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
