PFL Reveals Ambitious Plans for 2026: A Globalized Calendar
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has unveiled its plans for the year 2026, promising a season packed with action and global expansion. The announced schedule includes a total of 24 events, designed to captivate sports fans worldwide.
The ambitious program consists of 16 global events, along with eight regional events to be held in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) and Africa series. This strategy reflects the PFL’s commitment to expanding its reach and offering exciting fights to an international audience.
The inaugural main event of the 2026 season will see Usman Nurmagomedov defending his lightweight title. His opponent will be Alfie Davis, on a card scheduled for February 7th at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
In addition to Dubai, the initial PFL calendar will include events in March in Madrid and Pittsburgh, as well as an event in April in Chicago. The stop in Madrid will mark the promotion’s first foray into Spanish territory.
Founded in 2017, the PFL has undergone a significant transformation in its leadership in recent months. John Martin, former executive at Turner and Time Warner, took over as CEO in July, while Lenny Daniels, former president of Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, was appointed chief operating officer this week.
Historically, promotion was based on a regular season and playoffs format. However, this model was replaced in 2025 by a single-elimination tournament. Martin has decided to move away entirely from the tournament model, favoring a more traditional approach in the scheduling of MMA fights.
The PFL has a national broadcast agreement with ESPN that expires at the end of 2026.
