Donn Davis parts ways with PFL, continuing exodus of senior promotional officials

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Donn Davis is the latest senior PFL executive to part ways with the company. The former chairman and founder of the MMA promotion announced his stunning departure Wednesday, just days after longtime PFL president Ray Sefo and PFL CEO Peter Murray also left the organization.

Davis' full statement can be read below:

“From the moment I founded Professional Fighters League eight years ago, it has been my life. My vision was to create an innovative and premium MMA company as the valuable alternative for those that want or need it. We started with nothing — except universal skepticism. Against all odds, we succeeded. 

"Now PFL is the clear No. 2 MMA company worldwide and the only other premium product.

“Today I’m stepping down as chairman of PFL. I care deeply about each employee, value highly every investor, respect greatly our fighters, and appreciate sincerely all our fans who supported this company — I gave you everything I’ve got.

"PFL Global footprint, valuable assets, and market position has never before been achieved in MMA outside of. UFC. I'm confident this foundation should lead to great future success.

“PFL changed the great sport of MMA for the better — meaningful innovations, unique global expansions, fighter empowerment — and the company is just getting started. I’ve loved fighting to build PFL. What do you fight for?”

The exits of Davis, Sefo and Murray come at the onset of a pivotal crossroads year for the PFL, as the promotion's much-ballyhooed broadcast deal with ESPN is expected to expire at the end of 2026.

Former Time Warner executive John Martin recently joined PFL as its new Chief Executive Officer in late 2025 as the company instituted a slew of sweeping changes to its competitive format and branding.

In a perhaps related move, PFL on Wednesday also announced its latest round of successful funding which "strengthens the organization's financial position and ownership structure" for 2026.

Per a press release:

"The newly raised capital will be used to retire existing debt and fund ongoing growth and operations, providing PFL with enhanced balance sheet strength and increased operational flexibility. As part of the transaction, certain affiliates of Knighthead Capital Management, LLC (“Knighthead”) and 885 Capital have expanded their ownership stakes, reinforcing long-term support of PFL’s global strategy, premium live-event model, and international expansion."

In the same press release, the promotion announced it has "established a new nine-member Board of Directors, who will oversee the organization's strategic direction as it enters its next phrase of growth and product evolution."

PFL's schedule is expected to kick off on Feb. 7 with a Dubai event headlined by lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov defending his belt against 2025 lightweight tournament winner Alfie Davis.