Published: 10:13, 9 Dec 2023Updated: 10:14, 9 Dec 2023
The Professional Fighters League [PFL] topped off a bumper year with an epic show at Dublin’s iconic 3Arena on Friday night.
After an eventful 2023, which included buying Bellator, signing superstars, and becoming a genuine threat to the UFC’s MMA monopoly, the PFL put on one hell of a show.
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PFL Dublin attracted a 5,000 sellout crowdCredit: PFL
Literal royalty gathered to see four European champions crowned.
The crown prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and a Saudi Arabian contingent were in town to take a closer look at their latest investment.
In August, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund – a new vehicle created by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) – pumped $100 million [£79M] into PFL.
After one fight Sheikh Hamdan and PFL bosses stepped into the cage to pose for pictures ahead of what promises to be a fruitful first full year together in 2024.
Most of the Dublin crowd were more concerned with the bevy of MMA icons in the arena.
UFC title challenger Dan Hardy was on commentary duty, heavyweight icon Stefan Struve worked as media, and Bellator contender Leah McCourt presented for DAZN – but other MMA stars popped along for fun.
Brendan Loughnane, Michael ‘Venom’ Page, John Kavanagh, Cedric Doumbe, and Impa Kasangnay were just some of the big names watching the event from the front row.
Two of them got into the PFL cage to hype up a potential super fight.
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Sheikh Hamdan is a big MMA fanCredit: PFL
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Two famous spectators got in the cage for a face-offCredit: pfl
Kickboxing legend Doumbe went nose to nose with fellow KO artist and current free agent, Page, and suggested they could clash in the new year.
As established stars assembled, a few rising stars shined on the night.
Kicking off the event was amateur MMA fighter Nate ‘The Great’ Kelly.
The 19-year-old is famous for crashing Conor McGregor’s press conference in 2015, but he showed he’s a genuine talent in his PFL debut.
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Kelly got the show off to a great startCredit: pfl
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Ditcheva put on the performance of the nightCredit: PFL
Kelly locked up an anaconda choke in round two before jumping on top of the cage and celebrating wildly with the thousands of fans inside the arena.
Later in the evening, undefeated British prospect Dakota Ditcheva put a five-minute beating on her opponent, Valentina Scatizzi, to trigger a doctor stoppage.
Scatizzi’s eye was swollen shut from Ditcheva’s relentless knee attacks that ultimately saw the 25-year-old walk away from her tenth professional win with a ton of hype and money.
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Nathan Kelly was the most popular man in the building and he topped off the show in styleCredit: PFL
Nathan Kelly topped the show and received the biggest cheer of the night.
The 9-2 fighter suggested he could be the next Irish MMA star with a slick submission victory that triggered wild celebrations from his massive crowd of fans.
Four new European champions were crowned on the night, and they can all now look forward to big fights next year – whether they come in the PFL $1 million tournament or elsewhere.
Each of them walked away with $100,000 in bonus money as they were presented with a massive cheque as well as a new belt after their victories.
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Paul’s PFL debut will be massiveCredit: PFL
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Heavyweight icon Ngannou is also on the rosterCredit: getty
PFL has proved during the past 12 months they are not afraid to splash the cash.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul was their first marquee signing, and former UFC champion Francis Ngannou quickly followed him to the second-best MMA promotion on the planet.
Paul’s potential debut opponent, Nate Diaz, has been offered a $15 million purse for the fight, while whoever Ngannou squares off against is guaranteed to make at least $2 million, regardless of their status.
PFL CEO Peter Moore previously told talkSPORT.com that more big signings are on the way – it now seems to be just a matter of time before the UFC has a genuine rival.
This time next year, the PFL could have initiated a genuine shift in power.
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