The Professional Fighters League, and its unique approach to MMA competition, has resulted in one of the most exciting new additions to the world of sports. Rather than individually sanctioned fights, the PFL introduced a sport-season format in which 72 fighters participate in a regular season, playoffs and a championship. Fighters earn points across six different weight classes before crowning a winner.
Now, the league enters its sixth year with a fresh round of funding and a highly anticipated partnership with influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul, who plans to fight twice this year in the new pay-per-view Super Fight division. The PFL will also make its international debut with a regional league called PFL Europe.
Learn more about the 2023 PFL season and the league’s innovative format that is helping to bring fight sports mainstream in the United States.
Tip: When you are ready to go, browse upcoming events and pricing on PFL tickets with the TicketSmarter 100% Guarantee. For peace of mind at checkout, review the TicketSmarter 100% Guarantee.
History of the PFL
Venture capitalist Donn Davis launched the Professional Fighters League in 2018 after acquiring and restructuring the World Series of Fighting (WSOF). The league’s first event was held on June 7, 2018, at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. WSOF president and co-founder Ray Sefo, a former MMA fighter and six-time Muay Thai world champion, joined the PFL as president of fight operations and former NFL executive Peter Murray signed on as CEO of the league.
As the league grew, it began to draw in bigger names from across the landscape of fight sports including boxers and UFC fighters. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields signed a three-year contract with the PFL in 2020 to compete in the women’s lightweight division and former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis joined in 2021.
In 2021, the PFL also announced a $65 million financing round, as well as the addition of former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch and rapper Wiz Khalifa as investors. PFL announced a $65 million financing round in February 2021 to accelerate growth ahead of the 2021 season, according to reporting at the time. The following season, the PFL Challenger Series debuted, allowing up-and-coming fighters a chance to compete for a roster spot. The league also named DraftKings as its official sportsbook and daily fantasy partner in 2022.
In 2023, the league announced another $30 million equity round that brought former MLB star Alex Rodriguez into the fold and a new streaming deal with ESPN platforms.
Update for 2025: The PFL launched a new 2025 World Tournament with eight weight classes and a single-elimination bracket featuring 64 athletes. The tournament began in April with semifinals in June and finals in August, airing live on ESPN and ESPN+ in the U.S. and distributed to 190 countries through 20 premium media partners. The league also expanded distribution in March 2025 through a multi-year partnership with STARZPLAY across the Middle East and North Africa, and in May 2025 announced a creator-led content partnership with RHEI to bring fans closer to the action.
PFL’s Partnership with TicketSmarter
The PFL introduced TicketSmarter as its official ticket partner midway through the 2022 campaign. Through the partnership, TicketSmarter provides PFL fans with an easy-to-use, trusted ticketing marketplace to buy and resell tickets for upcoming fights. There are an estimated 600 million MMA fans globally and the PFL is the No. 2 MMA company worldwide.
“The Professional Fighters League is pleased to announce TicketSmarter as our official ticket marketplace,” PFL CEO Peter Murray said in the press release announcing the partnership. “The PFL prides itself on fan experience and this partnership offers millions of MMA fans a safe and secure ticketing resource.” The PFL named TicketSmarter its official ticket marketplace on May 17, 2022, with PFL CEO Peter Murray highlighting the fan-experience benefits of the partnership. Professional Fighters League announces TicketSmarter as official ticket partner
Note: That collaboration continues today, giving fans a clear path to secure seats for PFL World Tournament cards, Champions Series events, Super Fights and international showcases. Start with the dedicated PFL tickets page and buy with confidence under the TicketSmarter 100% Guarantee.
PFL Format
The PFL roster begins with 72 fighters in six weight classes: heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight, featherweight and women’s lightweight.
Each fighter will have two regular season bouts of three five-minute rounds in a 10-sided cage known as the SmartCage. They will earn three points for a win, one point for a draw and zero for a loss, similar to soccer. Fighters will have the opportunity to double their points with a stoppage in the first round and earn six for the bout. A Round 2 stoppage is worth an additional two points and a Round 3 stoppage earns one extra point.
At the end of the regular season, the top four fighters in each division will advance and point totals will determine playoff seeds. In previous years, eight fighters advanced, but they adopted the new format in 2021. The semifinals now include two three-round bouts and in the PFL Championship, fighters will compete in five five-minute rounds for the chance to win one of six million-dollar belts.
2025 update: Alongside its regular-season DNA, the league introduced the 2025 World Tournament with eight divisions, including a new Women’s Flyweight bracket. The single-elimination bracket crowned PFL Tournament Champions across Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, Middleweight, Welterweight, Lightweight, Featherweight, Bantamweight and Women’s Flyweight. The PFL continues to offer real-time SmartCage data and analytics to enhance broadcasts, and every divisional champion earns a $1 million prize.
PFL’s proprietary SmartCage (aka “Cagenomics”) captures real-time biometric and positional fight data and is being enhanced through IBM Watson and partners to power on-air analytics and fan experiences, according to league announcements. Industry reporting notes PFL’s partnerships with Flagship/IBM and other tech firms to integrate live punch-speed, heart-rate and positional data into broadcasts and second-screen experiences. Professional Fighters League to leverage IBM technologies to innovate next-gen proprietary SmartCage PFL Partners With Flagship Solutions On Advanced Fight Data — SportsBusiness Journal
PFL 1 – April 1, 2023 on ESPN
- Main: Brendan Loughnane vs. Marlon Moraes (FW)
- Co-Main: Robert Wilkinson vs. Thiago Santos (LHW)
PFL 2 – April 7, 2023 on ESPN2
- Main: Ante Delija vs. Yorgan De Castro (HW)
- Co-Main: Larissa Pacheco vs. Julia Budd (WFW)
PFL 3 – April 14, 2023 on ESPN2
- Main: Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Shane Burgos (LW)
- Co-Main: Sadibou Sy vs. Jarrah Al-Silawi (WW)
Loughnane, Wilkinson, Delija, Pacheco, Aubin-Mercier and Sy are all 2022 World Champions in their respective weight classes.
2023 PFL Tickets
Make sure you do not miss the next big bout. Get your PFL MMA tickets now through the league’s official ticket partner, TicketSmarter. You can also explore current inventory directly on Professional Fighters League tickets with secure checkout backed by the TicketSmarter 100% Guarantee. If you are headed out of town for the fight, check out TravelPlanner for exclusive Las Vegas hotel and travel deals or plan your trip with TicketSmarter Travel.
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FAQs: PFL format, scoring, tickets and travel
What is the PFL season format with regular season, playoffs and a championship?
The PFL uses a league format. Fighters compete in two regular-season bouts, earn points for wins and stoppages, and the top point leaders advance to single-elimination playoffs. Division winners claim the PFL Championship, and each champion earns a $1 million prize. TicketSmarter lists these events on the PFL tickets page as schedules are announced.
How does the PFL point scoring system work?
A win earns 3 points, a draw earns 1 and a loss earns 0. Finish bonuses reward early stoppages: first-round finishes add 3 points, second-round add 2 and third-round add 1. The SmartCage hosts three five-minute rounds in regular season bouts. You can follow upcoming cards and scoring stakes when you shop with TicketSmarter.
Why is the PFL’s sports-season format different from traditional MMA promotions?
PFL structures MMA like other sports with standings, seeds and playoffs. That means clarity for fans, more meaningful regular-season matchups and a bracketed postseason that leads to the PFL Championship. Ticket demand often spikes near playoff cards, so consider buying early on TicketSmarter.
How can fans securely buy and resell PFL fight tickets?
Buy and list seats on TicketSmarter, the PFL’s official ticket marketplace partner. Every order is protected by the TicketSmarter 100% Guarantee, and mobile entry makes it easy to access your tickets on event day. Start here: Professional Fighters League tickets.
What is the PFL SmartCage and why does it matter for fans?
PFL’s 10-sided SmartCage integrates real-time stats and data visualizations that enhance broadcasts and in-venue experience. Fans get deeper insights during fights, and TicketSmarter helps you be there live as the technology brings analytics to life.
How does the PFL Challenger Series help new fighters?
The PFL Challenger Series is a pipeline for emerging talent. Standout performers can earn season roster spots or further opportunities. Watching Challenger Series graduates climb the ranks is a big draw for fans tracking tickets on TicketSmarter.
What changed for the PFL in 2025?
The league launched the 2025 World Tournament, an eight-division single-elimination bracket that ran from April through August with worldwide distribution. PFL also expanded in MENA with STARZPLAY and invested in creator-led content with RHEI to bring fans more access. TicketSmarter lists World Tournament cards alongside Champions Series and Super Fights as they are announced.
What should fans know about attending PFL events and travel planning?
Check the event page for mobile-entry instructions and bag policies. If you are traveling, bundle your trip with TicketSmarter Travel for hotel deals close to the arena. TicketSmarter makes it simple to secure seats and lodging in one session.
Does international expansion like PFL Europe or PFL MENA affect ticket demand?
Yes. Regional leagues and new media partners increase visibility, which can raise demand for marquee events. Track prices and buy early on TicketSmarter for high-interest cards and championship nights.
For more event coverage and schedules across sports and concerts, visit the TicketSmarter Insider.
Updated date: December 12, 2025
About the author: The TicketSmarter Insider team covers live events across sports and entertainment with a focus on ticketing tips, venue insights and schedule updates to help fans get in the door with confidence.
