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Global Fight League founder Darren Owen details Fall 2026 reboot after disastrous launch

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Global Fight League founder Darren Owen details Fall 2026 reboot after disastrous launch

Global Fight League founder Darren Owen is looking to make the most of a second chance to launch one of MMA's unique new promotions.

The Global Fight League was supposed to feature a slew of former UFC, Bellator, and PFL standouts in a two-night launch in April 2025. The GFL became the latest promotional addition to Mixed Martial Arts that planned to ‘fill the NFL void' last summer.

But just weeks before their scheduled debut events in California, the GFL cancelled their first slate of events, for what GFL founder Darren Owen revealed to be financial reasons. One of the GFL's main investors withdrew their funding for undisclosed reasons, which sent the new promotion into a tailspin before ever hosting an event.

Fast forward to Summer 2026, and Owen and the GFL are set for ‘Take 2' of their promotional launch later this year. As the GFL prepares to jump-start this Fall, Owen takes full responsibility for the GFL's disastrous start.

Darren Owen acknowledges ‘mistakes' made in Global Fight League's failed 2025 launch

In the latest episode of BetOnline‘s The Fight Guys podcast, Owen was pressed on what went wrong with the GFL's planned launch.

“It was literally just one investor. We had a commitment to a significant amount of money, they funded their initial amount, and I'll take the blame for not having either the knowledge or the right people surrounding me at the time to make sure the funds were secure long-term,†Owen said.

“Since then, I've learned from my mistakes, surrounded myself with more business-savvy individuals and people who have experience running major leagues. Shifted to a publicly traded entity now, which is a big difference in how we're structured now…it's given us a lot of flexibility and opportunity.

Marlon Moraes, others set to unretire and fight in GFL

Owen went on to reveal that the promotion is set to hold its debut event on October 17th in Las Vegas, Nevada. Former UFC bantamweight title challenger Marlon Moraes will also come out of retirement to fight at an upcoming GFL event.

Owen went on to differentiate the GFL from the Professional Fighters League's previous season format.

“Independent team owners will own and operate their teams, compete in the regular season, playoffs, and then crown a seasonal champion,†Owen revealed.

“After that first event, we have an international event in Buenos Aires, Argentina in November, and that'll be part of our launch. It'll get the economics in place to move forward…people say the IFL tried this before and it didn't work. And that's true! We have insights into why it didn't work back then, and we're also unique in the fact that we have men and women on the same team.

“We want to create our own lane, not pick fights with other promotions,†Owen continued. “The way our events are going to be run, our content, it's all going to be different.â€

More info on the GFL's inaugural event, including fight matchups and signings, is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Follow BetOnline's The Fight Guys podcast here

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM


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MMA

Jonah Hill said hed annihilate anyone; a retired UFC star answered

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Jonah Hill said he'd 'annihilate' anyone; a retired UFC star answered
Jonah Hill's comments about jiu-jitsu have drawn a reaction from
Cub
Swanson.

Hill, who trains jiu-jitsu, said that he would “annihilate†anyone
who challenges him. Swanson, who competed in the featherweight
division of the
Ultimate Fighting Championship for nearly 15 years, now wants
to test the Hollywood star's skills.

Cub Swanson had a playful response after Jonah Hill’s confident
Brazilian jiu-jitsu comments.

Hill's physical transformation has garnered much attention lately.
The actor was known for playing characters on the heavier side, but
his weight loss over the past few years hasn't gone unnoticed. He
recently revealed that jiu jitsu has played a major role in his
fitness journey and positively benefited his confidence as
well.

“I love Brazilian jiu-jitsu, except my body is begging me not to
love it,†Hill said during his appearance on SiriusXM's Smartless.
“My wife is often like, ‘You're not going to become a professional
fighter. You know that, right? You're a comedian.' My favorite
thing is people are like, ‘Oh, Jonah Hill, f*cking fat guy from
Superbad.' And I'm like, ‘I would f*cking annihilate you, dude. I'm
not kidding you. Try it. If you see me, try it, dude. Bring it.
Who's got it?'â€

Swanson, who retired following his victory over Nate
Landwehr at UFC 327 in April, then joked about testing Hill
himself.

“If I run into him again. I'm gonna try him,†Swanson commented on
X.


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MMA

Valter Walker explains why Derrick Lewis is his preferred UFC heavyweight opponent

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Valter Walker explains why Derrick Lewis is his preferred UFC heavyweight opponent
Valter
Walker has two names in mind for his next
Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight bout.

The Brazilian submission specialist is hoping to return to action
later this year and is eyeing former title challenger Derrick
Lewis and unbeaten rising contender Josh Hokit
as potential opponents, but prefers one over the other.

Valter Walker wants Derrick Lewis fight after five first-round
submissions

Walker, who has submitted his last five opponents in the first
round, is looking to return to the Octagon in October or November.
In a recent interview, “The Foot Hunter†revealed that he wants to
fight either Lewis or Hokit next.

“I want Derrick Lewis or Josh Hokit,†Walker told MMA Junkie. “I’ll
be ready to fight in October or November. I have in mind these two
guys: Derrick Lewis or Josh Hokit. This is who I want next.â€

Hokit and Lewis squared off at
UFC Freedom 250, where the former emerged victorious.
Nevertheless, Walker believes the latter is a bigger name and wants
to add the UFC knockout record-holder to his record.

“If I could pick, I would pick Derrick Lewis,†Walker added. “I
think for me it’s an interesting fight. He has a big name and a
more big name than Josh Hokit. I think Derrick Lewis has an
interesting name in the game. I watched him when I was young. He
has the record for knocking people out, and I try to make my name
in the game. I think this is a very interesting fight for me.â€

While he's made his preferred matchups clear, Walker remains open
to accepting whatever challenge the promotion offers him next.

“I'm a soldier for the UFC,†Walker concluded. “Whoever the UFC
gives me, I'm happy and I'll agree.â€

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MMA

Stamp Fairtex returns against Selina Flores at One Fight Night 47

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Stamp Fairtex returns against Selina Flores at One Fight Night 47
Stamp
Fairtex's next bout has been confirmed by One
Championship.

The former three-sport champion will return to action against
Selina Flores in a women's atomweight muay thai bout at
One Fight Night 47 on Sept. 4.

Stamp Fairtex eyes second muay thai win in 2026 at One Fight
Night 47

One Championship announced the matchup on social media, describing
it as a “pivotal†clash between two atomweight contenders.

This fight marks Stamp's third appearance in One Championship since
a two-year stint on the sidelines. She is widely regarded as one of
combat sport's most versatile fighters, winning titles in muay
thai, kickboxing and MMA.

Meanwhile, Flores represents a new challenge for the former
champion. The American enters the matchup looking to establish
herself among the division's top contenders with a win over one of
the promotion's most recognizable fighters.

Elsewhere on the card, Gilbert
Nakatani takes on Nazareth
Lalthazuala in strawweight MMA, Gabriela
Fujimoto squares off against Macarena
Aragon in women's atomweight MMA, Hector
Almonacid locks horns with Pedro
Dantas in featherweight MMA and Rafael
Lovato Jr. faces Pawel Jaworski in a middleweight submission
grappling match. More fights will be announced in the coming
weeks.

One Fight Night 47 takes place on Sept. 4 and will air live on
Prime Video for viewers in the United States and Canada.

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