Latest news with #PFLMENASeason2
Arab News
25-03-2025
- Business
- Arab News
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.'
Broadcast Pro
25-03-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
StarzPlay secures multi-year media rights deal with PFL
PFL action will kick off on StarzPlay in the MENA region on April 3 with the PFL World Tournament. The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has signed a multi-year partnership with SVOD platform StarzPlay to bring top-tier mixed martial arts (MMA) action to fans across the region. As part of the agreement, StarzPlay will stream the full lineup of PFL events, including the PFL World Tournament, Champions Series, PFL Europe, PFL MENA and PFL Africa. Starting with the 2025 PFL World Tournament on April 3, all PFL content will be available on StarzPlay's mobile and TV apps. In a major highlight for regional fans, the PFL MENA Season 2 Quarterfinals will take place on May 9 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, headlined by a Featherweight showdown between Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Al-Qahtani (10-2) and Egypt's Islam Reda (12-1). Commenting on the deal, Pete Murray, CEO of PFL, said: 'We are very excited to partner with StarzPlay, the leading streaming platform in the MENA region, 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. The Middle East is a key market for the PFL and now, fight fans across the region can watch and support their favourite MENA fighters in all PFL events, including the electrifying kickoff of PFL MENA Season 2 in Jeddah this May 9.' Danny Bates, COO and co-founder of StarzPlay, added: 'Our partnership with the Professional Fighters League further strengthens our sports content portfolio, bringing the excitement of world-class MMA to StarzPlay. 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. Now, our subscribers can experience all the thrilling action of PFL on StarzPlay.' Through this partnership, PFL and STARZPLAY aim to elevate the MMA experience for audiences in the MENA region, offering fight fans free access to PFL MENA in 2025 while expanding the sport's reach across the territory.
FACT
20-03-2025
- Sport
- FACT
PFL MENA returns to the Kingdom as part of Jeddah Season
This year, the tournament will shine a spotlight on Saudi talent. Saudi Arabia has rapidly become a powerhouse in the global sports scene. The Kingdom has played host to numerous high-profile fighting and MMA events, and now, the excitement continues. The Professional Fighters League (PFL MENA) is returning to Saudi Arabia, and this time, it is bringing all the action to Jeddah. Taking place on 9 May, PFL MENA Season 2 will kick off at the Onyx Arena. Following a successful debut in 2024, the Professional Fighters League is teaming up with Jeddah Season, promising a tournament that's bigger and better than before. One of the standout features this season is the focus on local fighters, particularly those from Jeddah. You can look forward to witnessing rising star Malik Basahel making his professional debut, while seasoned veteran Ahmed Makki will enter the cage for his final bout. For the first time ever, four Saudi fighters will feature on the fight card, which showcases Saudi Arabia's growing presence in the MMA world. Jeddah is no stranger to MMA. It hosted its first major fighting event back in 2014. Now, with the success of PFL MENA in Riyadh, the tournament is set to make its way to the Red Sea city and reignite its passion for the sport. With the atmosphere of Jeddah Season as the backdrop, this collaboration with PFL MENA is perfectly poised to captivate MMA fans and serve as a launchpad for regional fighters vying for international glory. Tickets to PFL MENA go live on 25 March. So, if you want to witness the action firsthand, Jeddah is about to be the centre of the MMA world, and you won't want to miss it. GO: Visit for more information.
