Following the tradition inspired by the NFL Draft, the MMA Fighting team is back for another year to simulate a draft of the world`s top mixed martial artists and biggest stars. This is a recurring event, now in its fourth year.
If you missed previous editions, the concept is simple: four MMA promotions are assigned to four writers – Alexander K. Lee, Damon Martin, Mike Heck, and Jed Meshew. Each writer then drafts fighters they believe are the best foundational pieces for their respective organizations. After all the picks are made, readers vote to determine which team assembled the strongest roster.
Rules Overview
The promotions featured in this year`s simulation are the UFC, PFL, BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship), and the newly introduced GFL (Global Fight League). These selections vary slightly from last year, adapting to the current landscape of combat sports.
The assigned General Managers (GMs) and their promotions, determined randomly, are: Damon Martin for GFL, Alexander K. Lee for PFL, Jed Meshew for BKFC, and Mike Heck for the UFC. As the newest promotion, GFL holds the first overall pick, followed by PFL, then BKFC, with the UFC selecting last in each round.
The Draft Picks
GFL (Damon Martin): Kicking off the draft for GFL, our focus isn`t just viral moments, but simply getting a show off the ground! Our first selection, none other than Conor McGregor, might actually make that possible. While most top picks seek large contracts, we`re hoping Conor might loan us funds to promote our debut event. He can be the face, president even, as long as the check clears!
PFL (Alexander K. Lee): Here at “The League,” we pride ourselves on featuring the best. While Francis Ngannou was previously touted as our top heavyweight, his combat sports career may be brief. So, we`re bringing in the true number one heavyweight: Tom Aspinall. Tommy fits our global expansion plans perfectly; he`s a great ambassador and incredibly exciting in the cage. Opposition is secondary; we have our new cornerstone.
BKFC (Jed Meshew): Some might call this picking strategy a shameless copy of Mike`s approach last year, and to that I say, “Duh.” We had the same idea, but he picked earlier and snagged all the fun fighters. Not this year! Alex “Poatan” Pereira may not be a UFC champion anymore, but that`s irrelevant to me and BKFC. I just want to see him land some bare-knuckle shots. Is that too much to ask?
UFC (Mike Heck): Honestly, we`ve been comfortable for a while, but fan frustration is mounting. We need to protect the fighter with the highest ceiling on our roster, both in skill and marketability. Ilia Topuria was the most crucial fighter to keep in the UFC, and for obvious reasons, we couldn`t let him leave the first round.
GFL (Damon Martin): GFL excels at the draft process! With our second pick, we`re targeting a true legend. At 37, Jon Jones is slightly young for our organization`s typical demographic, but we`ll take the risk. Jones has indicated his career is nearing its end, which aligns with our company philosophy because we might not be around much longer either!
PFL (Alexander K. Lee): The League is where the elite compete. How could we claim that without the Pound-for-Pound best fighter, Islam Makhachev? He aligns well with the style of many of our champions. While he might not draw huge casual numbers, he`s an on-brand, incredible talent to strengthen our roster.
BKFC (Jed Meshew): I`ve been one of Dricus du Plessis`s biggest media supporters since his UFC arrival, so this pick fulfills both our needs in the ring and my personal preference. DDP is a special athlete and star. Despite his grappling prowess, he`ll fit in perfectly as a big guy who throws heavy hands. Plus, du Plessis offers a valuable link to South Africa, a rugby-loving nation where bare-knuckle combat could thrive.
UFC (Mike Heck): If Ilia Topuria was our top priority to retain, Dakota Ditcheva is number one on our list of fighters to acquire. Fans want it, Ditcheva clearly wants it, and the UFC desperately needs excitement. Why wait for a contract to expire? This is the immediate move for Ditcheva. Let`s make it happen and give everyone – except the PFL – what they want.
GFL (Damon Martin): With Tom Aspinall off the board, we need an opponent for Jon Jones`s potential GFL debut (which might be his only fight for us). We`re revisiting the matchup everyone wanted years ago. Francis Ngannou may have been quiet in PFL, but he`s still a ferocious fighter. Putting him against Jones is exactly the kind of high-profile bout we need.
PFL (Alexander K. Lee): I see GFL`s strategy… and I disapprove. Fortunately, we anticipated a potential Ngannou departure and have passive-aggressive tweets ready for his GFL fight announcement (mostly kidding!). We thank Francis for his service and pivot to the popular former UFC star, Paddy Pimblett. We have the substance with Makhachev and now the excitement with “Baddy” from Liverpool.
BKFC (Jed Meshew): Look, are there objectively “better” fighters available? Probably. But BKFC is a lifestyle as much as a promotion. Is there anyone in MMA more suited for our brand of controlled chaos? We`ll even let him smoke on his way to the ring and help design custom fight shorts.
UFC (Mike Heck): First off, this should have been a snake draft; Paddy Pimblett would still be with us. But I`ll move on… Since I can`t keep Pimblett, our goal for the UFC remains fun and exciting fighters, particularly needed in the heavyweight division. We`ll manage Marcin Tybura`s matchups effectively (see pick #5 below, apologies to KSW) to ensure he generates viewership. Also, this pick impacts BKFC and GFL due to fighter age. Excited to have him.
GFL (Damon Martin): Now, you might think Ronda Rousey is retired. So was Chris Weidman, and he returned for GFL! We believe Rousey can make a similar comeback. Yes, she hasn`t fought in nine years, but that kind of layoff practically demands a return! We already have Holly Holm under contract, so a rematch is possible, or perhaps this draft will present another opponent for “Rowdy” in her GFL debut.
PFL (Alexander K. Lee): Listen, I`ll just say it: If you vote for GFL as the winner, you`re a bad person. Explain your reasoning! We`re continuing the momentum with another exciting fighter and the second “Fighting Nerd” drafted: Jean Silva. His stock is incredibly high after his recent win, and he`s a fantastic addition to our underestimated featherweight division.
BKFC (Jed Meshew): Oof. That stings a bit; I hoped to pick Silva this round for a “Fighting Nerds Bash Brothers” scenario. Great pickup for PFL. We`ll adjust slightly by drafting my *other* large, adult son, Jiri Prochazka. Aside from the planned fight that Heck ruined, there`s no fight I want to see more. I don`t need a belt involved, just two large, violent weirdos colliding. And now I can make it happen.
UFC (Mike Heck): We absolutely will not allow Dustin Poirier`s final fight to be outside the UFC. Few things are genuinely exciting or emotional in the UFC right now, and Poirier`s “Last Dance” is one of them. Poirier vs. Holloway 3 in New Orleans is the fitting conclusion to one of the most entertaining careers in UFC history.
GFL (Damon Martin): We need to finish strong and, honestly, there`s a chance none of our first four picks actually compete for us – much like we may never host a show. But not all hope is lost. With Justin Gaethje, we get a top lightweight who always delivers exciting fights, is remarkably durable, and dependable – qualities definitely needed here.
PFL (Alexander K. Lee): Khamzat Chimaev, I can`t quit you. For the second year, I`m gambling on a fighter who *might* be the best in the world. We may never know. But his walk to the cage is always appointment viewing. And hey, our stars only fight once a year anyway, so our schedules align perfectly!
BKFC (Jed Meshew): Look, is this pick potentially wasted? Absolutely. But at BKFC, we support our own. GFL took our co-owner in round one; we can`t lose the face of our promotion. Mike Perry helped build us, and he remains the perfect representation of bare-knuckle fighting.
UFC (Mike Heck): You`re welcome. See pick #3. That is all.
GFL (Damon Martin): The steal of the draft! Gina Carano technically never retired, making her seem fresher than Rousey (despite not competing for almost 16 years). Carano nearly mounted a comeback years ago, discussing a potential fight with Rousey in the UFC. Potential is all we have at GFL, so why not try to stage Carano vs. Rousey in 2025, even if nobody asked for it?
PFL (Alexander K. Lee): I legitimately thought Damon drafted “Nick Diaz,” and the mere possibility of that confusion makes me furious. We`re going unconventional for our last pick. Many champions, stars, and PFL fighters I should protect are still available, but hear me out: We draft Themba Gorimbo, and we get The Rock. You might not realize they`re friends since they never mention it (winks).
The League thrives on mainstream attention, and what better way than having Dwayne Johnson promote his friend Themba`s inspiring story? And based on recent events, when The Rock commits to a story, he sees it through!
BKFC (Jed Meshew): And now, we look to the future. BKFC has a specific brand, and finding fitting talent isn`t always easy, but this pick works well. Taylor Hughes is always ready for a fight and is an emerging talent with a knack for promotion. Hughes represents our succession plan for when Mike Perry and our aging roster begin to retire.
UFC (Mike Heck): Oh, Jed, you stole my pick! But that`s fine; I have a great backup plan. Doumbé-mania is coming to the UFC! Unlike PFL, we will matchmake Cédric Doumbé correctly. No wrestlers, no grapplers (at least not anytime soon) – just highlight reels. This is why Doumbé entered the sport, PFL polished him for us, and now we can make him the star he deserves to be.
Final Draft Results
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GFL (Damon Martin)
- Conor McGregor
- Jon Jones
- Francis Ngannou
- Ronda Rousey
- Justin Gaethje
- Gina Carano
-
PFL (Alexander K. Lee)
- Tom Aspinall
- Islam Makhachev
- Paddy Pimblett
- Jean Silva
- Khamzat Chimaev
- Themba Gorimbo
-
BKFC (Jed Meshew)
- Alex Pereira
- Dricus du Plessis
- Mike Perry
- Jiri Prochazka
- Taylor Hughes
- (No 6th pick mentioned in final list)
-
UFC (Mike Heck)
- Ilia Topuria
- Dakota Ditcheva
- Marcin Tybura
- Dustin Poirier
- Gadzhi Rabadanov
- Cédric Doumbé
