The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is expanding its global reach by establishing a new league dedicated to Australia and New Zealand. This marks the promotion`s continued international growth.
PFL Pacific will be the latest addition to PFL`s regional tournament series, following the successful launches in Europe and the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) in recent years. The organization is also preparing to debut PFL Africa this summer, featuring the return of fighter Dakota Ditcheva.
Following the Africa launch, the focus will shift to the PFL Pacific tournament set for Australia. This league aims to showcase the next generation of fighting talent from a region that has produced world champions such as Israel Adesanya, Rob Wilkinson, and the recently successful Jack Della Maddalena.
PFL Pacific Officially Set for 2026 Debut
Since introducing its Global Season and subsequently a World Tournament structure, PFL has actively sought to implement its unique MMA format in regional markets worldwide. This strategy began with the first European tournament in 2023, which was followed by a second in 2024 and the inaugural PFL MENA season.
The next scheduled regional expansion is PFL Africa, spearheaded by legendary heavyweight Francis Ngannou, which is slated to kick off in Cape Town on July 26. It has now been officially confirmed that PFL`s growth will continue in 2026 with the launch of PFL Pacific in Australia and New Zealand.
The establishment of the league is supported by a significant media partnership with Nine in Australia, guaranteeing extensive coverage across Stan Sport, 9Now, and the 9Network. The tournament will feature fighters from the region competing in a knockout format over four events planned for 2026.
PFL CEO Peter Murray Comments on PFL Pacific
In his comments regarding the announcement, PFL CEO Peter Murray stated that bringing the Professional Fighters League to Australia and the Pacific region, along with its world-class MMA and top fighters, has been a major objective.
He emphasized that the key partnership with Stan, combined with broadcasting on 9Now and the free-to-air 9Network, is designed to provide the most accessible MMA experience ever seen in Australia. Murray added that the launch of PFL Pacific is a crucial step for long-term growth and aims to crown more Australian champions than any other league within the next three years.
