Saudi Arabia Buys Stake in Professional Martial Arts League

The Professional Fighters League has acquired a minority share from SRJ Sports Investment Co., an entity established by Saudi Arabia’s.

Sovereign wealth fund, with aspirations to establish a regional martial arts competition.

The Professional Fighters League has sold SRJ Sports Investments, the sports-focused fund established three weeks ago.

By Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, a minority ownership position in the MMA business (PIF). SRJ’s initial investment is in PFL.

Donn Davis, co-founder and chairman of PFL, said in a phone interview that “there is no better global investor with industrial-strength capital [than PIF] to assist us realise our worldwide ambition.”

With this funding, we have everything we need to start the next chapter of our story. And become not just No. 2 in the MMA rankings, but possibly the co-leader as well.

Professional Martial Arts League

SRJ is putting more than $100 million into PFL, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. Who was given anonymity because the specifics are confidential. Regarding the extent of the investment, a PFL representative declined to disclose.

A Middle East/North Africa (MENA) PFL league and the firm’s “Super Fight” pay-per-view arm. Will both be launch next year thanks to the investment in the PFL parent company.

Additionally, the money will be use to enhance PFL celebrity attendance and MMA involvement in Saudi Arabia and the MENA region.

In the upcoming years, Saudi Arabia will also host and sponsor a “substantial” number of PFL PPV tournaments.

By obtaining exclusive MMA contracts with Jake Paul, a crossover combat sports icon, and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.

The PFL has increased its prominence this year. According to Davis, they will both make their PFL debuts on pay-per-view in 2024, with Ngannou headlining a spring card and Paul one in the fall.

On the spring PPV card, women’s champion Kayla Harrison will compete as well.

Following the $4 billion acquisition of UFC by talent agency WME-IMG, Davis founded PFL in 2018. Instead of the planned promotions in the UFC.

The PFL was design around a typical sports league format with a regular season, playoffs, and championships.

The PFL’s 2023 playoffs were finish this month at Madison Square Garden, and the finals. Which will feature championship matches in six weight classes with $1 million up for grabs, are schedule on November 24.

A star-studded group of investors, including Ares, Knighthead, Luxor Capital, Waverley Capital. Elysian Park Ventures, contributed $200 million to PFL prior to the SRJ announcement.

Glenn Youngkin, the governor of Virginia, and other sports team owners like David Blitzer. Ted Leonsis, and Brandon Beck are also on the cap table.

Professional Martial Arts League

After PFL Europe debuts in 2023, PFL MENA is anticipate to debut in March 2024. Davis hopes to create six international regional leagues in the future and sees a Champions League-style competition where the champions compete against each other.

Bander Bin Mogren, the chairman of SRJ and the PIF’s COO since 2016, will be a member of the PFL board. Bin Mogren stated in a statement that “SRJ is defining a new era of sports.

In Saudi Arabia and accelerating the growth of the domestic sports economy.” “This investment aims to develop the martial arts talent base in the local and regional areas.”

One of the biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world, PIF manages about $700 billion in assets. It has connections to F1, boxing, WWE, and it owns 80% of Premier League team Newcastle United.

With the introduction of LIV Golf, PIF completely altered the professional golf landscape during the past two years. The PGA Tour, LIV, and DP World Tour came to a deal in June to combine their business ventures into a unified, profit-making worldwide golf organization.

PIF acquired control of four Saudi Pro League teams in June as well.

And this summer, with the help of lucrative contracts, the league has attracted new talent.

SRJ, which is pronounced “surge,” was found to promote sports Professional Martial Arts League in Saudi Arabia and the MENA area. It aspires to develop and invest in global sports intellectual property.

Improve the fan experience through organizing important events, and make investments in game-changing technologies.

The Qatar Investment Authority was the first sovereign wealth fund to invest in significant U.S. team sports, and the NBA was the first of the major five U.S. sports leagues to allow investments from sovereign wealth funds last year.

This summer, QIA acquired a passive minority investment in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals and wholly controlled by Leonsis.

The Washington Mystics of the WNBA, Capital One Arena, and NBC Sports Washington are all part of MSE. Additionally, QIA has invested in the MMA competition ONE Championship.