Professional Fighters League Names John Martin CEO, Replaces Peter Murray

John Martin, former CEO of Turner LLC and CFO of Time Warner, has been appointed as the new CEO of the Professional Fighters League (PFL), succeeding Peter Murray who now leads PFL International. Martin brings extensive media and business experience, having overseen major properties like CNN, TBS, and TNT, and is also a martial arts enthusiast with black and blue belts in karate and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He aims to leverage his background to grow PFL as a competitive alternative to the UFC, capitalizing on market demand for another premium MMA company and seeking to offer value-oriented opportunities for fans, advertisers, and distributors. Martin believes PFL can benefit from the shifting landscape of MMA broadcasting rights, especially as the UFC's current ESPN deal nears renewal and may lead to fragmented platform distribution. His leadership comes at a pivotal time for PFL, which recently restructured its tournament format and prize money, while also expanding internationally with marquee events. PFL founder Donn Davis praised Martin as the ideal executive to lead the organization’s next growth phase.