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The Professional Fighters League has raised $30 million in a funding round that includes former MLB star Alex Rodriguez, who will also serve on the mixed martial arts company’s board.
Led by Waverley Capital, the round reportedly values the company at $500 million — a significant increase from the $400 million valuation it received in 2021. Since it was founded in 2018, PFL has raised $200 million.
The funding will be used to expand internationally — establishing PFL Europe and PFL Mexico — and add athletes, including those from Endeavor-owned UFC, as PFL founder and chairman Donn Davis told CNBC.
- The PFL says it has 600 million global fans.
- The company is controlled by investors including Ares Capital, Elysian Park Ventures, former NFL player Ray Lewis, and Washington Nationals owner Mark Lerner.
PFL has a pay-per-view “Super Fight” scheduled to debut next year. It also extended its media rights deal with ESPN in January.
A-Rod’s Ownership
The PFL adds to the former New York Yankees star’s sports portfolio. Rodriguez, who made more than $450 million over his baseball career, joined former Walmart e-commerce executive Marc Lore in April 2021 to purchase the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx for $1.5 billion. He’s also an investor in UFC Gym.
“Alex is building a business career in sports that he wants to equal his baseball career,” Davis said, adding that Rodriguez is “innovative in his approach to investing and building companies.”
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