RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Peter Murray believes PFL: Battle of the Giants is the biggest MMA event of the year.
PFL: Battle of the Giants (DAZN/ESPN+ pay-per-view) takes place Saturday at The Mayadeen. Two super fight belts will be on the line, with former UFC champion [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] (17-3) taking on 2023 PFL champion [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] (13-3) in the heavyweight main event. In the co-main event, Cris Cyborg (27-2-1) will look to collect her fifth belt from a major organization when she faces two-time PFL champion Larissa Pacheco (23-4). A Bellator title-fight rematch between champion Johnny Eblen (15-0) and Fabian Edwards (13-3) is also on the card, as well as a lightweight banger between A.J. McKee (22-1) and Paul Hughes (12-1).
Murray sees this event not only as the biggest in company history, but the PFL CEO even puts it ahead of UFC 300 and UFC 306 at Sphere.
“This is the biggest event of absolutely the PFL company history and the biggest event of the year,” Murray told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “I’m looking forward to stacking this up against – when you look at the cards from UFC 300, the Sphere, but as it relates to the card, this event on Oct. 19 is the biggest of the year, second to none.”
Murray and PFL co-owner Donn Davis’ bold claims have received heavy criticism from UFC CEO Dana White, who trashes PFL and its product every time he’s asked about them.
White’s words don’t seem to bother Murray.
“Listen, we’re focused on our game,” Murray said in response. “Our roster is second to none. The quality of our production and presentation is second to none. We bring more innovation to the sport of MMA than anyone has in the last two decades, and so we’re proud of the position we’re in as, I would say, a co-leader in the sport. There’s so much more room for growth, and why we exist is to expand the sport, grow the sport, create a system in the sport that’s lacking around the world, and ultimately get fighters opportunity.
“That’s our focus. And fans, all they want is great fighters and great fights. We do it with purpose as it relates to growing the sport, professionalizing the sport. I’m not about talking about the other guy. We’re focused on what we’re building, and I think the fans are really excited about it. We’re in growth mode and major growth underway, particularly internationally. We’re going to be making announcements, how we’re going to be expanding in the Middle East. Obviously we’re staging first-ever professional global MMA events in Africa with the launch of PFL Africa, and then PFL Australia will also be launched.”
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.