The Global Fight League is kicking things off with a bang.
The new promotion’s first two events are scheduled to take place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on May 24 and 25. The events will feature six former UFC champions in action and countless veterans who have had distinguished careers with MMA’s No. 1 promotion.
Here is a look at the list of fights on tap, the matchups, ages and the result of each fighter’s last MMA bout along with more on the time and date of the events.
- Los Angeles vs. São Paulo (Bantamweight) – Urijah Faber vs. Renan Barão
- Urijah Faber – Age: 45
Last Bout: Lost via KO to Petr Yan in 2019
Renan Barão – Age: 38
Last Bout: Lost to Walter Zamora via split decision in October 2023 (Fera Championship)
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Los Angeles vs. São Paulo (Featherweight) – Chad Mendes vs. Maike Linhares
Chad Mendes – Age: 39
Last Bout: Lost to Alexander Volkanovski via TKO in December 2018 (UFC 232)
Maike Linhares – Age: 31
Last Bout: Defeated Antônio da Silva via TKO in 2024 (Palmas Fight Championship)
- New York vs. London (Lightweight) – Anthony Pettis vs. Benson Henderson
- Anthony Pettis – Age: 38
Last Bout: Lost to Stevie Ray via unanimous decision in 2022 (PFL 7)
Benson Henderson – Age: 41
Last Bout: Lost to Usman Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision in September 2023 (Bellator 292)
- New York vs. London (Women’s Bantamweight) – Holly Holm vs. Julia Budd
- Holly Holm – Age: 43
Last Bout: Lost to Kayla Harrison via submission in 2024 (UFC 300)
Julia Budd – Age: 41
Last Bout: Defeated Martina Jindrová via unanimous decision in 2023 (PFL 5)
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Miami vs. Dubai (Bantamweight) – Marlon Moraes vs. Ray Borg
Marlon Moraes – Age: 36
Last Bout: Lost to Gabriel Braga via KO in 2023 (PFL 4)
Ray Borg – Age: 31
Last Bout: Defeated Ricky Bandejas via unanimous decision in 2022 (Eagle FC 47)
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Miami vs. Dubai (Women’s Bantamweight) – Alexa Conners vs. Cat Zingano
Alexa Conners – Age: 34
Last Bout: Lost to Danielle Wynn via TKO in 2024 (Conflict MMA)
Cat Zingano – Age: 42
Last Bout: Lost via TKO in 2023 (Bellator 300)
- Los Angeles vs. New York (Lightweight) – Tony Ferguson vs. Dillon Danis
- Tony Ferguson – Age: 41
Last Bout: Lost to Michael Chiesa via submission in August 2024 (UFC Fight Night)
Dillon Danis – Age: 31
Last Bout: Defeated Max Humphrey via submission in 2019 (Bellator 222)
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Los Angeles vs. São Paulo (Middleweight) – Uriah Hall vs. Douglas Lima
Uriah Hall – Age: 40
Last Bout: Lost to André Muniz via unanimous decision in 2022 (UFC 276)
Douglas Lima – Age: 37
Last Bout: Lost to Aaron Jeffery via unanimous decision in 2024 (Bellator Champions Series)
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Los Angeles vs. São Paulo (Strawweight) – Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Viviane Pereira
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane – Age: 34
Last Bout: Lost to Liz Carmouche via TKO (retirement) in 2023 (Bellator 300)
Viviane Pereira – Age: 30
Last Bout: Lost to Rayla Nascimento in 2024 (XFC 41)
- New York vs. London (Light Heavyweight) – Alexander Gustafsson vs. Ovince Saint Preux
- Alexander Gustafsson – Age: 38
Last Bout: Lost to Nikita Krylov via KO in 2022 (UFC London)
Ovince Saint Preux – Age: 41
Last Bout: Lost to Ryan Spann via KO in 2024 (UFC 307)
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New York vs. London (Heavyweight) – Alan Belcher vs. Stuart Austin
Alan Belcher – Age: 40
Last Bout (Bare Knuckle MMA): Lost to Junior dos Santos via TKO in 2024 (Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA)
Stuart Austin – Age: 35
Last Bout: Defeated Adam Palasz via submission in 2024 (OKTAGON 52)
- Miami vs. Dubai (Women’s Strawweight) – Paige VanZant vs. Randi Field
- Paige VanZant – Age: 30
Last Bout (MMA): Lost to Amanda Ribas via unanimous decision in 2020 (UFC 251)
Randi Field – Age: 34
Last Bout: Lost to Kyna Sisson via KO in 2024 (WXC)
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Miami vs. Dubai (Lightweight) – Louis Glismann vs. Abu Nurmagomedov
Louis Glismann – Age: 34
Last Bout: Defeated Lukasz Siwiec via unanimous decision in 2024 (OKTAGON 57)
Abu Nurmagomedov – Age: 35
Last Bout: Lost to Elizeu Zaleski via split decision in 2023 (UFC Fight Night)
While the promotion has been criticized for its roster stacked with aging veterans who have mostly been pushed out of the UFC after long losing streaks, it’s hard to undersell the double-take appeal of these two cards.
Though many of the fighters are aging veterans, names like Faber, Ferguson, Gustafsson, VanZant, Holm, Budd, Zingano, Mendes, Barão, Pettis, and Henderson still turn our heads.
The viewing information still hasn’t been shared, but it seems safe to assume there will be a decent number of finishes that come from these two events.
However, that doesn’t mean that we will see high-level performances. The hope for the GFL and fans is that we will get an opportunity to see the vets show their skill, but against competition that is on par with their current level of athleticism.