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Where to Watch the Professional Fighters League (PFL)

Where to Watch the Professional Fighters League (PFL)

Imagine you are trying to figure out how to watch the Professional Fighters League (PFL), and it feels a little complicated. What do you do? One minute you think it is on one channel, the next it is on a different app, and then there is talk about international leagues. It can be a headache.

But here is the thing: the PFL is absolutely worth the effort. In fact, PFL founder Donn Davis has said the league is already pulling in 40% of the UFC’s viewership, which is wild and shows just how fast it is growing. For 2025, they have shaken things up, ditching the old season format for a single-elimination World Tournament. Win and you advance; lose and you are out. Plus, they are expanding globally with PFL Europe, MENA, and Africa, identifying new talent from around the world.

In this guide, NXTbets gives you up-to-date options on exactly where to watch every PFL punch, kick, and submission. We will cover live TV, streaming, what is free versus paid, and all the regional platforms. 

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Where to Watch Professional Fighters League Live in 2025

Finding the right channel or stream is the biggest hurdle, and it all depends on where you are in the world. Let’s break it down, region by region:

United States - TV & Streaming

For fans in the U.S., your default platform for watching the Professional Fighters League is ESPN. The main PFL World Tournament events are broadcast across ESPN’s platforms. Ideally, the main card will air live on a linear channel like ESPN or ESPN2, and it will also stream simultaneously on the ESPN+ app. 

The preliminary card, or prelims, is usually exclusive to ESPN+. So, if you want to see the whole event from the first fight to the last, an ESPN+ subscription should do it. Finding the event is easy – just open the ESPN app, tap on the “Browse” section, and you’ll see PFL listed under MMA. For those huge “Super Fight” cards, they sometimes use a pay-per-view (PPV) model, which you can also purchase through ESPN+.

United Kingdoms & Ireland

In the UK and Ireland, DAZN provides everything you need to watch the Professional Fighters League. DAZN broadcasts/streams the global PFL World Tournament events and is also the exclusive home for the PFL Europe series. You can watch everything live, and they have an on-demand library if you miss the action. 

Signing up is done on the DAZN website, and the app works on pretty much everything – Smart TVs, game consoles like PlayStation and Xbox, your phone, and even your Sky Q box.

Europe (non-UK/Ireland)

For the rest of Europe, DAZN is still the main player in many countries, including major markets like Spain and France. However, broadcast rights can get a little tricky from country to country. Some territories might have a local sports channel that has the rights instead. Your safest move is to head over to the PFL Europe website and check the specific “How to Watch” guide for the event you want to see. They will list the official broadcaster for your exact location.

Middle East & North Africa (MENA)

The Professional Fighters League has a dedicated league for the MENA region, and with it comes a specific set of broadcast partners. Just go to the official PFL MENA website and look for their “How to Watch” page. It will give you the most current list of broadcasters for each country in the region.

Sub-Saharan Africa

With the launch of PFL Africa, the league has locked in some major partners to cover the continent. Key broadcasters include Canal+ (especially for French-speaking countries), SuperSport, and SportyTV. For big events, like the Champions Series in Cape Town, the Professional Fighters League will put out a specific “How to Watch” announcement with all the local channels and streaming details you’ll need.

The Rest of the World

The Professional Fighters League has a global watch hub on its main website. It is a simple tool where you can select your country from a drop-down list, and it will show you the official platform to watch the fights. In some cases, for certain regions, you might even find that prelims or select events are streamed for free on PFL’s official YouTube channel.

Platform Breakdown – What Each Service Offers

Okay, so you know the name of the service you need. But what do you actually get for your money? Let’s look at the two main platforms:

ESPN & ESPN+ (U.S.)

In the U.S., ESPN+ is the PFL’s digital home. You get the live main cards and prelims for the entire PFL World Tournament, plus access to a library of past fights, highlights, and original shows.

The pricing has changed a bit recently. ESPN+ content is now part of two main plans: “ESPN Select” (around $11.99/month), which is just the ESPN+ content, and “ESPN Unlimited” (around $29.99/month), which includes all the regular ESPN channels too. For a lot of people, the Disney Bundle (which packages ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu) offers the best value for your buck. 

On the tech side, you can stream on up to three devices at once, and the app is available on everything from Roku and Fire TV to PlayStation and Xbox. And yes, full replays are available in the on-demand library shortly after the event ends.

DAZN (Europe/UK/IRE & select markets)

DAZN is the leading platform in Professional Fighters League coverage in the UK, Ireland, and much of Europe. It is your ticket to the PFL World Tournament and is the exclusive livestream option for PFL Europe. Their on-demand library is fantastic, with full event replays, fighter interviews, and special features available whenever you want to watch them.

DAZN’s subscription model is super flexible. You can get a “Monthly Flex” pass (around £24.99/month in the UK) if you just want to watch for a month or two, or you can sign up for an “Annual” contract (around £14.99/month) to save some cash in the long run. It works on all the usual devices, and you can typically watch on two devices at the same time, as long as they are connected to the same internet network.

PFL’s Official Watch Hubs & Event Posts

The Professional Fighters League’s website is the best source of information and resources regarding its league. Fight cards change, broadcast times shift, and sometimes partners are added at the last minute. The “How to Watch” post that PFL puts out for each event is your definitive guide, with direct links and up-to-the-minute information. 

Free vs. Paid – What You Actually Get

Let’s talk about the big question: can you watch the Professional Fighters League for free? The short answer is, sort of. But it is important to know what you are getting.

Free Options

You are not going to find a full, live PFL World Tournament main card streaming for free on a legal platform. It just doesn’t happen. However, there are some fantastic free resources. PFL’s YouTube channel is full of highlights, post-fight press conferences, full fight replays, and weigh-in shows.

But here is the distinguishing factor for U.S. fans: the official PFL App. It is the exclusive platform for watching the international leagues – PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and PFL Africa – live and completely free.

Paid Options

To watch the main PFL World Tournament live and in full, you’ll need a subscription to a partner service. That means ESPN+ in the United States or DAZN in the UK, Ireland, and much of Europe. The advantages are clear: you get reliable, high-definition (HD) streams, you get the entire card from the first prelim to the main event, and you get professional commentary. And let’s be honest, you don’t have to worry about sketchy websites, endless pop-up ads, or your stream dying right in the middle of the final round.

Picking the Best Value

So what is the right choice for you? It really comes down to a few things. First, your region dictates your primary option. After that, think about what you care about most. If you are a die-hard fan who needs to see every World Tournament fight live, a paid subscription is a must. If you are more interested in the up-and-coming talent in the international leagues and you are in the U.S., the free PFL App is perfect.

Where to Watch International Leagues

The Professional Fighters League’s global expansion is one of its most exciting features, but it adds another layer to the viewing experience. Here is how to track down the international action:

PFL Europe

In its home territory, PFL Europe is broadcast primarily on DAZN. This includes the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, and other key markets. For fans in the United States, all PFL Europe events stream live and for free exclusively on the PFL App.

PFL MENA

For viewers within the Middle East and North Africa, the best way to find your local broadcaster is to visit the PFL MENA “How to Watch” page on their official website. They list all their partners by country, which can include services like DAZN or StarzPlay, and will specify which language feeds are available. And for fans in the U.S.? You guessed it: live and free on the PFL App.

PFL Africa

In Africa, the events are carried by a strong lineup of regional partners, including Canal+, SuperSport, and SportyTV, ensuring wide coverage across the continent. For those in the United States wanting to watch the rise of African MMA talent, the PFL App is once again your free ticket to the live fights.

Devices & Apps

You can stream the Professional Fighters League on these devices:

Mobile & Tablet

The ESPN and DAZN apps are your best friends here. A couple of pro-tips for a smooth fight night: make sure your app is updated before the event starts, log in ahead of time to make sure your password works, and enable push notifications. The app will often send you an alert right when the main card is about to begin, so you don’t miss the walkouts.

Big-Screen Setup

Nothing beats watching fights on a big screen. You can use the native ESPN or DAZN apps on most Smart TVs, or use a streaming device like a Roku, Amazon Fire TV stick, or Apple TV. Gaming consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S also have the apps available. For the best quality, a stable internet connection is important. You’ll want at least 8-9 Mbps for a smooth HD stream and around 25 Mbps if you are watching in 4K.

Replays & Highlights

What if you miss the live coverage of the Professional Fighters League? Maybe because you had errands to run, clients to attend to, or a family emergency? Here is what we have for you:

Official on-Demand

If you want to watch the entire event from start to finish, the official broadcasters are the place to go. In the U.S., full event replays are available in the on-demand library on ESPN+. In Europe and other DAZN markets, you can find them in DAZN’s extensive catch-up section. Replays are usually posted within a few hours of the live broadcast ending.

Highlights

If you just want the good stuff– the knockouts, the slick submissions, and the post-fight interviews – PFL’s social channels are the best. Their YouTube channel, in particular, is fantastic for posting quick highlights, full fights (after a delay), and behind-the-scenes content.

Schedules & Time Zones for the Professional Fighters League

There is nothing worse than tuning in just in time to see the winner celebrating. How can you remedy this?

Find the Exact Start Time

This is the most important tip in this whole guide: always check the start time on fight week. Broadcast schedules can change. Your best sources are the official PFL “How to Watch” article for that specific event or the schedule listed directly on ESPN+ or DAZN. You should also pay attention to whether the prelims and main card have different start times or are on separate streams.

Convert to Local Time

Most schedules are listed in U.S. Eastern Time (ET). If you are in a different time zone, use an online converter or simply add the event to your phone’s calendar – it should automatically adjust to your local time.

Legal & Safe Streaming of the Professional Fighters League

It can be tempting to search for a free stream, but it is rarely worth the risk. Sometimes, you either lose your data or get banned for illegal streaming.

Why Official Partners Matter

Using official partners like ESPN+ and DAZN isn’t just about following the rules. It is about getting a better experience. You get a crystal-clear and stable HD stream without buffering. You get professional commentary. And most importantly, you protect yourself from the malware, phishing scams, and annoying pop-up ads that are everywhere on illegal streaming sites.

VPN Note

Streaming services use geo-blocking to enforce their regional broadcast rights. This is why you can’t watch ESPN+ in the UK or DAZN UK in the U.S. While a VPN (Virtual Private Network) can make it seem like you are in another country, using one to get around these blocks is almost always against the service’s Terms of Service. For the most reliable and hassle-free experience, it is best to stick with the legal and official broadcaster in your region.

Viewing Tips for a Better Fight Night

A little prep goes a long way to ensure you are ready for PFL fights. Here is the procedural breakdown:

Prep Your Setup

Run through this quick checklist an hour before the fights start:

  1. Open the app and make sure you are logged in.
  2. Run a quick internet speed test (fast.com is great for this) to make sure your connection is solid.
  3. Keep a backup device, like your phone or a tablet, ready to go just in case you have issues with your TV.

Engage Live

Make it a two-screen experience. Follow the Professional Fighters League on X (formerly Twitter) or other social media during the fights. You’ll get live stats, see reactions from other fans and fighters, and get extra context between the bouts. If your device supports it, use the picture-in-picture feature to keep the stream running while you browse.

Stream Smarter on Fight Night with NXTbets

So, there you have it. The Professional Fighters League streaming world might seem complex, but it boils down to a few simple paths. If you are in the U.S., your world revolves around ESPN and ESPN+. If you are in the UK or much of Europe, DAZN is your home base. For everyone else, PFL’s official website and its “How to Watch” guides are your roadmap.

Remember, the broadcast landscape is always evolving, so that final check during fight week is your best insurance against missing any of the action.

For the best event previews, fighter breakdowns, and expert betting analysis for every single PFL card, make sure you subscribe to our newsletter. We are here to help you watch and wager smarter.

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FIRST BET OFFER
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Offer Score

9.9
3
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The main difference is the broadcast strategy. The World Tournament is licensed to major partners like ESPN and DAZN. The international leagues have their own local broadcast partners in their respective regions (like Canal+ in Africa), but for fans in the U.S., these events are streamed for free exclusively on the PFL App as a way to build a global audience.

This depends entirely on the local broadcast partner in your region. For example, PFL’s deal with Canal+ in Sub-Saharan Africa includes French-language commentary. You’ll need to check the details provided by your specific service provider.

Yes, they often are. In the U.S., for example, it is common for the prelims to stream exclusively on ESPN+, while the main card airs on both the ESPN TV channel and ESPN+. Always check the event schedule carefully to see where and when each part of the card is airing.

You can, but it is crucial to be aware of stream latency. The video feed you are watching can be anywhere from 30 to 60 seconds behind the live action in the cage. This delay can significantly impact live betting odds, which change in real-time. Always bet responsibly.

These are separate, regional tournaments designed to develop talent from those specific areas. Just like the main World Tournament, they use an eight-man, single-elimination format. The winners are crowned regional champions and earn a $100,000 prize, with the chance to earn a spot in the global PFL World Tournament the following year.

Since it is a "win and advance" format, a draw can't happen. If a fight is scored a draw by the judges, they are then asked to choose which fighter had the "most complete body of work" to determine a winner to advance. If the local athletic commission doesn't approve that method, the winner is decided by looking at the combined scorecards for the final round, then the second, and so on, until a winner is found.

The PFL roster is stacked with talent. Keep an eye on undefeated welterweight star Thad "The Silverback" Jean and former Bellator champion Logan Storley. In the featherweight division, you have two former champions clashing in Jesus "El Mudo" Pinedo (the 2023 champ) and the undefeated Movlid "Killer" Khaybulaev (the 2021 champ).

Betting on the Professional Fighters League is becoming more popular as the league grows. The first step is to choose a reputable sportsbook that offers a good range of MMA betting options. You'll want to look at things like fighter stats, recent performances, and style matchups before placing a bet.