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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Boxing devider PFL opens doors to Filipino MMA fighters, plans global expansion with Asian tour

PFL opens doors to Filipino MMA fighters, plans global expansion with Asian tour

Published Feb 17, 2023 02:36 pm
Professional Fighters League senior Vice President Loren Mack.

By NIKOLE JAVIER

Professional Fighters League is coming to Asia for a tour, with the Philippines as one of its significant pit

stops.

PFL, which recently launched its 32-roster European leg, is currently eyeing Filipino fighters to compete for its global expansion which also includes Africa in the near future.

“We have . We’re getting ready to announce all of our roster for the PFL global season. We have many athletes this year from Asia, we’ve been in constant contact with several top athletes from the Philippines and I’ve always said internally and externally, I know that Filipino fighters can compete at the highest level. They are some of the best fighters in the world and I’m a big advocate for that in bringing them over to the PFL in true global format,” said PFL senior Vice President Loren Mack in an exclusive interview with Manila Bulletin.

In the next few weeks, the second largest MMA organization in the world will make the official announcement after getting in contact with some Filipino athletes.

Another part of its visit to the Philippines is bringing Ali Walsh to the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the same venue where his grandfather, professional boxer and icon Muhammad Ali, competed against Joe Frazier for the heavyweight championship of the world billed as the “Thrilla in Manila” in 1975.

For Mack, Filipinos are some of the skilled fighters he’s looking forward to having on the road en route to the global championship which will see a six-weight-division spread with the winners competing for the six-figure to a million-dollar cash prize.

“I would not be surprised if we see a Filipino fighter competing in the championship card, compete for that one million dollar prize someday.

"Within the next few weeks, we have some big announcements. I saw how excited, and passionate Filipino fans are. They were truly some of the best fans in the world. I’m looking forward to getting back to the Philippines. I’m looking forward to bringing my athletes to the Philippines. It’s just a matter of if, not when,” he concluded.

Related Tags

Muhammad Ali Professional Fighters League PFL Asia Ali Walsh Loren Mack PFL Europe
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