The Global Fight League (GFL) is set to launch with not one, but two inaugural events.
On Monday, the GFL unveiled plans for its first two events, featuring seasoned veterans, both set to take place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. The action kicks off on May 24, with a second night of fights following on May 25 at the same venue, with broadcast details and ticket sales information set to be revealed in April.
The newly launched MMA promotion, which has signed over 300 fighters, including several former champions from top organizations, has introduced a team-based format. The league will feature six city-based teams from around the world, competing in a structured season that culminates in playoffs to crown the ultimate champions.
In the GFL’s unique team system, fighters earn points for their performances in every fight. A win by finish awards 4 points, a decision victory brings 3 points, a draw earns 2, and a decision loss gives 1 point. However, if a fighter is stopped, their team receives no points for that matchup.
Fighters from all six GFL teams — Los Angeles, New York, London, Dubai, São Paulo, and Miami — will clash in a total of 31 bouts across two action-packed nights. Additionally, the May 24 event will feature a few highly anticipated trilogy fights.
Here’s a look at the current lineups:
GFL Day 1 – Saturday, May 24, Los Angeles
- Urijah Faber (LA) vs. Renan Barao (SP): bantamweight
- Anthony Pettis (MIA) vs. Benson Henderson (LON): lightweight
- Holly Holm (NY) vs. Julia Budd (LON): women’s bantamweight
- Chad Mendes (LA) vs. Maike Linhares (SP): featherweight
- Derek Brunson (DUB) vs. Omari Akhmedov (DUB): middleweight
- Sage Northcutt (LA) vs. Lucas Martins (SP): lightweight
- Marlon Moraes (MIA) vs. Ray Borg (LA): bantamweight
- Aspen Ladd (LA) vs. Alejandra Lara (SP): women’s bantamweight
- Robelis Despaigne (MIA) vs. Todd Duffee (DUB): heavyweight
- Cat Zingano (MIA) vs. Alexa Conners (DUB): women’s bantamweight
- Neiman Gracie (NY) vs. Danny Roberts (LON): welterweight
- Jessica Penne (LA) vs. Joice Mara (SP): atomweight
- Charles Rosa (MIA) vs. Khumoyun Tukhtamuradov (DUB): featherweight
- Marisa Messer-Belenchia (NY) vs. Kelly Staddon (LON): atomweight
- Gleison Tibau (MIA) vs. Alex Oliveira (SP): welterweight
GFL Day 2 – Sunday, May 25, Los Angeles
- Tony Ferguson (LA) vs. Dillon Danis (NY): lightweight
- Ovince Saint Preux (NY) vs. Alexander Gustafsson (LON): light heavyweight
- Uriah Hall (LA) vs. Douglas Lima (SP): middleweight
- Paige VanZant (MIA) vs. Randi Field (DUB): strawweight
- Louis Glisman (LA) vs. Abubakar Nurmagomedov (DUB): lightweight
- Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (LA) vs. Viviane Pereira (SP): strawweight
- Alan Belcher (NY) vs. Stuart Austin (LON): heavyweight
- Thiago Santos (MIA) vs. Devin Clark (NY): light heavyweight
- Lorenz Larkin (LA) vs. Carlos Petruzzella (SP): welterweight
- Jimmie Rivera (NY) vs. Cameron Else (LON): bantamweight
- Natasha Kuziutina (MIA) vs. Jessica Aguilar (DUB): strawweight
- Phil Hawes (NY) vs. Grant Neal (LA): middleweight
- Kai Kamaka III (NY) vs. Mike Grundy (LON): featherweight
- Da Woon Jung (LA) vs. Ronny Markes (DUB): light heavyweight
- Miao Ding (NY) vs. Josefine Knutsson (LON): strawweight
