Professional Fighters League Throws Punches at Competitors, Offers $1 Million Purse
*By Tracey Cheek*
There's a new mixed-martial arts league on the block.
The Professional Fighters League ー or PFL ー is wrapping up its inaugural season with a championship match on New Year's Eve.
According to Peter Murrary, the CEO of the league, the match's purse, $1 million, is a major draw for athletes ー money talks, and can mark achievement.
“There have only been under 10 athletes in the history of MMA that have earned that much money as a payout in a single fight," Murray told Cheddar. “That is our way to advance the sport, to recognize these athletes, and give an opportunity on a major stage.”
The PFL had achieved some noteworthy goals during its first season. The league recently partnered with fantasy and sports book platform DraftKings for a pick-em’-game, in which fans can choose who they think will win each fight ー and how and when the fight will end. Murray said a sports betting partnership helps PFL “game-ify” the experience.
“Fans can actually pick their favorite fighters, different outcomes, compete against one another, and also earn a payout,” he said.
“So, we’ll pay $25,000 in total to winning fans, and not only do they get a great experience watching at home or at the theater they can actually earn some money ーand maybe even some bragging rights.”
The PFL championship will be held at the Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden on New Year’s Eve.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/professional-fighters-league-holding-new-years-eve-showdown).
If you have some older comic books stashed away in your attic, basement or closet, make sure to check their condition as they could be traded for serious cash. Cheddar News' Michelle Castillo at New Yor Comic Con spoke with Chris D'Lando, event manager with NYCC for Reedpop; Andy Mourat, co-founder and president of MetaZoo; and Julian Montoya, senior vice president of The Noble Collection, to get their thoughts.
Eliott Wellenbach, vice president and institutional ETF strategist with Direxion, joined Cheddar News to explain how investors are bracing for interest rate hikes after last week's inflation report and ahead of the Fed's upcoming meeting. Wellenbach also discussed how traders are taking advantage of volatility as earnings season continues and amid geopolitical conflicts.
One of the most difficult parts of a job search is writing resumes. Cheddar News' docuseries Ready 4 Work explores the pitfalls of that and helps job seekers stand out from all those other applicants.
They are playfully called the “forgotten five”: A handful of toys — the pogo stick, the Fisher-Price Corn Popper, My Little Pony, PEZ dispensers, and Transformers — that regularly approach toybox royalty as finalists for the National Toy Hall of Fame, only to be tossed back on the pile.
Rite Aid’s plan to close more stores as part of its bankruptcy process could hurt access to medicine and care, particularly in some majority Black and Hispanic neighborhoods and in rural areas, experts say.