PFL president Ray Sefo has said the organisation are still in discussions to add new divisions to the current roster.
Sefo, a former kickboxer, joined the MMA promotion as president after the acquisition and restructuring of World Series of Fighting. The New Zealander has helped grow the promotion to what it is today, having six divisions that are contested in a seasonal and points-based format.
Currently, the seasonal divisions in play are both men’s and women’s featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight. However, with the addition of bantamweight Khai Wu amongst others, talk has been re-ignited of the addition of new divisions.
Sefo discussed the organisation’s talks to add 135 lb and 185 lb divisions.
He said: “It’s been a discussion now for about a year-and-a-half and so that all depends on how these other things unfold. There’s a few things in the works.
“No decision has been made yet but yeah, absolutely we’re looking at that kinda thing, that kinda add. Like I said, there’s a few things that still need to be sorted and then we’ll make decisions moving forward from there.”
Sefo on Looking Forward to the PFL 2023 Championships
The PFL 2023 World Championship event, nicknamed ‘MMA’s richest night’ takes place in Washington D.C. on Friday, 24 November. With six title fights and a one million prize for each winner, the card looks set to be a showcase of the highest level in MMA.
Aside from the championship fights, Kayla Harrison returns to take on Julia Budd for the second time. Meanwhile, Biaggio Ali Walsh, grandson of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, opens the card in his fourth amateur bout of the year.
Sefo spoke of his excitement for the card, and which fights in particular he is looking forward to.
He said: “To be honest, I’m looking forward to all the fights! The Clay Collard fight, which is the main event, with OAM (Olivier Aubin-Mercier) – that’s gonna be an interesting fight. Clay being a machine, OAM being a machine, it’s Clay’s first time being in the championship, and he’s fighting the champion! That’s gonna be a really interesting one.
“Sadibou Sy and Maga (Magomed Magomedkerimov): obviously the first time they met, Maga won that but Sadibou Sy is a different fighter today than he was two years ago! Some of the best wrestlers can’t even take him down.
“But every fight is really interesting because there’s also Impa [Kasanganay] and Josh Silveira, that’s gonna be an interesting fight too. So, I’m looking forward to every fight but every fight brings an element of entertainment, and exciting, and also that kinda ‘not sure’ aspect of it.”
Ray Sefo Full Exclusive Interview
You can watch the full in-person interview with Sefo below:
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