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Professional Fighters League (PFL)
Martial ArtsMixed Martial Arts

PFL appoint ex-NBA China CEO to board, promise ‘tangible stakes in the ground’ for Chinese expansion

  • Derek Chang to aid Professional Fighters League’s international growth strategy, including in Asia
  • PFL CEO Peter Murray reveals plans for revamped digital and broadcast coverage in China for 2022 season

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Peter Murray (right) and boxing legend Mike Tyson present 2019 women's lightweight champion Kayla Harrison with her US$1 million winner's cheque. Photo: PFL
Nicolas Atkin

Professional Fighters League CEO Peter Murray insists the promotion has plans for “tangible” expansion in China for their 2022 season.

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The US-based organisation this month added former NBA China CEO Derek Chang to their board of directors, and is looking to seal revamped Chinese digital and broadcast coverage next year. Chang left his position with the NBA in May 2020, after nearly two years in the post.

“We’re very excited Derek Is joining the PFL board,” Murray told the South China Morning Post. “He’s a very exciting media and technology executive with a history in sports.

“He’s very innovative, and from an international perspective we’ll partner with Derek. He’ll play a role in helping us to plan our international growth strategy, including in Asia and China, and many other markets.

China has become a battleground for MMA promotions, with the UFC taking a strong foothold following the construction of its US$13 million state-of-the-art Shanghai Performance Institute, and the signing of a lucrative Chinese distribution deal with China Mobile subsidiary Migu.
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Asia-based ONE Championship also still has designs on conquering the market, but no promotion has been able to hold any events on the mainland since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

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