PFL boss says MMA promotion is on the hunt for the subsequent Russian million-dollar champion as they put together for 2021 season

The league-based MMA promotion, the PFL, is placing collectively bold plans for its return to motion subsequent 12 months, and the corporate’s CEO Peter Murray revealed they’ve large plans for Russia in 2021.

The collection, which focuses on a league-format method, options six weight courses that includes top-level expertise from world wide. And, in addition to their present contracted expertise, Murray says the promotion is able to draft in one of the best up-and-coming expertise from key areas, with Russia excessive on that record.

That plan entails the PFL internet hosting “Worldwide Qualifier Collection” occasions in key nations, with the highest performers incomes a spot in the principle PFL common season for both 2021 or 2022.

“We have had nice success partnering in numerous components of the world to determine and signal completely different athletes to the PFL,” Murray advised RT Sport throughout an unique cellphone interview this week.

“Actually, we have been scheduled (to host a PFL ‘Worldwide Qualifier Collection’ occasion) earlier this calendar 12 months, but it surely was postponed as a result of pandemic, however we need to reschedule for the primary quarter of subsequent 12 months forward of the 2021 season, in Russia.

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“There can be different worldwide markets that we do embrace in our plans for the 2021 worldwide qualifier collection, so we’re very excited to proceed creating the game, develop the PFL and determine and recruit new athletes from Russia.”

Russian athletes have already made a big effect within the PFL, and Murray says the success of Russian fighters is simply the tip of the iceberg because the promotion welcomes again a few of its greatest Russian stars for 2021, and steels itself for an inflow of the subsequent technology of preventing expertise from the area.

“Presently, we’ve got Magomed Magomedkerimov, the 2018 PFL welterweight champion. The Russian fanbase loves to observe ‘Mago’. He is a gamechanger,” he mentioned.

“In 2019 he made it into the post-season however in his second struggle within the playoffs, he was preventing with a damaged hand (and) he couldn’t come again to compete. So he completely has one thing to show when he comes again in 2021. Our present heavyweight champion Ali Isaev is Russian, and we won’t overlook Movlid Khaybulaev. He had that spectacular flying knee.

“With former champions, present champions and big-time moments, that is what lights up a fanbase, high expertise from world wide and dialing in these native athletes. 

“Past the stay occasions, we’ll inform their tales. For instance, in Russia we can be launching a bespoke Russian YouTube channel. Since we’ve got over 12 Russian athletes within the league, so we’ll program that channel to run by means of the lens of the Russian followers and the Russian fighters.”

With an “Worldwide Qualifier Collection” occasion being deliberate for Russia in early 2021, plus a crop of world-class Russian expertise already on the roster, there’s a lot to stay up for for Russian struggle followers when the PFL returns to motion in 2021.

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