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Tyron Woodley First of 120 Elite MMA Athletes Selected in Inaugural Global Fight League Draft |
Four-Time World Champion Selected First by Dubai; All Six Cities Finalize Initial Athlete Picks Ahead of April Kickoff
Former welterweight world champion Tyron Woodley made history tonight as the first overall pick in the inaugural Global Fight League (GFL) Draft. The virtual event, held at Van Wagner Studios in Phoenix, saw six city-based teams build their rosters ahead of the league’s April 2025 launch.
Woodley was the top selection for Team Dubai, chosen by manager Cain Velasquez and head coach Javier Mendez. Following him in the first round were notable fighters: lightweight Sage Northcutt (Team Los Angeles), middleweight Gegard Mousasi (Team London), heavyweight Junior Dos Santos (Team Miami), heavyweight Fabricio Werdum (Team São Paulo), and lightweight Kevin Lee (Team New York).
In a historic moment, London selected strawweight standout Josefine Knutsson in the third round, making her the first woman drafted in the co-ed league. Knutsson was one of five female athletes chosen in the first four rounds, underscoring the league’s commitment to gender inclusivity in MMA.
The three-hour, livestreamed draft completed the initial rosters for all six teams: Dubai, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and São Paulo. Fans can now look forward to an action-packed debut season as the league kicks off in April.
The complete draft list per round and by weight class can be seen here
About the Global Fight League
Launching in April 2025, the Global Fight League (GFL) aims to revolutionize the landscape of Mixed Martial Arts by introducing a team-based format. The league emphasizes athlete partnership with a groundbreaking 50% revenue-sharing model. Fighters compete as part of co-ed teams representing global cities, merging world-class competition with a fresh business model designed for the 21st century.
Stay tuned for more updates and announcements in the coming weeks as the GFL reshapes the future of combat sports.
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