While there have been reports that PFL has done pretty well in 2024, generating over $100 million in revenue, there have also been reports of some stagnation in the UFC’s rival promotion. Some fighters from that promotion have come out to speak against the PFL, claiming that their careers have been put on hold. While some have left the promotion, some are desperately requesting the release. While these problems have popped up for the PFL, veteran referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy appears to have a solution, and that involves Dana White.

McCarthy believes that the PFL needs to make an important move to help the fighters who are finding it hard to get a fight. To do that, he suggests the promotion should get into some talks for potential trading options with their premiere rival, the UFC. “I think it would be intelligent for the PFL to talk with the UFC and you have fighters that you really not using because you don’t have those weight classes,” McCarthy stated during a recent edition of the ‘Weighing In’ podcast. “Let’s get some trades going between the PFL and the UFC.”

But is there anything for the UFC to gain from this? Well, McCarthy believes that the PFL has some credible high-level fighters, who would transition perfectly into Dana White’s organization. Moreover, the trade will help the PFL more because the UFC has shown its knack for trading great fighters. For example, the promotion famously traded Demetrious Johnson back in 2018, who’d go on to headline many events for ONE Championship in return for Ben Askren.

“I think we could get some really good trades where the PFL would be giving up great fighters. I’m not saying they’re not, but the UFC showed that they’re willing to give up great fighters when they traded Demetrious Johnson to ONE for Ben Askren,” John McCarthy added. “It’s not like the UFC is sitting there saying, ‘No, we’ll take all the good fighters and give you crap. I think they would actually give fighters over to the PFL.”

As we’ve already mentioned, Bellator fighters including belt holders are finding it hard to land fights after the PFL acquired the promotion and are trying to get out of their contracts. But Dana White isn’t surprised that things have gone haywire for the UFC’s rival.

Dana White isn’t surprised with the PFL’s current situation

Popular fighters like Patricio Pitbull and Patchy Mix have all come out to express concern about their current state in the PFL. It appears that Dana White is quite aware of the PFLs’ woes and recently mentioned having been in conversation with his team about their rival’s situation. While claiming that the New York-based promotion has called off many events, the UFC CEO revealed that his rival is in dire financial problems.

“The last couple of months we’ve been talking a lot about PFL. They’re canceling a lot of shows. I know a lot of guys that are supposed to fight aren’t fighting. You guys know what the f—k is going on,” Dana White stated during the UFC 310 post-fight presser. “When you see that start to happen, you’re running out of money, things aren’t looking good, and you’re going to have people that want to jump ship.”

The head honcho had previously refused to work with the PFL when they offered to cross-promote an event. Hence, it remains to be seen if the PFL decides to make a similar move to that of ONE Championship more than six years ago and gets the green light from the UFC CEO. But in the meantime, let us know your thoughts in the comments down below.

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