SRJ Sports Investments, fully owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), invested over $100 million in the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
The PFL sold a minority ownership stake in the MMA venture to the sports fund.
“There is no better global investor with industrial-strength capital [than PIF] to help us achieve our global vision,” Donn Davis, PFL Co-Founder and Chairman, said.
“With this capital, we now have what we need to realize our vision to start the next chapter, become not just No. 2, but the potential co-leader in MMA.”
The investment will support the launch of two new endeavors next year: a PFL league for the MENA region and the company’s “Super Fight” pay-per-view arm.
Chairman of SRJ, Bander bin Mogren, commented: “SRJ is shaping a new age of sports in Saudi Arabia and accelerating the growth of the domestic sports economy.”
Mogren added: “This investment aims to nurture the local and regional talent pool in martial arts.”
In the same vein, the funds will be used to attract more stars to PFL, as well as increase participation in the disciplines of MMA across the Kingdom and the MENA region.
The Kingdom will also host and underwrite a “substantial” number of PFL PPV events in the coming years.
The PFL has raised its profile this year by signing exclusive MMA deals with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and crossover combat sports star Jake Paul.
They will make their PFL debuts in 2024 on PPV, with Ngannou headlining a spring fight card and Paul one in the fall, per Davis. Women’s champ Kayla Harrison will also fight on the spring PPV card.
