HIGHLIGHTS
- The Professional Fighters League has new leadership and a revamped vision for 2026.
- Several key hires signal a push toward mainstream relevance and global expansion.
- A familiar format is being replaced by something that could reshape how the league operates.
The Professional Fighters League is going into a new era, and it will be led by new CEO John Martin. I’ve had the opportunity to speak with Martin and to get a vibe on his approach to leading a professional mixed martial arts organization.
It will be interesting to see how the organization will be shaped by his influence. Recently, Martin passed on more than a handful of major changes he has planned for 2026 and beyond.
Clearer Stakes For the Promotion’s Biggest Fights
NASHVILLE, TN – AUGUST 02: Dakota Ditcheva celebrates after defeating Jena Bishop during the PFL 2024 Playoffs at the Municipal Auditorium on August 2, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
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According to a statement provided by The PFL, the promotion believes it is “finally cracking the code on combining sporting legitimacy with must-watch events.”
If PFL can consistently deliver on that promise, the audience will follow. Stars are important, and with fighters like Dakota Ditcheva, Cris Cyborg, Thad Jean and Usman Nurmagomedov already under the PFL banner there are charismatic combatants on the scene.
Global Expansion Into More Major Cities
The PFL’s calendar has had international destinations for multiple years, but under Martin’s leadership the plan is to be even more strategic with the location of events.
Expert more events in cities like Dubai, Madrid and Chicago. Those cities and others represent markets the PFL believes has spending power, media interest and passionate fan bases hungry for live combat sports.
New Capital And Investors
According to the PFL, a recent capital raise gives the promotion flexibility at a moment when some sports and media companies are pulling back. The PFL says the money they’ve raised enables them to secure rights deals, add fighters to the roster and continue their international growth.
Martin called out 885 Capital and Knighthead Capital Management as “two titans in business, finance, sports and technology.” Both are financially backing the league’s next chapter.
A New Leadership Team is Built for Scale
The current executive roster–headed by Martin–is a blend of professionals with fight-world experience in addition to media, tech and finance experience.
In addition to Martin’s hiring as CEO, the PFL also brought on Lenny Daniels as COO, Eric Jackson heading Global Production and Operations, Jason Oberlander as CCO and they retained longtime executive and promoter Loren Mack.
The mix of fresh perspectives and institutional knowledge could be a winning formula.
A Production Overhaul Aimed at Mainstream Audiences
I would expect the PFL to look quite a bit different to viewers beginning in 2026.
From broadcast pacing to visual identity, the PFL’s production is set to make changes it believes are massive upgrades in 2026. The plan is to show a clear pivot toward attracting casual viewers—the audience advertisers and platforms actually pay to push their products to.
What does this mean exactly? I’ll have to watch the first event of the Martin Era to say for sure, but I expect tighter broadcasts, more lively graphics and presentation that feels closer to major league sports than niche combat sports programming.
Storytelling Beyond the Cage
In speaking with Martin and other members of leadership, I’ve learned the executives understand the importance of telling fighter stories. I’ve been told the PFL will be leaning into year-long narratives, athlete backstories and data-driven context.
Per the communication with me, “the PFL is treating fighters less like one-night attractions and more like recurring characters. That shift is crucial for audience retention. Fans need reasons to come back beyond just the fights themselves.”
A New Format and Ranking System
The departure from the season format was a must. As an MMA fan, I was thrilled when that pivot was announced. As an MMA journalist, it was equally as exciting because I know combat sports fans will not maintain interest in combat sports tournaments that last longer than a day. It was even tougher to keep buy-in–and fighters healthy–throughout an entire season.
Per the PFL, the new approach is all about the best fighting the best, and the launch of an upcoming rankings system will make that even easier. The pivot away from the tournament structure is significant, but the efficiency and transparency of the ranking system will be key for fans.
When is the Next PFL Event?
The next card is PFL Dubai: Nurmagomedov vs. Davis on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as part of the 2026 Champions Series schedule. I’ll have coverage of that event.
Like any other sport, MMA will be stronger overall with more than one truly viable organization. The PFL has strong fighters on its roster and fresh leadership.
The combination could make for a memorable year of MMA.