The Global Fight League (GFL) was supposed to launch in May 2025, offering a new chance for fighters outside the UFC. But the sudden cancellation of the promotion shocked the MMA community. One of the most vocal critics of the situation is UFC veteran Matt Brown, who didn’t hold back in calling the failed launch a “s**t show.”
Matt Brown Slams GFL Following Tony Ferguson’s Preparation
Many people in the combat sports world are questioning whether GFL is just a facade dressed up as a fight promotion. The company’s debut events, originally scheduled for May 25 and May 26, have now been postponed indefinitely. Though there was hope of rescheduling for June, it’s now officially canceled.
UFC veteran Matt Brown didn’t hold back his criticism in this chaotic moment. He expressed his anger over the organization’s failure, calling it a mess. He said, “What a s— show. It s—s because we do need more promotions out there, I think. I think there needs to be more competition out there. There needs to be someone to step up, but it’s just a tough f—— business model… It does not look good on any front. I don’t know how they get investors to do this.”
This news hit hard, especially for fighters who were training for a chance to prove themselves. One of them was Tony Ferguson, who had been preparing for a fight against Dillon Danis.
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Despite the setback, Ferguson stayed focused on his training. Recently, he shared a video on Instagram showing that he is still ready to fight, no matter the promotion’s struggles. Ferguson clarified that if needed, he would wait for the fight to happen under another promotion.
Why Did GFL Collapse?
The cancellation reportedly stemmed from financial issues, with GFL’s primary investor failing to fulfill obligations in April. This forced the company to delay its events, which were supposed to take place on May 25 and 26. As a result, fighters were left unsure about what comes next.
Darren Owen, the founder of GFL, assured that they are working on a solution and aim to relaunch in June. However, due to uncertainty around fixing the issue, they’ve allowed fighters to leave if they choose.
It is possible GFL could still have an event, but honestly, that would be shocking to me at this point. To me, the GFL is a story that has come and gone.
There’s a greater story here – the state of the MMA business.
PFL isn’t paying as much as they once did. The Bellator No.2… pic.twitter.com/qn6VsJiy6N
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 10, 2025
This led Paige Van Zant and former BKFC champion Alan Belcher to become free agents after the promotion’s collapse. Meanwhile, something shocking and humorous happened between fans and Tony Ferguson’s opponent, Dillon Danis.
It was the promotion facing problems in making their fight official due to cash issues. But MMA fans initially thought Dillon Danis was intentionally causing the delays. Later, the misunderstanding was cleared up between the two parties.
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