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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Harry Davies

PFL boss hails new UK TV deal as Channel 4 signs up to show MMA promotion

PFL boss Peter Murray says the promotion's television deal with Channel 4 will give UK fans free-to-air access to a "quality product".

After previously broadcasting fights on MMA TV in the UK, the promotion announced on Tuesday they had partnered with Channel 4.

The deal will give UK fans easier access to watch their upcoming events, with the Challenger Series on February 18 and the 2022 season starting in April.

And Murray explained why partnering with Channel 4 was a groundbreaking deal for the promotion, which only founded four years ago.

"We have such an amazing partner in Channel 4, they have such a premium portfolio of sports and they're now taking on MMA with the PFL," Murray told Mirror Fighting.

PFL signed a television rights deal with Channel 4 (Channel 4)

"It gives the UK fighters we have on the roster an opportunity to not only compete on a global platform, but their family and friends can really have access to see them compete.

"We want to give the massive fanbase that's here in the UK an opportunity to have access to a quality product, that's not behind a paywall."

The promotion continued to add talented fighters to their roster last year but also wants to focus on creating their own stars in this year's upcoming season.

"We're proud of developing athletes from early stages in their career to see if they can earn their way up to champion and continue to compete at a high level," he continued.

"We have a number of those athletes from Kayla Harrison to Ray Cooper, I'd put both of them up against any fighter in their weight class in the world, in any organisation."

What are your thoughts on PFL partnering with Channel 4? Let us know in the comments section below

Undefeated lightweight Harrison, who was linked with a UFC move, has not officially resigned with PFL but Murray is "excited" for what's ahead of the two-time Olympic gold medalist.

The 31-year-old won the 2019 and 2021 women's lightweight tournaments and has finished 9 of her 11 promotional wins.

Cooper is also a two-time seasonal winner in the PFL, banking $2million in prize money for his efforts.

Former UFC veterans Anthony Pettis and Rory MacDonald both suffered consecutive losses for PFL last year and Murray thinks that is a testament to the skill level of fighters in the promotion.

"This format is not for everyone, four fights in seven or eight months to compete against this top talent. I think fans have seen PFL is no walk in the park," he added.

"What I'm excited to see with fighters like Anthony [Pettis] and Rory [McDonald] is how will they do this year, redemption is a great story."

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