Marshawn Lynch’s portfolio expanded again Thursday. “Beast Mode” has taken a stake in the Professional Fighters League, executives for the MMA company told Front Office Sports.
The five-time Pro Bowl running back was an early investor in NRG eSports back in 2017 and has since acquired stakes in a Fan Controlled Football franchise and the United Soccer League Championship’s Oakland Roots.
“Beyond being an investor, Marshawn has amazing business capabilities and marketing instincts,” PFL CEO Peter Murray told FOS. “We are excited to be capturing his spirit and integrating that into the fan experience.”
Launched in 2018, the PFL has a different format than other major MMA-sanctioning bodies. The PFL — which has a reported valuation of $400 million — consists of regular season, playoffs, and a championship in each weight class, something more akin to stick-and-ball sports.
Week 2 of the PFL will be on ESPN+ and ESPN2 as ESPN broadcasts its NFL Draft coverage. The PFL event will conclude with the debut of the “Beast Mode Fighter of the Night” award.
“There’s something for everybody,” Murray said about competing with football’s biggest offseason event. “We think it’s an awesome opportunity.”
Lynch — who is slated to have his own PFL clothing line — joins Wiz Khalifa, Ray Lewis, and Kevin Hart as investors in the league.
