StarzPlay secures multi-year media rights deal with Saudi-backed Professional Fighters League
LONDON: The Saudi Arabia-backed Professional Fighters League on Tuesday announced a landmark multi-year media rights partnership with StarzPlay, the leading subscription video-on-demand service in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has invested in the PFL through its subsidiary SRJ Sports Investments.
The agreement with StarzPlay ensures that all PFL mixed martial arts programming — including the PFL World Tournament, Champions Series, PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and PFL Africa — will be available to fight fans across the MENA region.
All PFL content will be accessible via the StarzPlay application, including on mobile and TV apps.
The partnership kicks off on April 3 with the launch of the 2025 PFL World Tournament.
Additionally, fans will be able to watch PFL MENA free in 2025, with the main event of the PFL MENA Season 2 quarterfinals scheduled to take place in Jeddah on May 9.
That event will feature a highly anticipated featherweight showdown between Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Al-Qahtani and Egypt's Islam Reda.
The collaboration reinforces PFL's commitment to expand its global footprint and deliver world-class MMA to audiences throughout the MENA region.
'We are very excited to partner with StarzPlay … to bring world-class MMA action to millions of passionate fight fans. This multi-year partnership marks a significant milestone in our mission to expand the PFL's global footprint and deliver premium combat sports content to audiences worldwide,' said Pete Murray, chief executive officer of PFL.
'The Middle East is a key market for the PFL and now, fight fans across the region can watch and support their favorite MENA fighters in all PFL events, including the electrifying kickoff of PFL MENA Season 2 in Jeddah this May 9,' he added.
Danny Bates, chief operations officer and co-founder of StarzPlay, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the growing appetite for diverse sports content in the region, adding: 'With more people seeking diverse sports offerings today, this collaboration allows us to deliver premium MMA content to our subscribers across the MENA region, connecting them with the best in regional and international MMA talent.'
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