Donn Davis is stepping down as Chairman of Professional Fighters League (PFL).
Davis, 63, is the latest casualty in the promotion’s shakeup of its executive leadership, which also claimed former PFL CEO Peter Murray. In addition, longtime MMA reporter, Ariel Helwani, was “told the company very recently laid off several long-time employees.”
“Today, I’m stepping down as Chairman of PFL,” Davis wrote. “From the moment I founded Professional Fighters League eight years ago, it has been my life. My vision was to create an innovative and premium MMA company as the valuable alternative for those that want or need it. We started with nothing except universal skepticism and against all odds we succeeded. Now PFL is the clear No. 2 MMA company worldwide and the only other premium product.”
“Zero fighters to 80 of the top 300 world-ranked fighters under exclusive contract,” Davis added. “Zero live events to 24 per year on four continents. Zero distribution to 190 countries with 20 major media partners. Zero viewers to two million average linear and streaming global viewers per event. Zero social media followers to 30 million active across all platforms.”
“I care deeply about each employee, value highly every investor, respect greatly our fighters, and appreciate sincerely all our fans who supported this company,” Davis said. “I gave you everything I have got. PFL global footprint, valuable assets, and market position has never before been achieved in MMA outside of UFC. I’m confident this foundation should lead to great future success. PFL changed the great sport of MMA for the better. Meaningful innovations, unique global expansion, fighter empowerment, and the company is just getting started. I’ve loved fighting to build PFL. What do you fight for?”
In more positive news, PFL was able to close another round of capital investments, which includes expanded ownership stake from Knighthead Capital Management and 885 Capital. In addition, PFL recently established a new nine-member Board of Directors, who will oversee the organization’s strategic direction as it enters its next phase of growth and product evolution.
PFL returns to action with “Road to Dubai” on Feb. 7.
