Professional Fighters League and fuboTV have announced a multi-year agreement to bring the PFL Challenger Series exclusively to the sports-oriented streaming platform and the Fubo Sports Network. The series is set to debut live on Friday, February 18, 2022, and will stream on consecutive Friday nights exclusively on fuboTV and its linear network, Fubo Sports Network, in February, March, and April.
“fuboTV provides sports fans an innovative viewing experience and PFL could not be more excited to launch our new PFL Challenger Series exclusively on their platform,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “The PFL Challenger Series will be the most unique live fight show showcasing the MMA stars of tomorrow and I’m confident it quickly will become buzzworthy viewing.”
Founded in 2018, the PFL is the fastest growing sports league in the world and the #2 MMA company in the world. The PFL is different from other major MMA organizations, as it was the first major MMA promotion to allow individual athletes to compete in a regular season, post-season, and championship, rather than on a year-round basis. The league is the frontier for innovation and the partnership with fuboTV will allow both companies to revolutionize the sports industry.
“Our partnership with the PFL and their new PFL Challenger Series allows fuboTV to further differentiate our sports-first programming with exclusive MMA content, which we know is one of the hottest live sports for consumers,” said David Gandler, co-founder and CEO, fuboTV.
With the PFL Challenger Series, the PFL takes the competition format familiar to MMA fans and makes it more exciting and modern with the innovative, disruptive approach PFL is known for. The promotion plans to set a standard in the MMA industry, as the PFL Challenger Series will be the first to provide MMA pros a direct path to $1 million. The winners of the PFL Challenger Series can earn an opportunity to compete in upcoming PFL seasons.
“PFL Challenger Series is not your father’s contender series,” said PFL Founder and Chairman Donn Davis. “The winner of the PFL Challenger Series can become a real-world Rocky story, going from an unknown pro to World Champion holding a $1 million check in the same year.”
The series will feature a number of prominent judges throughout the competition. Mike Tyson, Ray Lewis, and Todd Gurley are just a few of the major names who are confirmed to appear throughout the must-watch event. MMA fans will also be on the judges’ panel, as the show will feature fan voting.
Not only will fans be able to interact by fan voting, but PFL Challenger Series will feature predictive free-to-play games on fuboTV and Fubo Sports Network throughout the live competition. MMA fans will be able to participate by answering predictive questions about the on-screen combat action. In addition to free-to-play gaming, Fubo Sportsbook will be the exclusive gambling sponsor of the PFL Challenger Series. After making its launch in Iowa back in November 2021, Fubo Sportsbook will launch in additional states pending the requisite regulatory approvals.
Gandler added: “fuboTV believes the future of sports television will be interactive. This partnership will give our audience unprecedented ways to interact and engage with the PFL. We are looking forward to bringing an interactive sports and entertainment television experience to consumers next year through this very unique partnership.”
Cord cutters can watch all of the MMA action when the PFL Challenger Series debuts on February 18, 2022, by signing up for fuboTV starting at $64.99/mo.