My life changed at 13 when I discovered MMA. I was consumed by the sport, training six days a week with dreams of going pro, until a fractured vertebra ended my fighting career before it truly began.
I could not walk away.
Over the next 15 years, I promoted and produced more than 60 MMA events for NBC and FOX Sports and later served as COO of the World Series of Fighting. That experience gave me a close view into how the sport operates and where it struggles to create long term continuity.
MMA fans form deep connections with athletes. But when a fighter retires, is injured, or is not on the next card, that connection often fades. Unlike other professional sports, loyalty in MMA is tied almost entirely to individuals rather than teams. At the same time, most athletes have limited opportunity to participate in the long term value of the leagues they help grow.
That is why I founded the Global Fight League.
GFL is designed as a global, team based MMA league built around city franchises. Fighters compete as teammates, not just individual participants, allowing fan loyalty and engagement to attach to teams as well as athletes. This structure is intended to create greater continuity for fans and a more durable league over time.
We are launching with teams in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and London, with plans to expand as the league develops. Our athletes will have the opportunity to participate in equity programs, and we intend to open ownership access to fans and public investors as the league grows.
MMA already has more than 700 million global fans and generates approximately 26 billion video views annually worldwide. The audience exists. Our focus is on building a league designed to support long-term fan engagement and athlete participation.
To do this the right way, we have assembled an experienced leadership team, trusted business advisors, and a group of elite athletes and respected MMA voices to help guide the league’s development.