Urijah Faber Unpacks the Financial Illusion Behind the Global Fight League's Abrupt Demise

The ambitious launch of the Global Fight League (GFL), an enterprise that promised to redefine mixed martial arts with a team-based format and unprecedented fighter compensation, crumbled before its inaugural event, leaving a trail of unanswered questions and disillusioned athletes. Among the prominent figures entangled in the venture was former UFC bantamweight champion Urijah Faber, who recently offered an insider’s perspective on the GFL’s spectacular collapse, detailing the financial maneuvers that initially lent the seemingly improbable promotion a veneer of credibility.

In 2024, entrepreneur Darren Owen unveiled the GFL with a bold vision: to establish a new combat sports league that would not only rival the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) but also significantly elevate fighter pay and introduce an innovative team structure. Owen’s pitch resonated with a roster of illustrious veterans, many of whom were household names to fight fans globally. The announced lineup included an array of former champions and top contenders such as Tyron Woodley, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Fabricio Werdum, Chris Weidman, and Holly Holm. Faber, a perennial fan favorite and pioneer of the lighter weight classes, also signed on to compete in the league, which was slated to hold its debut events in May in Los Angeles, California.

However, the GFL’s promise proved ephemeral. By April of the same year, just weeks before its scheduled premiere, the league officially announced the cancellation of its events. The announcement provided no clear explanation for the abrupt halt, nor did it offer a timeline for a potential relaunch. Public communication from the GFL largely ceased, with the only subsequent update being a cryptic message posted on the league’s Instagram account in October 2024, which offered no substantive details regarding its future or the reasons behind its initial failure. The lack of transparency fueled widespread speculation across the MMA community regarding the underlying issues that led to the promotion’s downfall.

Faber, speaking on the premiere episode of Dominick Cruz’s "Love & War" podcast, recounted his experience with the GFL, shedding light on how the promotion managed to attract high-profile talent despite initial reservations from seasoned professionals. "Without putting personal business out there too much, they were offering a ton of money," Faber stated, highlighting the financial allure that initially captured the attention of many fighters. He detailed a meeting at his home with Darren Owen and an individual he knew from the West Coast Fighting Championship, where the GFL concept was explained.

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Faber’s initial assessment was one of skepticism mixed with a degree of intrigue. "I was just thinking, first off, this doesn’t make much sense. Parts of it made sense, but what he was offering and everything else didn’t make sense," he explained. He characterized Owen as having an "earnest idea, a bit delusional," acknowledging "some pieces that weren’t making sense." Despite these red flags, a crucial piece of evidence shifted Faber’s perspective. His manager reportedly saw Owen’s checking account, which displayed a balance of $30 million. "That was the only reason I agreed to it," Faber confessed. "I was like, ‘OK, this guy’s real and he can write these big checks.’"

The perceived financial solvency was further reinforced by the experiences of other fighters. Faber mentioned speaking with Anthony Pettis and Paige VanZant, both of whom had reportedly received "pre-checks" from Owen. "Pettis was the one that’s like, ‘Bro, I’m going to tell you this GFL thing,’" Faber recalled, indicating that early payments to other athletes helped legitimize the promotion in the eyes of potential signees. This tactic of making advance payments or showcasing significant, albeit temporary, financial holdings is a common strategy employed by nascent ventures seeking to establish credibility within competitive industries.

Despite the apparent financial backing, Faber approached the GFL engagement with characteristic prudence. He took the additional step of contacting UFC CEO Dana White to seek his blessing for signing with the GFL, specifically for a proposed rematch against his one-time opponent, Renan Barao. While Faber believed he was contractually free from any obligations to the UFC, the promotion where he had competed from 2011 to 2019, he deemed it essential to keep White informed. This move underscored the unique power dynamics within the MMA landscape, where the UFC maintains a significant influence over its former athletes and the broader ecosystem of the sport. The careful consideration of his relationship with the dominant promotion ultimately proved to be a judicious decision, insulating Faber from deeper entanglement in the GFL’s eventual unraveling.

The façade of financial stability, however, began to crack. Faber soon discovered that the substantial funds his manager had observed in Owen’s bank account were not a permanent fixture. "The chinks in the armor started showing up," Faber stated. He learned that "the money in the bank was just a snapshot of money he had briefly and then had to give it back and all this kind of stuff." This revelation points to a sophisticated financial maneuver, where a large sum of money was potentially held in an account for a brief period—perhaps a few hours or days—solely for the purpose of being displayed as proof of funds, only to be withdrawn or transferred shortly thereafter. Such tactics, if proven, constitute a form of financial misrepresentation, designed to deceive potential partners and investors about the true financial health of a venture.

Recognizing the deteriorating situation, Faber demonstrated foresight. The GFL had requested that fighters complete their medical examinations in advance of the planned events. "They had asked me to do some things ahead of time, get my medicals and stuff, and I had already saw the writing on the wall," Faber explained. Acting on his intuition, he instructed his management, "Don’t get the medicals. This thing is going to fall apart." His premonition proved accurate, as the league indeed collapsed shortly thereafter, leaving many fighters in limbo and without the promised compensation.

Owen’s ambitions for the GFL extended beyond merely creating another MMA promotion; he aimed to provide a genuine, viable alternative to the UFC, which has solidified its dominance over the mixed martial arts industry in recent years. The GFL sought to differentiate itself by combining the allure of proven veteran fighters with a novel team-based league structure, hoping to capture the imagination of both fans and potential investors. This approach was designed to tap into the traditional sports market, where team franchises often command significant value and fan loyalty.

While Faber acknowledged Owen’s underlying intentions, he expressed a pragmatic view on the competitive landscape. "On the point of the GFL saying, ‘Well, this is what’s wrong with the UFC and everything else,’ I’m like, everything’s separate for me," Faber articulated. He conveyed a sense of gratitude for his career within the established system and a clear understanding of the UFC’s formidable position. "They run the way they’re going do it and have their success and I feel like the owner of the GFL was kind of to that note, but for me, I have a lot of gratitude and I feel like this sport is growing and we’re positioned the way we are because of black belts in business having the money. That was it."

Faber’s comments underscore a critical reality in the sports entertainment industry: sustained success often hinges not just on innovative ideas or passionate vision, but on robust financial backing and astute business acumen. The GFL’s failure, despite its initial promise and the attraction of high-caliber talent, serves as a cautionary tale for new ventures attempting to challenge well-entrenched, financially powerful entities like the UFC. The incident highlights the inherent risks for athletes who commit to unproven promotions, even when presented with what appears to be undeniable evidence of financial stability. As the MMA world continues to evolve, the GFL debacle will likely be remembered as a stark example of how grand ambitions can be undermined by fundamental financial irregularities, leaving an indelible mark on the careers of those who were almost, but not quite, part of its ill-fated launch.