Midnight Mania: No More $1 Million Checks!
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The Professional Fighter's League (PFL) has worked hard to separate itself from the UFC. The promotion focuses heavily on global expansion and various regional subsections, has trademarked various tech and terms like the SmartCage, and is quite proud of its yearly tournament structure.
It's hard to argue that PFL has achieved anything particularly iconic yet, but if the promotion has managed the feat, it's surely in the tournament wins. It's really cool to see an MMA fighter — sometimes a relatively unknown one at that — make it through the tournament successfully a lift an oversized $1 million check over his/her head after all the trials and tribulations. Such payouts are rare in in MMA, and a handful of tournament champions picking up a seven-figure win each year is undoubtedly a big part of PFL's appeal. An athlete like Brendan Loughnane can get snubbed on Contender's Series then join PFL and walk away a millionaire in a year. That's pretty cool!
No longer.
Italian MMA reporter Al Zullino offered up some insight on the new PFL contracts leading into the 2025 year. Per his report, there have been several notable changes, but the most important is that the victory in the finals match up will now award the new PFL tournament champion $500k rather than $1 million.
I got a sneak peek at some new PFL contracts, and there are some interesting highlights.
— Al Zullino (@phre) January 7, 2025
It looks like the one-million-dollar tournaments are gone. pic.twitter.com/IXRWPCPZZg
The most notable change, in fact, seems to be in the tournament pay structure. The final championship bonus is now $500K.
— Al Zullino (@phre) January 7, 2025
Fighters will get their purses according to their contracts (the ones I've seen were $20K/$20K) + $500K final bonus if they won the championship. pic.twitter.com/fC0NRbj3AM
Zullino speculates that the promotion's tournaments will largely feature prospects and lesser known fighters, saving room for the bigger payouts of established stars and former Bellator champions. In a vacuum, that would make sense, but it's hard to see how PFL public relations is going to spin this into a positive.
At least elbows are legal now?
Insomnia
Here's hoping the UFC finish percentage kicks up a notch in the New Year.
Only 44.8% of UFC fights had a finish in 2024.
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) January 2, 2025
The lowest of any organization.
Cage Warriors had the most with 65.9% pic.twitter.com/v8yJMPngey
I don't love Sean Strickland, but the absolute audacity of Colby Covington to label anyone else a cardio kickboxer ...
Colby Covington says there's a possibility he moves up to 185 in the future, and says he'd entertain a fight against Sean Strickland
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 5, 2025
"I don't think [Strickland] is anything special... he's very limited. He's just a cardio kickboxer."
(via. @SubmissionRadio) #UFC#MMApic.twitter.com/nKP98XeaUd
A neat strategy from Featherweight prospect Austin Bashi, who faces Christian Rodriguez this weekend at UFC Vegas 101.
I don't remember seeing this anywhere else before
— William - Open Note Grappling (@OpenNoteGrapple) January 5, 2025
Austin Bashi uses an arm triangle to hold his opponent in place for some knees to the body pic.twitter.com/Xua5v5f1bu
Aljamain Sterling confirms that he's forever done with 135-pound weight cuts.
2 things:
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) January 4, 2025
Merab will win!
And I'll never make 135 again https://t.co/REGED0BBlk
Physical strength is a huge part of Judo.
よし❗️今日はこれ⬇️だ‼️ #柔道pic.twitter.com/UzjeH3MRJp
— MMA FRONTIER (@ufc_mmafrontier) January 3, 2025
Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold in the same room is a recipe for hilarity.
Incredible pic.twitter.com/k5ayzpg6nn
— ᴛʜᴇᴀʀᴛᴏꜰᴡᴀʀ (@TheArtOfWar6) January 4, 2025
Random Jamahal Hill beef of the week: Umar Nurmagomedov?!?
I don't like Jamahal Hill in the slightest but he's spitting facts here about Umar Nurmagomedov pic.twitter.com/e0vkgUn8dF
— Rengoku (@RengokuMMA_) January 4, 2025
Jeremy Stephens vs. Eddie Alvarez in BKFC is the sleeper fight of January. How could it not be tremendous?
Eddie Alvarez goes off at Jeremy Stephens who is set to fight him at BKFC Knucklemania 5 on January 25th, Philadelphia.
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) January 3, 2025
"Within five minutes of being in Philadelphia, he was called a dork and a d*ckhead. That's about as Philly as it gets…
I'm just lucky enough that the city… https://t.co/j3AnAEeyQjpic.twitter.com/PBFxvnDg3i
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Imagine being a world-class athlete and boxer and still getting styled on this hard. Brutal.
You can't name a current fighter better than Inoue. pic.twitter.com/bbUiYv8zIG
— Kevin† (@Kevin3___) January 3, 2025
I'm sure I posted clips of this fight back in 2022, but either way, it's worth a revisit.
Leigh Wood & Michael Conlan trading knockdowns in their instant classic back in 2022. The fight was awarded both Ring Magazine Knockout & Fight of the Year. pic.twitter.com/nA9W2Vekz5
— (@KOJournals) January 4, 2025
This caption is perfect.
Random Land
Spin move.
Midnight Music: Jangle pop, 1984
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
