Dan Hardy is working on a PFL 'Masters division' for the likes of Tony Ferguson and Donald Cerrone as he talks his own MMA return
12/09/2024 14:14
With the PFL continuing to look into ways on how they can grow their promotion, head of PFL Europe Dan Hardy has revealed that they are working on a PFL ‘Masters Division’ for veteran fighters.
Since its acquisition of Bellator at the beginning of last year, the PFL has continued to look into ways that it can further develop its product to start competing with the UFC.
The promotion announced the integration of their ‘Super Fight’ division last year, co-founded by internet sensation, Jake Paul and later this year, Francis Ngannou will finally make his promotional debut in the new division.
Dan Hardy is working on a new PFL ‘Masters division’ for MMA veterans
Head of PFL Europe and former UFC title challenger, Dan Hardy, has revealed that he is working on another new division called the ‘Masters division’.
With the ever-changing landscape of combat sports, a lot of fighters who are at the tail end of their careers these days are opting to take their talents to ‘influencer boxing’, which ultimately began with the emergence of the aforementioned, Jake Paul.
Talking about the structure of the PFL and how it needs change, Hardy stated that having different tiers of progression is needed for them to be able to rival the UFC.
“We need a champion series because each year global is going to produce six champions and those six champions are going to have to go somewhere and they need a step up so if we have standing champions then those guys can go up and fight the PFL champion and we have an actual champion opposed to a yearly champion where the belt goes back into circulation,” Hardy explained to Sky Sports.
“I like that format but for me that fits in the middle tier, we need a tier above that, and then if it was up to me I’d have a tier above that a Masters class.
“I would have a division where you could move the likes of Tony Ferguson and Donald Cerrone, etc, where they’re not at their best anymore they shouldn’t be fighting the elitist fighters in the division but they can still give us really good fights against other guys of similar talent and level so I’m working on a structure right now to put that into place,” Hardy continued.
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Dan Hardy talks about his own MMA return
It is unclear whether Tony Ferguson is still under contract with the UFC following his recent eighth loss in a row but following his record-breaking loss, he stated that he will continue fighting whether it’s in the UFC or not.
For several years now, fans have been asking ‘The Outlaw’ if he is going to return to MMA as he has spoken about it extensively himself.
“Hey, why not (fight in the Masters division myself). I actually said to the PFL the other day, we were coming out of an event and I said, ‘Look, I’ll dust off and come back for another 12 months’ and I gave them three or four names. I’ll always fight… If we’ve got a Masters division, I’ve got a few good ideas in mind.
“Anthony Pettis is someone I’ve always had a lot of respect for and his name has been thrown around a few times regarding a future opponent for me, so maybe that’s an option,” Hardy revealed.
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