How the PFL managed to grow and improve during the COVID-19 pandemic

Despite the lack of live events and fresh ancillary content last year when the Professional Fighters League postponed its third season because of the coronavirus, the start-up mixed martial arts league made its share of headlines in 2020.

"We raised $70 million, which we announced in December, in the middle of the pandemic," PFL chief executive Peter Murray said. "We signed star athletes in the middle of a pandemic. We expanded our content, production capabilities and offerings for fans in the middle of a pandemic. We created new technology that will change the game and the experience for fans, which fans will get to see come April 23, in the middle of the pandemic. So yeah, it worked."

Season 3 kicks off Friday night at the Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City, where the PFL will host its entire regular season in a bubble-like atmosphere similar to what the NBA did in Orlando, Florida, last year. The prelims will stream on ESPN+, and the main card will air on ESPN2. Four of the six regular-season will take place on Thursday nights.

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