Mixed martial arts promotion Professional Fighters League (PFL) is looking to start up a series of tournaments at different weight classes throughout the year. The winner of each tournament is reportedly set to receive $1 million.
Former Strikeforce champion Jake Shields is set to compete in the promotion’s welterweight tournament and has come forward with his thoughts on the PFL.
Speaking on The MMA Hour, Shields decided to break his opinion.
“We just had some meetings last week. The show seems, they treated us really good and seemed enthusiastic. It’s most of the same people from the World Series of Fighting. They definitely rebranded, have more money, they’re pushing it a lot more. They have $15 million in payoffs, that’s not bad. Especially since a lot of these are guys weren’t getting paid good. It’s exciting to have a new show that has some serious money.”
“I think there’s legitimate big-money backers. They’ve got $30 million in the first season with production, advertising, fighters’ pay, and I’m pretty sure they’re already planning out the second season. Regardless of if the first first season does good or not, they’re already planning the second season. … They’re throwing money around at this point.”
“I probably thought I was going to retire at 35, but, originally when I started, I didn’t really know, I didn’t think I was going to make a career out of it, but it’s turned into a career,” Shields said. “At this point I take it one fight at a time, my body feels good, I still enjoy the sport, I just took a year off and got to do some grappling. So at this point I’m just trying to get through the tournament. … If I win the tournament, it might be a good time to step away and call it, but I’m still not going to make any promises, because you know how that goes as well.”
