A predictable mess: the GFL is on support for life before having an event

Urijah Faber had been planned for a trilogy fight with the former UFC champion and former Rivan Barāo rival (not photos) during the launch of the GFL, but this fight is now in danger. (Photo of Chris Unger / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

(Chris Unger via Getty Images)

Since everything looks like playing these days, it was a fun exercise in early 2025 to think about the chances that the GFL never organizes an event.

In January, you might have been able to get money on the hypothetical line that it would send at least one. As a concept focused on the team, the arrival promotion even organized a GFL recovery later this month, with the Dubai team using the first coveted choice to collect Tyron Woodley, 43.

But in April, just a month before the first fights were to take place in Los Angeles? This imaginary line feels closer to +1200 – and it is generous from the GFL. It turns out that these three letters represent good luck, Bruv.

The first big blow came on Wednesday, when without a crown learned that the GFL – which is made up of a who's who of the big names of yesterday – had canceled his first fighting listA discounted weekend that had been penciled since May 24 to 25 at the sanctuary.

In caricatures, someone ties the barrel of the hunting rifle in a knot, making him turn around. In real life, as The founder of the GFL, Darren Owen, informed Ariel Helwani of the Non-Couronne“My main investor did not fulfill his obligation in April which caused a problem.”

Guido, take the pipe. We have a problem and it looks like someone needs to talk.

Many fighters were linked to this inaugural event. Some 62 of them, all say, many seek to make their first salary linked to combat in several years. A few weeks ago, Dillon Danis reserved two fights – one against KSI in the boxing ring, and one against Tony Ferguson during the GFL inaugural event. Today he has none. At this rate, we may never see Danis again fighting, which is what eternal optimists could call a “silver lining”.

The truth is that the red flags of this MMA start-up and continue to signal. We have already seen the concept of the team with the IFL in the bursts of the middle at the end, and there is a reason why the word “disappeared” is used when it comes to this unhappy league. The “Ick” factor? The GFL has a good dose of this. The average age of the announced GFL list is somewhere in the vicinity of 40, give or taking. No one is too sure of Yoel Romero, but, in all, cauliflower on the ears has long after their expiration dates.

Then there is the initial money to make such a ambitious business. The names that the GFL is the list is not cheap, which has fueled crawling skepticism. Even if you deploy the past pricing relics for twilight bruises, will it really be paid?

We have seen so many well -intentioned fighting promotions pass and pass over the years, from the affliction to the MMA of the war of Nick Diaz in Metamoris, which belonged more to the spirit of Stanley Kubrick than to the fighting game. Triller would always have money to people for a badly informed eruption in 2021, a free case that remains one of the most exaggerated events that the world of combat sport has witnessed.

When new funds come into the fighting game, the fringes have a way to close. The pockets are rarely deep enough to accommodate all the hands that cross them. Supporting anything in this space is almost impossible without a solid plan and a very real financial commitment. And although he attracts blowing like no other sport, he also spits them with the dozen. We have seen it. And we will continue to see it.

In the case of GFL, let's face it, although it is fair to give all companies the benefit of doubt, it has never really seemed to be a real thing. At least not in the sense that … you know, it could realistically go away and succeed.

The GFL came out of blue and immediately moved away in the red. Nothing added. The names involved. The Radio Hole. The “teams” gadget. The guilt of recycling of retired fighters who have already taken their pieces. The high idea of filling the void of the NFL. Brendan Schaub's involvement.

And now a cancellation one month before the launch, which suggests that this thing has never really had any pulse to start.

In his full declaration to without crown, Owen used a language that was not exactly comforting, at least not to those who think that GFL represents the Goofund League.

“Work on a solution. My main investor did not fulfill his obligation in April which caused a problem. I will keep you posted, but I think we can work there. I think we can get there in June.

“In addition, I do not plan the event that takes place in California, but we will continue to move forward.

“I think we are going to have to push the dates until June 15/16. I will confirm as soon as possible. It was a frustrating week, but I think there is a solution in place.”

For those who count at home, it's three “I think” and a “I believe” in a brief declaration on the “why”. Faith is not a viable business plan, not when the posters are printed. Prayers are what the CEO of the UFC, Dana White, hears other players at the Blackjack table when he plays $ 50,000.

If the GFL is capable of gathering it in London (as has been teased) or elsewhere, and to give its fighters the promised income division 50/50, and to make many older fighters a little more money in the Gloring, maybe it can be up to invoicing for at least a wild weekend.

But I don't bet on this. The chances of a GFL event which takes place feel longer than ever.

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