PFL CEO details issues that have hindered growth of promotion's brand

Professional Fighters League CEO John Martin believes the promotion needs to focus on brand building.

While the PFL is arguably the second-biggest MMA promotion in the world, it remains well behind industry leader UFC in terms of popularity. Martin believes the focus of the PFL has shifted multiple times since its inception in 2017, hindering its growth as a brand. Martin notes that the acquisition of Bellator in 2023 also came with a lot of issues.

Martin, who joined as the CEO of PFL last year, believes the promotion is more important than individual fighters. Martin is now trying to build the brand of PFL.

Brand Over Everything

“The PFL’s seven years old,” Martin told