Professional Fighters League Europe to Debut in 2023

While Professional Fighters League will hold a pair of playoff events in the United Kingdom this year, it will be going international in a much bigger fashion in 2023.

The organization announced on Thursday the launch of PFL Europe, which will debut next year. According to a release, all events will be held and broadcast in primetime in Europe, with cards featuring top emerging fighters from the region. PFL Europe is expected to provide an avenue for the best fighters from the league to make it to the “PFL global talent roster.”

“I am pleased to announce the PFL will launch PFL Europe in 2023 to further advance the sport of MMA and fuel PFL’s next phase of global expansion starting in Europe, the number one international MMA growth region,“ said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “Europe is rich with top fighters who are ready to compete in the PFL’s season format on a major stage and passionate MMA fans throughout the region will now have access to premium events staged in Europe.”

Viewers will get a taste of those plans at PFL playoff events on Aug. 13 and Aug. 20, as fighters such as England’s Dakota Ditcheva, Ireland’s Will Fleury, Italy’s Francesco Nuzzi and Scotland’s Louie Sutherland will be competing in qualifying bouts in hopes of earning a contract for PFL Europe.

PFL Europe could be just the beginning. According to the release from the organization, it is “the first of multiple international leagues which will be launched to provide the best fighter talent in the world the opportunity to compete and prove themselves on a global stage.” Further details regarding future international PFL leagues were not revealed.

The full lineup of PFL Europe qualifying fights from playoff events on Aug. 13 and Aug. 20 is listed below.

PFL Europe Qualifier Fights - Cardiff (Aug. 13) 
Will Fleury (Ireland) vs. Kenneth Bergh (Norway) 
Nathan Kelly (Ireland) vs. TBA
Vojto Barborik (Slovakia) vs. Radu Maxim (Italy) 
Moktar Benkaci (France) vs. Francesco Nuzzi (Italy) 

PFL Europe Qualifier Fights - London (Aug. 20) 
Dakota Ditcheva (UK) vs. Hassna Gaber (Morocco) 
Louie Sutherland (UK) vs. Abraham Bably (UK)
Tayo Odunjo (UK) vs. Magnus Onyeka Iversen (Norway) 
Ali Taleb (Sweden) vs. Kenji Bortoluzzi (Switzerland)