Tag: Pete Murray

Peter Murray: PFL: Battle of the Giants biggest event of 2024 – bigger than UFC 300, UFC 306 at Sphere

PFL CEO Peter Murray is well aware of UFC boss Dana White’s shots at the promotion, but it doesn’t seem to bother him.

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.

PFL CEO Pete Murray says superfight belts must be defended

Pete Murray is excited to kick off a new format for PFL’s championships.

[autotag]Pete Murray[/autotag] is excited to kick off a new format for PFL’s championships.

Two new superfight belts will be introduced at PFL: Battle of the Giants Oct. 19 at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (ESPN+ pay-per-view, DAZN).

In the main event, former UFC champion Francis Ngannou (17-3) takes on 2023 PFL champion Renan Ferreira (13-3). In the co-main event, Cris Cyborg (27-2-1) will look to collect her fifth belt in a major organization when she faces two-time PFL champion Larissa Pacheco (23-4).

“The PFL superfights belt, first time we as a company and organization have a belt where it must be won, but it also must be defended on an ongoing basis,” Murray told MMA Junkie Radio. “Typically, our global season belts, they recognize those champions for the year, and they’re forever that year’s champion. But this is a different belt, a different format for us. So both Francis and Cris want to be the first ones to raise those belts, but Renan and Larissa, two Brazilians, they’re going to bring it.”

The PFL CEO sees Ferreira and Pacheco as the future of MMA.

“Larissa, two-time PFL champion, women’s 155 then she took on 145,” Murray said. “She’s women’s 145 champion, two belts. She’s fierce, she’s really grown into being a bonafide world champion. She’s wanted this fight for a really long time. So when you think about the GOATs in Francis and in Cris, up against Renan and Larissa, that’s really the future.

“These younger fighters in their prime – again, Francis still in his prime, Cris in her prime, not many can dance with either of them, but they’ve had a storied career, both of them. Renan and Larissa, they’re the future. They’re looking to make their mark now, and they deserve this fight. These are both legitimate opponents for both Francis and Cris.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.