{"id":39024,"date":"2026-06-27T15:57:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T15:57:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sherdog.com\/news\/news\/PFL-CEO-details-issues-that-have-hindered-growth-of-promotions-brand-201668"},"modified":"2026-06-27T15:57:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T15:57:18","slug":"pfl-ceo-details-issues-that-have-hindered-growth-of-promotions-brand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.martialartskleinanzeigen.com\/videos\/pfl-ceo-details-issues-that-have-hindered-growth-of-promotions-brand\/","title":{"rendered":"PFL CEO details issues that have hindered growth of promotion’s brand"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\nProfessional Fighters League<\/a> CEO John Martin believes the
\npromotion needs to focus on brand building. <\/p>\n

While the PFL is arguably the second-biggest MMA promotion in the
\nworld, it remains well behind industry leader
\nUFC<\/a> in terms of popularity. Martin believes the focus of the
\nPFL has shifted multiple times since its inception in 2017,
\nhindering its growth as a brand. Martin notes that the acquisition
\nof Bellator in 2023 also came with a lot of issues. <\/p>\n

\n

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Martin, who joined as the CEO of PFL last year, believes the
\npromotion is more important than individual fighters. Martin is now
\ntrying to build the brand of PFL.<\/p>\n

Brand Over Everything<\/h2>\n

\u201cThe PFL\u2019s seven years old,\u201d Martin told Home of Fight<\/a>. \u201cBut within that seven years,
\nthe focus and emphasis of the PFL has changed many number of times.
\nThere was a world tournament. Then they bought Bellator, where
\nthere were fighters that weren\u2019t suited to fight in a world
\ntournament, There were some problems with the integration of
\nBellator. The roster was too big, the fighters weren\u2019t fighting
\noften enough, they had to cut the roster. All of that happened
\nbefore I got here. All of that holds back the power of the brand.
\nPeople ask me all the time, \u2018What\u2019s more important? The brand UFC
\nor the individual fighters? I think it\u2019s the brand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Martin further admitted that distribution in the U.S. has also been
\nan issue for the PFL. While the PFL and the UFC both used to be
\nbroadcast on ESPN, Martin wonders if many knew about the
\nPFL.   <\/p>\n