Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson is remembering Alex Collins, one of his favorite teammates during his time with the Seattle Seahawks. Collins died earlier this week.
“To one of my favorite teammates,” Wilson wrote. “You brought joy to every huddle. Keep Dancin’ in Heaven.”
To one of my favorite teammates. You brought joy to every huddle. Keep Dancin’ in Heaven.
Collins died in a motorcycle crash in Florida. He was only 28 years old.
Broward County officials say the University of Arkansas standout was riding his 2004 Suzuki through Lauderdale Lakes when the accident happened. It has been determined by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office that “a woman driving a Chevrolet Suburban made a turn, crossing over the lane Collins was traveling in, causing him to strike the rear passenger side of the SUV.”
Collins was pronounced dead on the scene.
Collins played a total of 500 professional football games, garnering 19 touchdowns, 1,997 rushing yards, and 467 passing yards for the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens stated Collins’ death, saying Collins would. be remembered, “for the light and love he brought to so many people in his life.” They noted how Alex was “quick to greet everyone with a smile, a genuinely kind person who carried a special joy and passion wherever he went.”
According to several confirmed reports, former NFL running back Alex Collins died in a motorcycle crash in Florida. He was only 28 years old.
Broward County officials say the University of Arkansas standout was riding his 2004 Suzuki through Lauderdale Lakes when the accident happened. It has been detremined by the Broward Count Sheriff’s Office that “a woman driving a Chevrolet Suburban made a turn, crossing over the lane Collins was traveling in, causing him to strike the rear passenger side of the SUV.”
Collins was pronounced dead on the scene.
Collins played a total of 500 professional football games, garnering 19 touchdowns, 1,997 rushing yards and 467 passing yards for the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens issued a statement about Collins’ death, saying Collins would. be remembered “for the light and love he brought to so many people in his life.” They noted how Alex was “quick to greet everyone with a smile, a genuinely kind person who carried a special joy and passion wherever he went.”
Former WNBA star Nikki McCray-Penson has died at age 51. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013 when she was a member of Dawn Staley’s coaching staff at the University of South Carolina.
McCray-Penson spent her last year as an assistant coach at Rutgers. The school confirmed her death to The NY Post on Friday.
Nikki McCray On The Drive
“She was so devoted to her husband and son, and still gave all of herself to everyone in the program. We will miss her dearly but will keep Nikki’s memory alive in our hearts,” the statement read in part.
“Heart hurts like crazy over this one!” former teammate A’ja Wilson wrote on Twitter.
McCray-Penson, a 5’11” guard, played for the University of Tennessee from 1991–1995. She was a two-time SEC Player of the Year and led the U.S. Olympic Team to a gold medal in 1996.
McCray-Penson played in the WNBA for 8 seasons and was named to three WNBA All-Star teams (in 1999, 2000, and 2001). She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
Retired NBA player Jalen Rose is one of the twenty on-air personalities laid off from ESPN. Reports are saying that the whopping layoffs blindsided many and they are unrelated to the multi-round Disney layoffs implemented in recent months.
Deadline reports:
ESPN is letting go of about 20 on-air personalities, including two familiar names to NBA viewers: game analyst Jeff Van Gundy and studio co-host Jalen Rose.
Keyshawn Johnson, a former NFL player who had co-hosted ESPN Radio’s national morning show in one of many chapters in a 16-year run on ESPN, is also among those leaving. Also out is Max Kellerman, Johnson’s radio co-host as well as host of This Just In and formerly Stephen A. Smith’s longtime sparring partner on daily morning TV staple First Take.
A person familiar with the cutbacks told Deadline they are unrelated to the multi-round Disney layoffs implemented in recent months. Those reductions saw a number of senior-level execs leave ESPN but spared on-air talent. The source indicated that many of those affected by the new cuts have contracts beyond June 30 and will paid out accordingly, but parting ways will enable ESPN to avoid wider layoffs. The sports operation is now its own division of Disney, making its financials more visible.
Early Sunday, University of Georgia football player Devin Willock and staff member Chandler LeCroy were killed in a single car crash. The UGA Athletic Association reported that the accident came just hours after their team celebrated its national championship with a victory parade and celebration. The turn of events from celebration and joy for the Bulldogs’ second national championship quickly turned to mourning over the sudden loss of two young community members.
Shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday, LeCroy, 24, was driving with Willock, 20, and two other passengers near the UGA campus in Athens when the vehicle went off the road. The four passengers in the vehicle whirled into two power poles and several trees, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department said in a news release.
The crash occurred just beyond a curved section of Barnett Shoals Road. The speed limit is 40 mph and there is a sidewalk, but no barrier on the outer edge of the road.
Willock was ejected from the vehicle and died on the scene. LeCroy died after being taken to a hospital, police said. None of the other passengers were ejected,” according to police Lt. Shaun Barnett.
Willock was a redshirt sophomore from New Milford, New Jersey who joined the team as a freshman in 2020. He played on the offensive line in all 15 of the team’s games this past season. LeCroy’s LinkedIn provides that she was a football recruiting analyst for UGA.
The two passengers that were injured in the crash were identified as Georgia offensive lineman Warren McClendon, 21, who received minor injuries, and Victoria Bowles, 26, who had serious injuries, according to police.
McClendon who started at right tackle for Georgia this season, declared for the NFL draft earlier Saturday. His father, Warren McClendon Sr., told the Athens Banner-Herald he needed stitches on his forehead but is “doing well.”
Willock’s aunt and uncle, Cicely and Normal Stout, said their nephew was well liked and doing well in school. “He was doing very well. He was very loved by all his peers and all the teachers and all the coaches,” Cicely Stout said.
“Devin is always smiling, no matter what. Devin has a smile on his face and he was doing very well in academics. He was doing very good. He was good, very good student, very good person.” Willock’s older brother, Jonathan Wheatley, died in 2009 at the age of 20 from injuries sustained in a similar car crash, Cicely Stout said.
Photos of the crash site taken by nearby residents capture a wooden power pole snapped in half and the car’s frame crumpled against an apartment building in Shoals Creek, about two miles from UGA’s campus.
Resident, Jonathan D’Souza, said he was the first person to respond to the scene of the crash. He told CNN he was watching television when he felt the ground shake and heard what sounded like gunshots outside his apartment. As he went outside to investigate, it was pitch black because the power had gone out. Sparks flying from dangling power lines in the middle of the street alerted him to the mangled car smashed into his neighbor’s house, he said.
D’Souza found Willock lying face down next to the vehicle. He began screaming at an unresponsive Willock asking if he was okay. “It was the most helpless feeling because you wish you could save him, but you know he’s already gone,” D’Souza said.
Police said, the investigation into the crash is ongoing and they give their support to the families. The two UGA team members were remembered by university members as lively and valued additions to the football program.
“Devin was an outstanding young man in every way. He was always smiling, was a great teammate and a joy to coach,” head football coach Kirby Smart said in a statement Sunday. “Chandler was a valuable member of our football staff and brought an incredible attitude and energy every single day.”
“These two special people meant the world to our football program and athletic department,” UGA athletics director Josh Brooks said in a statement. “We are working with our medical staff and mental health and performance team to ensure our staff and student-athletes have all the support they need during this extremely difficult time.”
Daniel Dewitt, a local UGA fan, told CNN that Willock was “upbeat and happy.” Dewitt he has a 2021 UGA championship tattoo and plans to get a matching one for this season’s victory. This time, he said, it will feature Willock’s number, 77.
According to several confirmed reports, ONE Championship-sponsored fighter Victoria “The Prodigy” Lee has passed away. She was only 18 years old.
Her older sister Angela Lee posted about the fighter’s December 26 sudden death. Victoria’s cause of death is still unknown
“She has gone too soon and our family has been completely devastated since then,” Angela wrote. “We miss her. More than anything in this world. Our family will never be the same. Life will never be the same…”We love you Victoria. I love you Sprout. Until the end of time.”
The CEO of One Championship, Chatri Sityodtong, also talked about the young woman who first made her debut with the promotional company at the age of 16.
“I first met Victoria when she was 11 years old. I watched her blossom over the years as a martial artist and a human being,” Sityodtong wrote on Facebook. “I always remember thinking how wise, thoughtful, and selfless she was beyond her years. Of course, she was an extraordinary martial arts prodigy even back then, but I could see that she was so much more than that.”
Undisputed co-host Skip Bayless apologized to viewers on Tuesday’s (Jan. 3) episode, with an absent co-host Shannon Sharpe, for his tweet following the horrific injury of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin during the Monday Night Football game on January 2nd between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals. The 71-year-old famed journalist/correspondent was met with huge backlash on Monday night after tweeting to his 3.2 million followers on Twitter: “No doubt the NFL is considering postponing the rest of this game – but how? This last in the season, a game of this magnitude is crucial to the regular-season outcome … which suddenly seems so irrelevant.”
With papers shaking in his hand Skip Bayless does not apologize for his tweet he sent as Damar Hamlin fights for his life after going into cardiac arrest after making a football tackle. Co-host Shannon Sharpe is a no show for Undisputed. pic.twitter.com/v3sWSIobs9
Bayless began Tuesday’s episode with an apologetic opening monologue, in which he said, “I apologize for what we’re going to do today. I’m not sure I’m capable of doing this show today but, after barely sleeping on it, I decided to give it a try. Maybe I’ll fail, maybe we will fail, but we’re going to try. We wrestled through most of the night whether to even do a show today because we felt like, in our minds, we almost can’t win with this because the last thing we want to do is come off as insensitive to what this young man is going through in a life or death situation.”
An outraged social media called for Skip Bayless’s firing by Fox Sports 1 on Monday evening, with several retired NFL football stars like 6-time Pro Bowl wide-receiver Terrell Owens calling him “dead wrong” and hoping he loses his job. The network made no comment on Skip Bayless or the Damar Hamlin situation at press time.
No doubt the NFL is considering postponing the rest of this game – but how? This late in the season, a game of this magnitude is crucial to the regular-season outcome … which suddenly seems so irrelevant.
In the midst of the backlash on Monday, Bayless followed up his original tweet with a concerning tweet about Hamlin’s health and the ultimate importance of health for the players over the game.
“Nothing is more important than that young man’s health,” he wrote. “That was the point of my last tweet. I’m sorry if that was misunderstood but his health is all that matters. Again, everything else is irrelevant. I prayed for him & will continue to.”
Although absent from Undisputed on Tuesday, Shannon Sharpe shared his prayers with fans, Hamlin and his family on Monday evening. “Please keep Demar Hamlin and his family in your thoughts and prayers,” wrote The three-time Super Bowl champion. “NFL doesn’t have a manual on how to proceed after an incident like this.”
Amid Damar Hamlin’s injury, the NFL has announced that the game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals will not resume this week.
More updates on this story as they become available.
Undefeated lightweight boxing star-on-the-rise Frank “The Ghost” Martin(16-0-0) is one fight away from a title shot. But before the knockout artist can receive his first title shot, he must fight his toughest challenger yet in the popular and also undefeated Cuban boxing star Michel Rivera (24-0-0).
The two next-up contenders are set to main event the WBA eliminator on Saturday evening in Las Vegas on Showtime Boxing. One must let go of the undefeated title and the opportunity to fight for a title in the 12-round lightweight bout. The fight is Martin’s most important night of his career yet.
Martin spoke with The Source’s Bryson “Boom” Paul last week via Zoom on the importance of this bout. Throughout the conversation, The Ghost shares Errol’s promise to him following his last victory, Rivera’s skill, being the most wanted fighter in the lightweight division, if he is the most dangerous man in the lightweight division, more
Read the full interview below.
[Bryson “Boom” Paul”]:This is a big deal, man. This is a WBA eliminator, man. So after this, it’s the title shot, man. How do you feel?
[Frank Martin]: I feel good. I’m working. I’m ready to go out there and do what I do.
Now, this is also a special moment for you, something that you probably haven’t even thought about. This is your third time fighting in Vegas, and this’ll be your third time fighting an undefeated fighter. So tell me about the experience that you’re going to take into this fight, being that one 0 must go.
Just my grind. My grind, with me having Derrick James behind me, that coaching, that’s definitely going to take me over the top. And then just my natural ability, just my skills. But like you say, somebody 0 got to go, and I feel like it’s one of them things, it’s going to be who want it. When we in there, it’s going to be like, which one of them going to bite down and go get it? I’m known for doing it, so it ain’t nothing. It ain’t going to change.
You are fighting Michel Rivera on December 17th at the Cosmo in Las Vegas. They have him ranked number two and got you ranked at number 10. How do you feel going into this being the favorite, though?
Man, I ain’t really looking at it like that. They can rank it how they want to rank it, but it all depends when we get in there in that ring. So I got to just go in there and just do what I do. I don’t let the rankings or none of that play with my head. I’m going for the number one spot. So I got to go ahead and handle my business.
Now, what a lot of people don’t know is this is a fight that was promised to you by Errol Spence Jr, who’s also helping you promote the fight. Can you add some clarity to that promise? Where does this promise come from? How did they make sure you got this fight that you wanted so bad?
From the jump, he told me he was going to give me big fights, “I’m going to get you the big fights you want,” and everything like that. So this one, it had got mentioned earlier in the year, but there was some stuff going on with me or whatever, so we wasn’t able to make it happen. But it came back around once Chris Colbert didn’t end up taking the fight or whatever, he said he wasn’t ready.
So this came back around. So I’m like, “I’m with it, but what this for? Is it something that we fighting for?” And it was, it’s the title eliminator to get me closer to the WBA belt. So with that, that’s all I needed to hear. I’m like, “Let’s get it.”
Because a lot of people ain’t going to fight me. None of the top guys going to just be like, “All right, yeah, we’re going to fight him.” I’m going to have to work. I got to earn it.
So this one of them things that I’m like, “Yeah, it’s the opportunity, I have to take this to get me in that door with them top dogs or whatever, and get me in that position.” So they can’t say, “What’s his ranking? Where he at?” I’m right there. I’m in the number one spot.
That’s why he was promising me that, basically, he was going to give me the big fights and give me a belt or whatever. So this is the perfect setup. This is the perfect opportunity for me.
Now, this is your third fight this year. How do you like this activity? Do you want to take this into next year, where you fight three times a year?
Right now, I’ll fight more. If I could fight four times, four, three. I would really like to fight four. Give me four quarters. Give me four quarters, and I’m going to rock with it. Three good, but four, if I can get four next year, or three, either/or, cool.
You got a lot of fighters in the lightweight division, a lot of them got their eyes on you, and a lot of them have big fights that also involve you in the future. But when other enthusiasts that do these interviews ask you about future fights, ask you about this person, that person, does it ever bother you that they don’t sit here and focus on the fight at hand? Obviously, you are not overlooking anybody. You sitting here like, “Rivera is the one in front of me right now, and then we’ll deal with the rest later.” But do you ever get annoyed or frustrated with people asking you questions as far as future fights or future fighters?
Sometimes. Sometimes, because a lot of times people jump ahead of what’s in front of them. I try to be in that moment. I try to focus on what’s right there right now. Because a lot of those fights they talking about might not even happen. Sometimes it’s a waste of energy to even talk about it. I feel like I’m going to respect my opponent that I got right now, and handle my business with him. And then I would prefer, I like to talk more about other fights when I don’t got no fight booked up, something like that. But talking about another fighter, I would prefer to just stick on my man.
Rivera, is he your biggest challenge so far?
Yeah. I would say fighting style, and record wise and all of that, yeah, I’d say that he’s the more skilled fighter. He is similar to the last dude I just fought, I feel like. Might be just a little slicker, but I feel like he similar to the last guy I fought.
Speaking on Jackson, and your last fight, you obviously won, TKO in the 10. But I want to ask you, looking back at the tape, what were some things that you noticed about yourself that you worked on this camp?
Man, there was a lot. I can’t tell you what I’m working on now, you’re going to have to see that. That fight, I didn’t really have a lot of time to prepare for. I probably found out 10 days before the fight. Energy low, so really the game plan, we worked certain things, but some of the stuff wasn’t sticking with me. Energy low, can’t really register everything.
So that fight, I feel like it was a lot of mistakes that I made in that fight. And also, I felt like it was an off night for me, just within. Just my body, there was some stuff that wasn’t working for me that night or whatever. My timing, I was just off a tad bit.
But I figured it out. Derrick gave me good instructions in the corner or whatever, to get me in that zone that I needed to get in. But I had to figure it out, and find it, that fight. But there was some things that I didn’t lock down on, some shots I got hit with that I wasn’t supposed to get hit with. I was real stationary that fight.
Just really trying to get what I got, get that knockout, but I wasn’t doing it. I wasn’t doing it the smooth way. I made it harder than what it had to be.
Obviously, this is a bigger fight, so everything is amped up, and everything’s a little bit different as far as training. Going into training camp now, how has training been for you this time around?
Yeah, it been good, man. My sparring partners, I got a lot of good sparring partners for this camp. Real good sparring partners. I’ve got a nutritionist. Added on extreme conditioning. EJ been real hands-on with me, just as far as we’ve been locked in together, running, working out, everything. We just been locked all the way in. I done added quite a few things different in this camp.
Now your promoter, how has your relationship with Errol Spence grown in and out of the ring?
Oh, it’s good. Me and EJ’s relationship always been good. With this camp, with this fight, he been making sure I’m good with everything. If it’s anything that I need, or anything that could help me, he asking me, like, “Tell me what you need, whatever.” He just making sure I’m all the way mentally where I need to be, physically. Whatever I need, he making sure I’m getting that, so I can be all the way prepared for the fight. He been tapped in with me.
You are going to be a top dog one day yourself. Like you said, EJ has taken care of you, made sure you got everything you need. In the future, when you on top, are you going to be also reaching back to a fighter like yourself? What is something that you’ve learned from EJ that you plan to take on into the future when you reach back for other fighters?
Man, a lot. It’s like little stuff. Some people take things differently though. Some people may be like, little things help him out the most, like if it is a conversation, if it’s showing somebody a move, if it’s whatever. Just how he is with, not even just me, it’s fighters who ask him stuff.
We just went to a fight over the weekend, and it’s a lot of fighters who admire him. So just how he cool, he real social with his fans, and then with other fighters. Not too many fighters, but if it’s a fighter he rock with, you know he going to support him. He going to support him.
So just that right there, just being real supportive of the up-and-coming fighters that I like, that I rock with. Just being supportive of them, and giving them the motivation, if it’s words … Just certain things go a long way.
You have all the abilities and attributes to become one of the greatest lightweights of all time. But I want to ask you, in your opinion, who are your top five lightweights of all time?
I switched it up a lot. I switch mines up a lot. I like Roberto Duran. I pick up a little bit from everybody though, so it’s something from everybody.
Roberto Duran. Pernell Whitaker. Meldrick Taylor. I like Meldrick Taylor. Floyd. Who else? Let me rock out with my four. Let me rock out with my four.
You said this time you got a nutritionist and whatnot. I want to ask you, what have you learned about your eating habit with this nutritionist?
For the most part, I be on point when it come to eating good and everything. Don’t get me wrong, I’m going to eat when … I like seafood a lot. But I don’t just be eating and get out of shape, and just be, “Oh, I got to …” I’m always in shape.
But, with this nutritionist, it’s just everything that I’m eating, I ain’t really gaining too much weight. I’m having energy, I’m eating all the right stuff that I’m supposed to eat, everything balanced. He know exactly like, “All right, I’m going to cut the carbs off this week, and I’m going to take up the protein.” He knowing what to do. I don’t know how to do that on my own.
I normally cook on my own, but he making it easy. Making sure, in the morning, breakfast made as soon as I get up. Lunch, when I get out the gym, done. Dinner, same thing, when I get back, everything done. So I’m eating, and I can do what I got to do.
In training camp right now, but you still have your downtime, so I want to know, what are you doing to stay relaxed in the downtime? Are you watching anything? Reading anything? Meditations? What are you doing in the downtime?
I was doing yoga. I’ve been doing hot yoga. I be doing that cryo. I be doing that cryotherapy, the compressions, and all of that stuff. I got this book I’ve been reading, it’s called … You going to know what it is. What’s the name of the book? The Way of the Superior Man. I’ve been tapped into that book or whatever. I got to tap back in, I ain’t read it in about two weeks though, so I’m going to get back into it. That keep me my mental on point.
This is The Source. Of course, we have to talk about the music. Who are you listening to in the gym, training?
I’ll be listening to that new Lil Baby. That new Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch. Got some NBA. I got some NBA in there, for sure. We be having a little bit of everything going in the gym.
In the gym, it’s not always serious. Boxers often crack jokes on each other a lot in training. Now honestly, who brings the heat?
EJ got the heat. Errol got the heat. Errol got the heat. He got the heat, for sure. He don’t get on me. We be on Reece, we be on Maurice’s head.
Rivera is arguably the toughest you will face yet, but definitely not the toughest opponent that you will face in your career, I’m sure. One 0 must go. Are you worried at all about losing your 0, whether it’s now or in the future?
Nah. Nah, I’m not. I don’t want to lose it, so I’m working, I’m working, working, working. Doing everything I got to do so I can keep it. I’m into, whatever going to get me to where I got to get to. So I ain’t like, “Man, this is a tough fight. I don’t want to lose.” No. I’m fitting to challenge myself. I’m going to do everything I got to do to get this W, but for the most part I’m fitting to challenge myself and go get it. So winning is the only thing right now in my mind.
How does it feel with Showtime Boxing and Premier Boxing Champions getting behind you as a promising main event headliner?
Man, it’s dope. It’s dope. All the hard work is right here now. It’s up to me to go out here and do what I’m supposed to do to keep it going. All the hard days, all of that, is right here, so I just have to go out here and do what I do to keep this momentum going.
You have to set the record straight. Is Frank Martin, the ghost himself, the most dangerous man in the lightweight division?
Yeah.
Watch Martin vs. Rivera at 9PM ET/6PM PT on Saturday, December 17, on Showtime
The Professional Fighters League (PFL), a professional mixed martial arts league who’s investors includes rapper Wiz Khalifa, comedic actor Kevin Hart, former MLB star Alex Rodriguez and NFL Hall-of-Famer Ray Lewis, kicked off their fourth annual one million dollar playoff-style competition this month with big announcements, shocking upsets, amazing action, and new updates on the league’s biggest stars.
The PFL will be expanding into Europe in 2023 with the initiation of a long-term plan that will turn the brand into an international league. “Our vision to advance and grow the sport is now being put in place with the launch of our first international regional league with PFL Europe in 2023, and there’ll be more regions to follow,” details PFL CEO and founder Peter Murray. “This is what the sport needs to truly advance and to grow, starting with developing great athletes from around the world and committing to regions around the world and those stakeholders to develop the sport at the grassroots level.”
The league’s global launch arrives with anticipated returns of the brand’s premiere stars Kayla Harrison (14-0), the undefeated reigning champion, and greatest of all-time women’s boxing champion-turned-MMA fighter Claressa Shields (1-1-0). Shields, 26, will return to the octagon in November after receiving the first loss of her career to Abigail Montes (3-2-0) last October.
The PFL launched in 2018 and become one of the premiere MMA leagues in United States with television deals with Direct TV and ESPN. The leagues annual playoff series is a bracket-based competition in multiple divisions that awards the contest winner a championship belt and one million dollars. As the contest’s popularity continue to grow annually, it evolving, making it one of the most exciting events in sports.
The Source’s Bryson “Boom” Paul spoke with Murray via Zoom before the New York City-extension of the 2022 Semifinals Playoffs. Read the full interview below.
Launched in 2017. Just announcing a new expansion. As CEO, how do you feel about the growth of PFL?
Yeah. I mean, this is our fourth season. We’ve been operating under five years. I’m very pleased with the growth of the company. We’ve secured the number-two position, globally. Number one, we’ve grown our fanbase – particularly in the U.S., 100% in terms of audience year over year. In addition, we’ve launched new franchises – leveraging our brand, capabilities and platforms – so this year, we increase from ten events to 18 with the launch of the challenger series on Fubo (FuboTV), and our season on ESPN. All of that content, all of those events are distributed to 160 countries around the world on premium sports platforms. And with respect to international, we’ve expanded our overall reach with quality distribution – as I mentioned on premium sports platforms. In the U.K., we’re on Channel 4, we’re in Latin America, DirectTV, all new deals. In the Netherlands as an example … in Europe – really top media companies distributing the PFL product.
In a short period, the PFL has produced several legitimate superstars. And with plans to find the next real superstar as you embark on international regions like Europe and the Middle East. How do you feel about the current PFL roster as you head into the playoffs?
Well as you said, the PFL, as the #2 in the world, and we’re certainly poised to be co-leader. We’ve proven we can develop stars. Kayla Harrison is a great example of that. Two-time Olympic gold medalist in Judo, now undefeated and two-time PFL champion, and competing perhaps for a third time – we’ll see what happens in the playoffs, but Kayla is a great example for the PFL’s ability to create stars. It certainly starts and ends witht the athlete, and Kayla is an exceptional athlete, and she’s earned it for sure. But we do have that expertise at the PFL to identify, sign, and develop top talent from around the world. We have other great examples as well. We’ve also proven that we can recruit top stars from other organizations, you see Anthony Petits. Anthony Petits will be fighting this Friday at MSG – and competing to get into the championships. Now, he was faced with some adversities last season. He felt, for the first time, the level of competition in the PFL, and it was eye-opening for him. So this year was very much about a pivot for Anthony and how he trained for the PFL, our high-caliber top ranked talent, and this format. And so I’m excited to see how Anthony – and certainly his opponent, Stevie Ray performances – same thing, another top athlete we recruited, now two years ago, Rory MacDonald. You know, Rory been really fun to watch, his first season – last year – in the PFL and our format, and this year, you know, he has a lot to prove. So fans will get to see Rory compete in the U.K., after our August 5th event, so we’re excited about that as well. But those are two great examples of our ability to recruit top stars from other organizations, and even around the world. You know, you got Jarrah, The Jordanian Lion, and former BRAVE CF champion now taking on our format, and trying to work his way into the championships. As it relates to our ability, Ray Sefo is our President of Fighter Operations. Ray’s a former six-time world champion K-1 kickboxer, he’s a respected force in MMA, in training elite MMA athletes – and, as well as signing and developing. So it’s really in our DNA as a company.
Now expanding and looking for the next big global fighter, there is currently a huge rise in popularity in women’s combat sports as well right now. Does the PFL have any excitement towards finding the next “female” global superstar – alongside Kayla Harrison and Claressa Shields?
Sure. Well Claressa, certainly proven, another two-time Olympic gold medalist in U.S. Boxing. She’s the only U.S. athlete to achieve that in U.S. history, in terms of two gold medals. You know, and she’s the greatest woman of all-time professional boxer, so it’s exciting that last year Claressa went pro with the PFL. She’s taking on MMA while she competes at the highest level in boxing. Not an easy thing to do, while they’re two combat sports, there two very different sports. And to see her commit to MMA, and do it in a professional but very humble way, because it’s not easy to start back at the bottom and work your way up. And she’s still working on that – so that’s been exciting. But there are other women in the women’s 155lbs who are competing in the playoffs that we’re excited about. Our Ukranian fighter, Olena Kolesnyk, she’s exciting and I think she’s fighting for a bigger cause, candidly, the emotions beyond what she’s passionate about as a professional athlete and competing through the season. She’s been exciting. And others. And then, what I can tell you, we will be signing other women in different weight classes starting next year.
Most companies explore expansion after at least a decade in business, whereas, the PFL is only five years in and already moving forward with expanding globally. What made you decide to begin expansion plans so early in the league’s development?
It’s always been part of our global vision. Our vision is to advance the sport and grow the PFL, while giving fighters at different level of their pro career throughout the world the opportunity to compete. To compete on a – opportunity for potential to go global stage in the PFL in our main season. But also around the world, in regional leagues to develop, essentially, their experience and capabilities – but to compete at a high pro level, regionally. The opportunity to become a regional champion within MMA – and within the PFL system, and then have a path to get into PFL Global to take on the next level of athlete and competition. That’s what sports – in my view – is all about. And so, for us, we do envision, in-region competition, pan-regional competition, and having multiple regional leagues around the world competing under the PFL brand, and being challenged by our format.
What are some of the adversities the PFL face in the new expansion?
Well… it’s a matter of dialing in one at a time. Things don’t happen over night. Our global expansion – while it’s always been apart of our original vision – now is the time to execute it after four successful seasons. Candidly, there’s a need in the sport by top athletes around the world are looking for major alternatives, regionally. And so we’re there to support athletes, that’s job one, but as it relates to adversities, it’s really more about staying focus, and not only executing our global events at the high standard that we have, but, you know, rolling out regional leagues. Maintaining the PFL gold standard and brand, and product, and caliber of talent, and competition. So that’s our focus. And it doesn’t happen overnight, and, you know, you really need to execute, not all six overnight or six to eight regional leagues, but one at a time. And that’s what we’re focused on.
The global sports landscape – it’s exciting, you never know what’s going to happen, it’s all about the thrills, but, most of all, it’s all about the competition. Starting the PFL in 2017 and being on your fourth playoffs now. How do you maintain that competitive nature taking your brand to the next level while competing with related brands?
We’re passionate about our vision and our mission as a company. And that’s what fuels the PFL. This is a high gross venture, we’re entrepreneurial, we’re fast moving, and we’re the most innovative fast-growing sports league, not just in combat, but in overall sports. It really takes a great team to propel this type of growth in the time that we’ve accomplished it year-to-date or since we’ve launched the company – I should say. And it takes the power of a team to propel the next phrase of growth, and what I can tell you is that’s just passion. Passion to build one of the most incredible and successful leagues that’s ever been created, at least in modern times.
Now you can’t have a league without great fans. Give me your thoughts on the love and support that the PFL fans have shown since the beginning?
Well let’s look at it like this. The fighters are looking for alternatives to compete, right? Different options in competition – so we certainly fulfill that. With respect to fans, this is “underserved” fanbase. There are over 600 million fans around the world today, over 80% outside the U.S.. It is the third largest fanbase in all of sports, behind the world’s #1 sport, soccer (futbol) and basketball. And what I can tell you, this fanbase, they want access to more quality MMA, and quality fights, and really that is our focus. This sport, meaning MMA, is still very much in it’s early days when you compare it to other major sports, right? NFL, where I have great history, is over 100 years old. NBA to other major sports leagues have been around 100 years or decades to decades. This sport is very much still in it’s early days and there’s so much growth ahead because of that underserved fanbase. There’s a consumer that demands more quality product. We serve up a premium product, meaning the PFL, that’s innovative on a different night of the week then perhaps the UFC or other promotions, and we’re not asking fans to choose one or the other. We’re providing different occassion – and a completely different experience. Candidly for a young fanbase that expects more from MMA. As it relates to the product that’s around the world, and it really is a 2.0 experience.
What has been your favorite moment from previous PFL Playoffs?
Listen. Our version of the playoffs – it really is March Madness-meets-MMA in August. It’s win and advance, lose and go home, everything is on the line. All these fighters have had to compete in the regular season two fights, this is their third fight and if they win, their in the million dollar championship, and the opportunity to win the 2022 belt for their respective weight class, so there’s pressure. There’s added intensity … this is it. So for me, the experience every year is different. Watched all these fighters and, at the end of the day, there been upsets in the past, and there are favorites come this Friday, but we’ll see how it all goes down because a fight a fight. And everyone who is in the PFL has the capability, and certainly the desire to be champion. So we’ll see what happens when that cage door closes and that bell rings. Honestly, every year is unique and supporting the fighter’s journey.
What is the PFL doing differently this year from previous Playoffs formats?
What we did differently this year is really the big thing we did launching the “Challenger Series,” which was a new format. So when you think about things that were new in the sport. I mean the “Challenger Series” was another breakthrough format from the PFL. It was American Idol-meets-MMA. Eight consecutive weeks of fighters had to prove themselves, and not only win, but perform to earn a PFL contract. And, you know, we had icons of combat sports, including former MMA champions, other major sports stars, like Ray Lewis, as well as fans weigh in on who got those contracts. So that was breakthrough. That was breakthrough for the sport, that was breakthrough for the fighters because these are earlier stage fighters, aspiring to get into the PFL season. And we’ve had fighters front the “Challenger Series” on Fubo actually make their way in. Nine fighters on the “Challenger Series” on Fubo that we launched in February actually made it on to the PFL 2022 season. And there are fighters like Jarrah, who are in the hunt. So we’ll see what goes down with those “Challenger Series” fighters.
Another thing that goes hand-and-hand with combat sports is the support of social media. How is PFL becoming more engaging with social media as you enter new expansions and the playoffs?
As we continue to grow our PFL league, along with our fighters, we have over 15 million followers today, number one. Number two, we have a great new leader on the team in Sean Loughlin. Sean was an executive at Barstool for the last six years – leading their digital and social platforms, and growth. He’s brought over a new energy and voice for our brand across all social channels, which is helping to drive further interest in the league. In our live events. And following our fighters – that’s the beauty of social. There all unique channels that fans engage in different ways and they can access the PFL, and all those stories because in the end, it’s about stories and conversations.
Outside the cage, does the PFL have any plans to embark on the podcast world?
Yes, definitely. We will be launching a podcast. We will be making that announcement, candidly, in conjunction with leading up to the championship.
Opening Odds for the #PFLPlayoffs Lightweight and Light Heavyweight Semifinal bouts!
Definitely excited about that. As the CEO, what is some advice you would give to these fighters that are entering into the PFL 2022 Playoffs?
Listen, I wish them all, you know, the very best. And they know what’s on the line. So they need to put on the performance of a lifetime or of their career come the playoffs because when you have a belt and a million dollars on the line, and it’s win and advance, lose and go home, you know, they have to be the very best verison of themselves as professional athletes. And it’s all about preparation, and the dedication, so based on my understanding and what Ray Sefo tells me that this group that we have coming into the playoffs, they’re absolute pros, and, you know, they’ll come prepared.
Fighters are putting everything on the line for this million dollar journey, so I have to ask this related question.What are the PFL’s plans of involving themselves in the sports betting world – another popular outlet for combat sports?
We’re already in the betting business in a big way. Draft Kings here in the U.S. is our sorta – corner stone partner. And we’re activating those rights internationally as well. And we brought innovation to betting in MMA – in being the only league to be able to activate our “smart cage” fighter data and fight analytics, so as an example, strike speed and kick speed, those are new “prop bets,” as well as bets related to traditional sport’s leagues. We have the ability to, essentially, expand engagement, and create those opportunities – with best-in-class partners like Draft Kings.
Kayla Harrison responded to the results of the Amanda Nunes-Julianna Pena fight at UFC 277 that was held last weekend, (Saturday, July 30th, 2022) on Twitter when fans offered up a trilogy – she (Harrison) made her presence felt to be like: “I’m around too.” As the PFL CEO, how do you feel about Harrison’s tweet and are you guys open to a possible collaboration with the UFC on a fight with Kayla Harrison?
Yeah we’ve said that before. Yeah, you’ve heard me say that before at the end of the day … well, let me just reframe. You’ve heard me say before we are open to creating fights that fighters want and fans want to see. And if that means cross promoting with other major organizations – and top fighters – we’re all about it. And more to come on that.
The PFL 2022 Playoffs continue Saturday (August 20) in London at Copper Box Arena. Watch it on ESPN+.
Conor McGregor, 34, is the latest professional fighter to go from the cage to the silver screen as it was announced on Wednesday that the former UFC champion will be making his acting debut, starring alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in the upcoming Road House remake.
“Conor McGregor is very excited to expand his storied career to Hollywood and join with Jake Gyllenhaal in this reimagining of ‘Road House,’ a beloved classic,” said McGregor’s publicist Karen J. Kessler in an official statement. “While fighting remains his top focus, this is the beginning of another successful venture in the McGregor empire. He is eager to get started filming.”
According to various sources, the Amazon Studios-produced reimagining of the classic 1980s film starring Patrick Swayze will star Gyllenhaal as a former UFC fighter — who like the original — returns home to the Florida keys to become a bouncer. The film goes into production in the Dominican Republic this month and set to be released on Prime Video in 2023. McGregor’s role in the film is currently unknown.
Outside film, McGregor is currently healing from a fractured leg he sustained in July 2021 in a MMA match with Dustin Poirier. McGregor was ranked the highest-paid athlete of 2021 after selling majority of his Proper Twelve whiskey brand to Jose Cuervo in April 2021 that was worth $600 million.
Talks of a second boxing mega-fight between Floyd Mayweather and himself in the works have been swirling around newsfeeds in recent weeks. More as the story develops.
