PFL CEO Peter Murray might be heading a fledgling MMA organization in comparison to the behemoth that is the UFC, but he’s aiming big. He wants to book one of the biggest potential fights in women’s MMA: Cyborg vs Kayla Harrison, and told The MMA Hour that he wouldn’t mind getting Nate Diaz while he’s at it.
On whether he’d be able to afford the likely price tag attached to Nate Diaz once he fights out his UFC contract against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 279, he said:
PFL Making Moves For Cyborg, Nate Diaz
“Absolutely. We have capital, we have the wherewithal, and we’re not a regional player. Now we’re a global brand and we’re trusted. Earlier days, when we were just starting out, it was challenging. That’s OK, you’ve got to build trust, you’ve got to prove yourself, you’ve got to execute. And we have proven that we have a model that works and we’re built for the long term.
And it’s now an alternative for, not just fighters who are on the come-up, but established fighters who are ranked in the top 10, the top five, the top three, and No. 1. So we’re here to stay, we’re here to play and compete, and not only are we going to develop our own talent through our system, we’ll certainly continue to sign major fighters.”
PFL has expanded consistently in recent years, thanks in no small part to its habit of snapping up major stars from other promotions upon completion of their contracts. Its biggest star by far is Kayla Harrison, who has long demanded the chance to face the UFC’s female elite. Peter Murray hopes to cement Harrison’s reputation with a fight against Bellator’s Cris Cyborg.
“Listen, I think that’s the fight that fans would like to see. That’s a fight that the PFL would like to get behind. Kayla said she wants that fight. I think it’s going to come down to Cris Cyborg — does Cris Cyborg want that fight? And whether Cris decides to come over to the PFL to make that fight and perhaps other fights happen, that’s one scenario. And another scenario is a co-promotion. And we’re proponents of both.
Our understanding is she is a free agent. We’d like to make that fight happen. There’s certainly been outreach. We’re looking forward to getting into it in earnest.
There’s no dancing [around it]. It’s not a surprise, or it’s not new news that this is a fight to PFL would like to make happen or Kayla. And so I think in the coming weeks we’re looking forward to seeing what’s possible.”
Can PFL snap up two of the biggest names in MMA? Let us know what you think in the comments.
