PFL introduces one-night tournament series to bulk up 2020 roster

PFL

The PFL is scouring the globe to bolster its roster.

The league plans to work with several international promotions to organize a series of one-night tournaments that will send winners to its 2020 season, MMA Fighting confirmed with officials following a report from ESPN.

The tournaments

organize five one-night, four-fighter tournaments of which the winners will become part of the upcoming 2020 PFL season. The countries being partnered with are United Arab Emirates, Russia, Germany, Brazil, and Australia.

ESPN was first to confirm the co-promotion news with the league. The plan was initially reported to be in the works by KUMITE TV.

The tournaments are expected to take place in February and March. So far, United Arab Emirates-based promotion UAE Warriors has been designated as hosting a PFL International Qualifier Series tournament on March 20 in Abu Dhabi. This tournament will look to find a contender at 145 pounds.

The remaining tournaments are expected to be for lightweight, light heavyweight, and women’s lightweight roster spots, though that has not been finalized.

“We’re excited to accelerate growth outside of the United States through the International Qualifier Series, a global fight twice in one-night tournament designed to identify and recruit the best MMA fighters from five priority markets around the world,” PFL CEO Peter Murray said in a statement to ESPN. “We look forward to working with UAE Warriors in the Middle East, a region with an affinity for combat sports and an impressive crop of high-caliber fighters.

“This is a unique challenge, and we’ll see if these athletes have what it takes to fight for the PFL and compete for a title and million-dollar prize.”

Currently, the PFL season is comprised of a regular season in which every fighter competes twice in an effort to earn points towards the postseason, and an eight-person playoffs (except for the 2019 women’s lightweight tournament, which was only a four-person playoff). Each season’s winners earn a $1,000,000 prize and a league championship.

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