(This story was updated to include new information.)
Global Fight League has canceled its first pair of scheduled events.
GFL was set to officially launch its inaugural fight events on May 24 and May 25 at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. California State Athletic Commission executive director Andy Foster confirmed with MMA Junkie the events have been canceled.
The news was first reported by Fight Oracle on X. Combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani reported the promotion’s future as a whole is uncertain.
CSAC head Andy Foster confirmed to me that the Global Fight League (GFL) two-night doubleheader debut events on May 24 and 25 in Los Angeles have indeed been canceled, following an X post by @FightOracle.
Additional sources close to fighters say they are being told the events have…
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) April 10, 2025
GFL founder Darren Owen explained a financial obligation was not met by one of the promotion’s main investors and hopes to hold the first events in June, he told MMA Junkie via email Thursday.
“Our primary investor didn’t fulfill his April obligation which has caused some issues however we have a solution in place,” Owen said. “We are likely going to have to launch in June but 100% moving forward.”
GFL slated 30 fights across its inaugural two-day extravaganza, evenly split between the pair of fight cards.
The event on May 24 slated matchups such as Urijah Faber vs. Renan Barao, Anthony Pettis vs. Benson Henderson, Holly Holm vs. Julia Budd. The event on May 25 was to feature matchups including Tony Ferguson vs. Dillon Danis, Ovince Saint Preux vs. Alexander Gustafsson, Uriah Hall vs. Douglas Lima, and Paige VanZant vs. Randi Field.
GFL touted a team-based format and held its first-ever draft in January, placing its UFC-veteran-heavy roster on squads representing Dubai, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Sao Paulo.
