DUBAI: The Professional Fighters League on Thursday announced that Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al-Maktoum has joined the PFL’s global ownership group.

The strategic addition strengthens PFL’s commitment to expanding its presence in the Middle East and supporting the growth of mixed martial arts across the UAE and the region, PFL said. 

“I am delighted to join the PFL’s ownership group as I believe in PFL’s global vision to grow the sport of MMA, and I am excited by PFL’s momentum in staging world-class fight events in Dubai and the UAE region,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

Sheikh Mohammed is the founding chairman of Alpha MBM Investments, a diversified investment company based in Dubai with strategic interests across real estate, technology, energy and sports. Alpha MBM has become a key player in driving economic innovation and global partnerships across sectors aligned with the UAE’s long-term vision.

The PFL has already made a significant impact in the region, having become the first global MMA organization to stage a major event in Dubai earlier this year. The event, held in partnership with Dubai Economy & Tourism and the Dubai Sports Council, featured what many called the most exciting title fight of the year; a clash between undefeated Russian star Usman Nurmagomedov and rising Irish sensation Paul Hughes.

“PFL is excited to welcome Sheikh Mohammed and his expertise to our ownership group,” said Peter Murray, CEO of PFL International. “This marks another major milestone in our global expansion strategy and reinforces our long-term commitment to expanding our presence in the Middle East.

With the addition of Sheikh Mohammed to the PFL ownership group, the league said it was further poised to deliver premium MMA experiences in the UAE and across the broader MENA region, while also building pathways for regional fighters to compete on the global stage, he said.

The PFL said it was elevating the sport of MMA in the Middle East through the PFL MENA franchise, which is currently in its second season. The regional tournament has successfully created stars from the MENA region including the likes of PFL MENA Champions Abdullah Al-Qahtani and Omar El-Dafrawy, and Middle Eastern women’s MMA pioneer Hattan Alsaif. The third event of the PFL MENA season is expected to take place in September.