Midnight Mania: No More $1 Million Checks!

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

The Professional Fighter’s League (PFL) has worked hard to separate itself from the UFC. The promotion focuses heavily on global expansion and various regional subsections, has trademarked various tech and terms like the SmartCage, and is quite proud of its yearly tournament structure.

a big part of PFL’s appeal. An athlete like Brendan Loughnane can get snubbed on Contender’s Series then join PFL and walk away a millionaire in a year. That’s pretty cool!

No longer.

Italian MMA reporter Al Zullino offered up some insight on the new PFL contracts leading into the 2025 year. Per his report, there have been several notable changes, but the most important is that the victory in the finals match up will now award the new PFL tournament champion $500k rather than $1 million.

I got a sneak peek at some new PFL contracts, and there are some interesting highlights.

It looks like the one-million-dollar tournaments are gone. pic.twitter.com/IXRWPCPZZg

— Al Zullino (@phre) January 7, 2025

The most notable change, in fact, seems to be in the tournament pay structure. The final championship bonus is now $500K.

Fighters will get their purses according to their contracts (the ones I’ve seen were $20K/$20K) + $500K final bonus if they won the championship. pic.twitter.com/fC0NRbj3AM

— Al Zullino (@phre) January 7, 2025

Zullino speculates that the promotion’s tournaments will largely feature prospects and lesser known fighters, saving room for the bigger payouts of established stars and former Bellator champions. In a vacuum, that would make sense, but it’s hard to see how PFL public relations is going to spin this into a positive.

At least elbows are legal now?

@SubmissionRadio) #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/nKP98XeaUd

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 5, 2025

A neat strategy from Featherweight prospect Austin Bashi, who faces Christian Rodriguez this weekend at UFC Vegas 101.

I don’t remember seeing this anywhere else before

Austin Bashi uses an arm triangle to hold his opponent in place for some knees to the body pic.twitter.com/Xua5v5f1bu

— William – Open Note Grappling (@OpenNoteGrapple) January 5, 2025

Aljamain Sterling confirms that he’s forever done with 135-pound weight cuts.

Physical strength is a huge part of Judo.

Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold in the same room is a recipe for hilarity.

https://t.co/j3AnAEeyQj pic.twitter.com/PBFxvnDg3i

— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) January 3, 2025