India could soon be playing host to several international MMA (mixed martial arts) tournaments. According to the Professional Fighters League (PFL), one of the major MMA franchises based in the USA, not only are they looking at the possibility of holding such events in India, but they are also keen on signing Indian MMA fighters.
The promotion, which runs a season based league, has featured several elite fighters including current UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, who competed in the leagues' previous avatar of the Worlds Series of fighting. So far the PFL has focused efforts solely in the USA, but senior officials in the organization are now looking to grow their franchises in India, too.
"We are focusing outside the USA and focusing on India," PFL's CEO Peter Murray told ESPN. "We are having conversations to stage events in India starting as early as 2021. Certainly we will want to have our feet on the ground for events in 2022."
Ray Sefo, the league's president and head of fighter operations, also suggested that the franchise was looking at securing Indian talent.
"India is a very desirable location for the PFL as we look to expand our reach," he said. "We have fighters from 25 countries across the globe and continue to look for the best talent we can find in regions we have not tapped to date.
"We have scouted some Indian fighters including Kantharaj Agasa (11-2) and Sumeet Khade (10-4) and would welcome the opportunity to bring in any qualified fighter to the PFL."
According to Murray, "conversations" are already underway to bring the best Indian talents into the PFL fold.
"We see the opportunity for athletes in India to further develop and compete at the highest level fighting with the PFL. We are having conversations to develop athletes at the grassroots level in India. We certainly have a platform for India's top athletes to come into the league," Murray said..
For fighters in India, the opportunity to compete in either the PFL or - as is more likely - some sort of qualifier series, would be a massive platform, considering the league has several high profile players on their roster including former UFC title challenger Rory MacDonald, Mohamed Usman, brother of UFC welterweight champion Kamaru, alongside two-time Olympic judo champion Kayla Harrison.
"The biggest issue we have in India is the lack of opportunities to show what we are capable of," Agasa said. "If the PFL does sign Indian players, it would be great chance for them to get some sort of visibility. It would raise the profile of our sport significantly."
While MMA is still early in its development in India, Murray believes there are indeed regions of talent that could be tapped.
"To develop any sport, it starts with the grassroots and athletes. Throughout India, there are many pockets which are engaged in the development of MMA. We are going to build the sport and be authentic to India, with local partners at the distribution level, grassroots level and at the event level."
Any indigenization in the PFL shows in India, though, will be preceded by the distribution of its existing league.
"Sports fans in India do not have access to quality premium MMA," Murray said. "We are going to open up that access. We have had direct conversations with fans. We have data that supports us committing to the Indian market. That's why we are introducing a free app on which viewers in India can watch all of our fights including archives.
"At this point, we are starting with distribution. That's what we are first focused on for the 2021 season. Following that, we will be sharing plans to expand the footprint in India with actual live events."