GFL unveils full 31-fight lineup for kickoff double-header events, including 42 UFC veterans

Yahoo

31-03-2025

Paige VanZant is officially back in MMA. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
(Chris Unger via Getty Images)
The Global Fight League's (GFL) ambitious first season is beginning to take shape. The new team-based MMA organization on Monday unveiled it's two-day, 31-fight lineup for its kickoff double-header events, which feature 42 UFC veterans and nine former UFC/Bellator champions (including interim champions).
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The inaugural two-day lineup takes place on Saturday, May 24, and Sunday, May 25, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.
Notable matchups on the May 24 kickoff card include a trilogy bout between former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao and UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber, the MMA return of Chad Mendes against Maike Linhares, the revival of the rivalry between former WEC/UFC lightweight champions Benson Henderson and Anthony Pettis, as well as a meeting between former UFC champion Holly Holm and former Bellator champion Julia Budd.
Matchups on the May 25 card include Dillon Danis against UFC legend Tony Ferguson, the return of former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum, ex-Bellator champs Douglas Lima and Ilima-Lei Macfarlane taking on UFC veterans Uriah Hall and Vivane Pereira, plus UFC notables Alexander Gustafsson vs. Ovince Saint Preux and the MMA return of Paige VanZant.
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GFL's complete two-day lineup for May 24-25 can be seen below.
Saturday, May 24 (4:30 p.m. ET)
Team Sao Paulo vs. Team Los Angeles
Renan Barao vs. Urijah Faber
Maike Linhares vs. Chad Mendes
Lucas Martins vs. Sage Northcutt
Alejandra Lara vs. Aspen Ladd
Joice Mara vs. Jessica Penne
Team London vs. Team New York
Benson Henderson vs. Anthony Pettis
Julia Budd vs. Holly Holm
Omari Akhmedov vs. Derek Brunson
Danny Roberts vs. Neiman Gracie
Kelly Staddon vs. Marisa Belenchia
Team Dubai vs. Team Miami
Ray Borg vs. Marlon Moraes
Todd Duffee vs. Robelis Despaigne
Alexa Conners vs. Cat Zingano
Khumoyun Tukhtamurodov vs. Charles Rosa
Alex Oliveira vs. Gleison Tibau
Sunday, May 25 (4:30 p.m. ET)
Team New York vs. Team Los Angeles
Dillon Danis vs. Tony Ferguson
Team Sao Paulo vs. Team Los Angeles
Fabricio Werdum vs. TBA
Douglas Lima vs. Uriah Hall
Vivane Pereira vs. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane
Carlos Petruzzella vs. Lorenz Larkin
Ronny Markes vs. Da Woon Jung
Team London vs. Team New York
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Ovince Saint Preux
Stuart Austin vs. Alan Belcher
Cameron Else vs. Jimmie Rivera
Mike Grundy vs. Kai Kamaka
Josefine Knutsson vs. Miao Ding
Team Dubai vs. Team Miami