According to a recent report, the Global Fight League will hold its first event in May, featuring fights such as Tony Ferguson vs. Dillon Danis.
The upstart league founded by Darren Owen was announced late last year. At the time details about the Global Fight League were largely sparse, but they quickly began signing fighters by the dozens. Many, many ex-UFC stars quickly signed with the league, including Tony Ferguson, Frank Mir, Paige VanZant, and more. The league hopes to use a team-based format, with coaches such as Lyoto Machida, to find a niche in the market.
Over the last few weeks, the first Global Fight League fight announcements have been made. Later this year, fans can expect a rematch between Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold, as well as a trilogy bout between Urijah Faber and Renan Barao. They’ve also announced a “legendary” matchup between the aforementioned Tony Ferguson and Dillon Danis. For his part, ‘El Jefe’ recently had his boxing return against KSI canceled due to an injury to ‘The Nightmare’.
Now, fans can expect Tony Ferguson vs. Dillon Danis to go down on May 24th in Los Angeles. As first reported by Ariel Helwani last night, the Global Fight League will hold its inaugural events at the Shrine Auditorium later this summer. The GFL didn’t confirm the report but did sha
REPORT | Global Fight League to hold its first event in May and will feature Tony Ferguson vs. Dillon Danis
Nonetheless, the first Global Fight League event is still largely being built out. However. the May 24th card will feature the aforementioned Tony Ferguson vs. Dillon Danis bout. ‘El Cucuy’ will enter the bout riding an eight-fight losing streak, last suffering a loss to Michael Chiesa in August. Meanwhile, ‘El Jefe’ hasn’t competed since a disqualification loss to Logan Paul in the boxing ring in October 2023.
Also slated for the inaugural Global Fight League event is a pair of trilogy bouts. Urijah Faber will hope to score his first win in his series with Renan Barao, with the Brazilian holding two wins over ‘The California Kid’. Meanwhile, former UFC champions Anthony Pettis and Benson Henderson will meet for a fourth time this summer, but their third time in the cage. ‘Showtime’ famously beat ‘Smooth’ in a Karate Combat bout in late 2023.
Lastly, former Bellator champion Douglas Lima will meet Uriah Hall at the inaugural Global Fight League event in May. While there’s still a lot unknown about the event, it’s a decent first offering for fans.
FROM KSI Fight
TTT
As of now, the GFL has not announced where fans will be able to watch the events, although the release states an announcement is expected sometime in April.
Check out the updated lineups below.
GFL 1, May 24, 4:30 p.m. ET
Urijah Faber vs. Renan Barao - bantamweight
Chad Mendes vs. Maike Linhares - featherweight
Anthony Pettis vs. Benson Henerson - lightweight –
Holly Holm vs. Julia Budd - women’s bantamweight –
Marlon Moraes vs. Ray Borg - bantamweight
Alexa Conners vs. Cat Zingano - women’s bantamweight
GFL 2, May 25, 4:30 p.m. ET
Tony Ferguson vs. Dillon Danis - welterweight
Uriah Hall vs. Douglas Lima - middleweight
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Viviane Pereira - strawweight
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Ovince Saint Preux - light heavyweight
Alan Belcher vs. Stuart Austin - heavyweight
Paige VanZant vs. Randi Field - strawweight
Louis Glismann vs. Abu Nurmagomedov - lightweight
sad that we have to see Tony lose to this tool
Really wish they would drop the gay team concept. MMA is an individual sport.
It’s so fucking gay.
It was kind of cool in the IFL when they were actually all at the same gym, but it’s such a weird plot to try to get normal sports fans to care.
Werdum pulls out of GFL campaign
“Frank Mir was a fight that motivated me to return. After he announced his withdrawal, I also lost my motivation,” Werdum said upon returning to Florianópolis and his normal routine.
“The atmosphere in Andre Dida’s academy in Curitiba is unbelivable. It was such a great experience to return do training routine with master Rafael, Wanderlei, Dida, Brunno Hulk and Blindado, but I have to feel the same motivation to return and that was not the case when Mir (was not an option).”
Quotes via Sherdog
Given that he’ll be 48 years of age this summer, we don’t think this is a bad thing. Hopefully, Werdum is able to enjoy the rest of his life without needing to climb back into the cage.
Please God, don’t let me live in a world where Tony Ferguson loses to that cunt Danis 