The Global Fighting League (GFL) is facing significant challenges in launching its operations, and fans are largely unsurprised by the recent cancellation of its inaugural events.
GFL, a new mixed martial arts promotion, had announced its first events to be held on May 24th and 25th. These events were intended to mark the beginning of their season and featured notable fighters.
The planned main event for one of the cards was supposed to be a fight between Tony Ferguson and Dillon Danis. Additionally, Paige VanZant was scheduled to make her return to MMA after her departure from the UFC on the same event.
However, the promotion`s debut began to unravel as several fighters withdrew from their scheduled bouts. Fabricio Werdum, for example, cited a lack of motivation for his withdrawal from his comeback fight.
Fan Reactions to GFL Event Postponement
Despite the initial schedule for late May, the postponement of the debut events was announced this Monday. The reason cited was a shortfall in investment, casting serious doubts about the future viability of the entire promotion.
“My primary investor did not meet their financial obligations for April, which unfortunately led to these cancellations,” stated GFL founder Darren Owen in an interview.
Owen mentioned that the promotion is now aiming to launch its debut events towards the end of June, contingent on securing the necessary funding.
Nevertheless, fans have expressed minimal surprise at this further delay. The promotion has faced scrutiny since its announcement, particularly regarding the reportedly high fighter payouts.
One fan commented, “I feel sorry for all the fighters who declined other opportunities to sign with GFL. This is very unfortunate and needs to stop. Fighters deserve better treatment.”
Another fan speculated, “They probably realized that many of the signed fighters are older and prone to injuries during training camps, or might even decide to retire.”
A third fan added, “It seemed destined to fail from the beginning after their `draft` fiasco. It`s a shame because numerous fighters will not receive the money they were contracted for.”
Dillon Danis Responds to GFL Delay
Dillon Danis, despite a relatively short MMA career, is a well-known and often controversial figure in the sport. He was slated to headline the May 25th event against Tony Ferguson, who has been experiencing a decline in his recent performances.
“Bro, I just want to f—ing fight. What the f—,” Danis posted on social media platform X, expressing his frustration.
However, Danis, who remains undefeated in MMA, remains optimistic that his fight with Ferguson will be rescheduled and will eventually happen.
“Just got word, don’t believe everything you hear. My fight with Tony Ferguson is still on,” Danis asserted.
