Mazet will be based in Riyadh and joins PFL after leading commercial and marketing for Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena PFL MENA is set to launch in 2024 NEW YORK: The Professional Fighters League has announced Jerome Mazet as general manager of PFL MENA, which, when launched later in 2024, will become the preeminent mixed martial arts league in the Middle East. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Mazet will be based in Riyadh. His appointment follows a historic agreement with the Kingdom’s SRJ Sports Investments to accelerate PFL’s ascension in the Middle East and North Africa region and beyond, bringing more opportunities and experiences to PFL’s athletes and sports fans alike. Leading a transformative period of growth for the sport as it creates the “Champions League of MMA,” PFL MENA is the brand’s second international expansion league outside of the US. The model will provide top fighters from across the MENA region with the opportunity to earn their way to the Global Regular Season. The successful launch of PFL Europe in 2023 captured the attention of the European sports landscape and showcased the rise of the next wave of MMA superstars, including PFL Europe Champion Dakota Ditcheva. Mazet joins PFL from the Etihad Arena, one of the Middle East’s premier entertainment venues, where he led commercial and marketing operations and negotiated all partnership agreements. Previously, he served as head of sponsorship for Flash Entertainment, leading efforts around the FIFA Club World Cup and AFC Asian Cup. Mazet also served as global marketing director for Trina Solar, a Fortune Fast 100 company, and founded Mandaray, a sports and entertainment agency in China. He holds an MBA from Boston College and a master’s degree in marketing from Kedge Business School. “There is an incredible demand for a premium MMA product in the Middle East and PFL MENA will become a game-changer for fighters, fans and partners across the region,” Mazet said. “I’m excited to be joining the industry co-leader as we work to revolutionize and professionalize the sport across the globe.” “We welcome Jerome Mazet as general manager of PFL MENA as we prepare to launch our second international expansion league in 2024,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “The Middle East is now the fight capital of the world and we’re excited about the opportunity to lead the professionalization of the sport of MMA across the region.” PFL is the only organization in MMA with a sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship each year. The combined roster of PFL and Bellator boasts 30 percent of its fighters independently world-ranked in the top 25 of their respective weight class, the same percentage as rival Ultimate Fighting Championship. PFL leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage, powering fight analytics, real-time betting, artificial intelligence scoring, and a next-generation viewing experience. PFL is primetime on ESPN/ESPN+ in the US and is broadcast and streamed in 150 countries with 20 premium media distribution partners. SRJ Sports Investments’ interest in PFL was driven by the strategic importance of MMA in growing markets. The incoming PFL MENA League remains at the forefront of this, with major events being brought to Saudi Arabia and the wider region as part of the investment agreement.