Saudi Arabia Continues Its Sports Domination, Inserting $100 Million Into UFC’s Biggest Competitor

Saudi Arabia has been making big moves into almost every major sport.

Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou scheduled for October 28th, in Ridayh, Saudi Arabia.Photo bythe author via midjourney.com (image created using A.I. software)

In 2022, LIV Golf, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund with a reported $2 billion bankroll, made mainstream headlines after hosting a tournament with top prizes of $25 million -- nearly ten times that of the PGA Tour's Master's tournament.

And, before that, in 2019, Saudi Arabian officials paid a $41 million bid to host a monumental boxing event, Anthony Joshua vs. Andy Ruiz in Saudi Arabia.

Over the years, Saudi Arabia has moved to secure market share in tennis, football, Formula 1, and boxing -- offering record-breaking paydays to do so. And now, with their first major foray into the MMA space, Saudi Arabian sports officials are putting $100 million into the UFC's biggest rival, the PFL (Professional Fight League).

According to frontofficesports.com,

"Saudi Arabia’s SRJ Sports Investments has invested $100 million into the Professional Fighters League."

Although it is still to be seen exactly how the PFL will spend the money, it will likely work in conjunction with their newest signee, Franci Ngannou, who is set to face lineal heavyweight boxing champion, Tyson Fury, in a much-anticipated crossover boxing fight scheduled for October 28th, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

With plans to introduce a "champions league" and movement into the pay-per-view space, PFL's founder, Donn Davis, believes this new partnership has "absolutely cemented itself as the No. 2 promotion in MMA".

In an interview with mmafighting.com, Donn outlines the advantages for fighters to sign with the PFL:

“UFC’s a great company, but PFL is a great company... We do everything they do and we do some things better. One, we pay better and two, you’re in control in the PFL. You’re not under somebody’s thumb. What you do inside the cage controls your future."

Hey, I'm Hudson! I write about social media, marketing, and modern entrepreneurship. Hit follow for more stories like this one.