The Professional Fighters League might be the first to pull off a million-dollar MMA tournament, but it’s Ray Sefo’s second try. Before a group of investors acquired the World Series of Fighting in mid-2017 and rebranded it as the PFL, Sefo, a retired fighter turned executive, was working behind the scenes with the promotion’s original backers, trying to get a tournament off the ground. WSOF’s entry into the world of major promotions originally was conceived as a bold shot across the bow, with six-figure payouts awaiting tournament winners across multiple divisions. But unfortunately for Sefo and co., the reality of funding such an undertaking proved to be a barrier to entry.
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PFL President Ray Sefo opens up on second try at tournament format – MMA Junkie