NEW YORK - iSportsWire -- The Global Fight League (GFL), the new team-based MMA organization launching in April 2025, has announced its initial list of female athletes under contract and eligible for selection in its inaugural draft on January 24. Featuring 60 fighters and counting, the list includes athletes from 16 nations, including several world champions, all competing to make history in the first-ever co-ed, team-based MMA league.

"We are proud to be the first professional sports organization where men and women compete on the same teams and share revenue streams equally," said Darren Owen, GFL Founder and Commissioner. "The incredible drawing power, athleticism, and competitiveness of the world's best female fighters will be pivotal to our success. This groundbreaking approach represents a new era for MMA, where male and female athletes share equally in the league's achievements."

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The GFL is pioneering a 50% event-specific revenue-sharing model that ensures athletes benefit directly from the league's success, additionally included are athlete retirement and insurance funds. This revolutionary structure prioritizes fighters' financial security and professional well-being, offering unprecedented profit-sharing opportunities to empower male and female athletes throughout their careers.

The initial list of draft eligible women under contract includes some of the most decorated and recognized names in combat sports, such as:

• Paige VanZant – Combat Sports Icon
• Julia Budd – Bellator Featherweight Champion
• Jessica Aguilar – WSOF Strawweight Champion
• Livinha Souza – Invicta FC Strawweight Champion
• Tonya Evinger – Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion
• Kalindra Faria – Titan FC Flyweight Champion
• Pannie Kianzad – Cage Warriors Bantamweight Champion
• Cynthia Calvillo – HEX Flyweight Champion
• Natalie Kuziutina – LFA Strawweight Champion & Olympic Bronze Medalist

The list of draft-eligible athletes is available at https://www.mmagfl.com/athletes

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The GFL will launch with six teams representing major global markets across four continents. Competitions will span the globe, culminating in playoffs and a championship event, establishing the GFL as a premier experience for MMA athletes and fans worldwide.

In a major leadership acquisition, former UFC Champion Cain Velasquez has joined the GFL as a team manager. His first act of duty was signing his world renowned trainer, Javier Mendez, as head coach of his team. Mendez, the founder of the world-famous American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), has trained some of MMA's greatest fighters, including Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, and Daniel Cormier.

The GFL represents the next evolution of the sport, combining a team-based league model with an unwavering commitment to athlete equity.

https://www.mmagfl.com