of the biggest battles for sports fans in recent history will take place October 19 in Saudi Arabia.
It’s easy to think that “”Battle of the Giants” might just be another big MMA card. Organized by the Professional Fighters League, the so-called “superfight” will feature Francis Ngannou, the former UFC Heavyweight Champion, and Renan Ferreira, the 2023 PFL heavyweight title holder also known as “La Problema.” There will also be a showdown between two female champions, Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco At PFL, executives see a chance to bring new fans to the sport. “This is a card you’ve never seen.
The two best men and the two best women,” says Donn Davis, the former AOL executive who is founder and a co-owner of the MMA league. “We think this is something that’s going to definitely get the die-hard MMA fans, but if you’re just a sports fan, this is something you’ll want to see.” In an era when sports may be the last programming genre that reliably draws large simultaneous crowds to TV screens, leagues of all stripes are eager to demonstrate their potential.
Media rights for PFL’s main rival, the UFC, is controlled by Endeavor’s TKO Group, come up for renewal in 2025, with PFL’s expiring in 2026, according to Davis.
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