When the World Struggle League was first introduced again in 2024, there was loads of skepticism connected the promotion largely because of vital variety of distinguished fighters signed to contracts to not point out a virtually similar idea being introduced three years earlier that by no means acquired off the bottom.
Again in 2021, former World Collection of Combating govt Darren Owen announced plans to launch a team-based format called the WFL. Time handed, and the promotion by no means held a single occasion, however Owen returned in 2024 with an eerily comparable plan for the GFL, besides this time, a slew of fighters had been signed to contracts, together with quite a few ex-UFC champions akin to Tyron Woodley, Luke Rockhold, and Chris Weidman.
However nearly as shortly because the GFL introduced plans for a two-night launch with a pair of playing cards set for Los Angeles, the reveals had been cancelled and severe doubts had been raised about whether or not or not the fledgling promotion would ever get off the bottom.
“It sort of sucks,” retired UFC welterweight Matt Brown stated on the most recent episode of The Fighter vs. The Author. “I really feel like we’ve learn this e-book earlier than. We’ve seen this entire story earlier than.”
Sadly, various MMA promotions have come and gone over time, however GFL by no means even managed to get to the beginning line with the primary two reveals already cancelled.
Whereas Owen stated in an announcement that he’s nonetheless searching for funding to launch the GFL someday in 2025, lots of the fighters concerned with the promotion have successfully already jumped ship.
Paige VanZant launched a message on Instagram saying “free agent,” and ex-UFC fighter and former BKFC champion Alan Belcher revealed that the GFL made guarantees to e-book him for a battle however solely on the situation that he would earn a “revenue share and stuff if I would fight for not a guaranteed purse.”
“What a shit present,” Brown stated concerning the GFL. “It sucks as a result of we do want extra promotions on the market I feel. I feel there must be extra competitors on the market. There must be somebody to step up, however it’s only a powerful f*cking enterprise mannequin. I don’t know if it’s ever going to occur, possibly ever. We are able to speak about issues that would wish to occur for that to occur. It doesn’t look good on any entrance.
“I don’t know the way they get buyers to do that. In the event you’re going to open a enterprise and also you’re searching for an funding, you present some form of proof of idea. You do your market analysis, all this stuff. Are these buyers even what occurs? This can be a widespread story. We’ve learn this e-book earlier than.”
Promised paydays for GFL had been by no means reported, however a number of athletes spoke out concerning the astronomical charges they had been set to earn, which no less than partially defined how so many distinguished names signed with the promotion earlier than a single occasion was held.
With solely so many choices obtainable exterior of the UFC, Brown understands why fighters may take an opportunity on GFL however on the identical time he at all times had severe doubts and he’s unsure why there wasn’t extra due diligence completed by the managers representing the athletes.
“I don’t know the way anyone fell for it,” Brown stated. “Hopefully, they determine one thing out. There’s not a complete lot to even say about it. We’ve learn this e-book so many instances, and we’re similar to, I simply hope all of the fighters acknowledge what it was.
“In the event that they didn’t, it’s in all probability due to their shit ass managers. The f*cking managers on this sport are the worst. That’s the most important drawback once we speak about issues like this.”
Whereas Brown concedes there are “completely some good folks” representing fighters in fight sports activities, he’s additionally personally seen the opposite aspect of the game after spending 15 years within the UFC.
After all, Brown additionally acknowledges that he was lucky to spend the overwhelming majority of his profession with the most important group in MMA however he is aware of that received’t be the case for a lot of fighters. That’s why he really hopes promotions like PFL discover success in the long term however he additionally is aware of the UFC may find yourself because the final promotion standing it doesn’t matter what.
“I want any person would get it collectively,” Brown stated. “It’s not a great enterprise. Anyone must do it.
“You’ve acquired to present props to Dana [White] and firm. They took over the f*cking sport and so they constructed it from nothing, roughly, and so they’re a powerhouse. There’s no room on the market for lots of promotions. There’s not even room for it. The UFC is the f*cking monster.”
