Carbazel on 𝕏
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Sep 26 • 1 min read
John Martin Rewriting the PFL Story
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Three months ago, the PFL named John Martin as the new CEO. He’s replacing Peter Murray, who — let's be honest, may as well not have been in the position. I’ve covered the PFL before their rebranding from the World Series of Fighting (WSOF). When they started their season format, Ray Sefo was the most present at events on fight night. I think I might have seen Murray once. So, when the news came of Martin stepping in, I saw it as a plus. He’s a martial artist himself, and he seems to enjoy the sport of MMA. The PFL has some very good fighters in it, but the people running the show don’t seem to be doing right by them. I think they are now realizing that the story needs to be rewritten, and Martin is the guy who can do that. This week, he posted some clarity and plans for what looks like the start of a new story for the PFL.
The PFL story started off well, then stopped during the pandemic, and when they started again, it got all convoluted. When they acquired Bellator, they had a chance to do something really great, and fumbled that, too. So, in 2026, I have hope for Martin taking the helm and writing the right story for the PFL. Storytelling is a craft, and it exists everywhere. It’s what gets us to tune into fights; you have a “good guy” and a “bad guy” in many matchups. It’s what makes pro-wrestling work, and it’s what draws in the most casual of fight fans. Martin’s announcements and presence this week is a great way to start a new story for the PFL, and I'm looking forward to it. And if you happen to like stories, my latest work of fiction just went live this week. You can pick it up here, or read it for free through Kindle Unlimited. For more on Martin and the announcements he made this week, check out the latest Coast-2-Coast Combat Hour. ➡Follow me on 𝕏: @Carbazel 📘 My book: Bow and Arrow Mysteries (my fiction writing) 📩 Mixed Martial Answers on Substack 📃 Fight Night Card Companion: on Gumroad 🎥 My YouTube channel: The Blogboard Jungle 📸 IG: @Carbeerzel |
I'm a writer and podcaster who writes a lot about combat sports, martial arts culture, and entertainment. Subscribe and join over 1,000+ newsletter readers every week!