Donn Davis, an American businessman who founded MMA brand PFL and served as the promotion’s chairman, has announced his departure from the company.
Davis revealed in a statement Wednesday that he is stepping down from his role after nearly a decade with the brand.
I’ve loved fighting to build @PFLMMA
What Do You Fight For? #PFLMMA pic.twitter.com/hdGl6m5jRH
— Donn Davis (@DonnDavisPFL) January 21, 2026
“Today I’m stepping down as chairman of PFL,” he said on social media this week. “I care deeply about each employee, value highly every investor, respect greatly our fighters, and appreciate sincerely all our fans who supported this company – I gave you everything I’ve got.”
After acquiring assets from the World Series of Fighting (WSOF), PFL attempted to establish itself as a challenger brand to the UFC in the mid-2010s. What set itself apart from any other North American promotion was its attempt at a season-to-playoffs format being used in MMA.
For many years, PFL fighters competed in a two-fight “season,” then the top talents from that period would go on to compete in a single-elimination tournament for an annual championship.
PFL expanded significantly over the years, securing an ESPN broadcast deal by 2019 and later acquiring the folding Bellator MMA, a brand which had long been seen as the #2 promotion in the sport.
Davis did lots of media for the PFL, going on many of the sport’s top talk programs to defend his product. Twice in recent years he appeared for a “Town Hall” Q&A with MMA Fighting, where he spent an hour fielding questions from fans.
Davis’ departure comes just days after a few other long-term management names also confirmed their exit from the PFL. Ray Sefo, who was a President of the company, as well as ex-CEO Peter Murray, both confirmed they had parted ways with the promotion recently.
