A new mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, Global Fight League (GFL), is preparing to kick off its 2025 season (full draft results here). While dates and venues have yet to be confirmed, these significant details should be shared soon (due to pressing circumstances).
As this emerging league navigates challenges related to regulatory bodies, the lack of an event date hasn’t hindered the promotion’s ability to announce matchups, both confirmed and speculative, for its inaugural events.
Here’s a summary of the fights announced by GFL:
Tony Ferguson vs. Dillon Danis (now the main event of GFL 2)
Tony Ferguson will face Dillon Danis in his first bout outside the UFC in 15 years.
Ferguson (25-11) is currently on an eight-fight losing streak, with five finishes among those losses. His last victory was over Donald Cerrone back in 2019.
Danis (2-0) hasn’t fought in MMA since 2019, when he submitted Max Humphrey at Bellator 222, prior to “retiring” in 2023. He had a brief foray into boxing which resulted in a disqualification in a match against Logan Paul.
Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold 2
At UFC 194, Luke Rockhold defeated Chris Weidman via TKO, claiming the UFC Middleweight title. Weidman has been pursuing a rematch ever since.
After his recent setbacks, UFC president Dana White encouraged Weidman (16-8) to retire following a loss at UFC 310, leading to his exit from the organization just days later. He quickly signed with GFL.
Urijah Faber vs. Renan Barao 3 (now the main event of GFL 1)
Faber faced Barao for the vacant Bantamweight Championship at UFC 149, where Barao won by unanimous decision. They met again at UFC 169, resulting in Barao stopping Faber.
Faber (35-11) hasn’t fought since his knockout loss to Petr Yan at UFC 245 in 2019, although he has remained active in other forms of competition.
Stay tuned for more GFL matchups as they are released, and keep an eye on MMAMania.com.
