Donn Davis, the founder and longtime president of the Professional Fighters League, announced his resignation on January 21, 2026, marking a dramatic turning point for the organization he built from scratch eight years ago.
Davis revealed the decision in a statement on social media, reflecting on his journey from founding PFL in 2017 to establishing what he described as “the clear No. 2 MMA company worldwide.” The announcement comes amid significant organizational turbulence, with several top executives leaving and the promotion undergoing major structural changes that have left its founding principles behind.
“From the moment I founded the Professional Fighters League eight years ago, it has been my life,” Davis wrote in his statement. “Today I step down as chairman of the PFL.”
PFL founder and chairman Donn Davis is resigning amid a massive management exodus
The resignations follow a wave of executive departures that began in July 2025 when John Martin, former chairman and CEO of Turner Broadcasting, was appointed as PFL’s new CEO. The move saw founder-CEO Peter Murray transition to head PFL International before leaving the organization entirely in January 2026. Days later, former president Ray Sefo, a holdover from the World Series of Fighting era, also parted ways with the promotion.
Davis himself became a controversial figure within the MMA community. He publicly criticized Frncis Ngannou for missing PFL Africa’s debut event, feuded with UFC commentator Joe Rogan over fighter quality claims, and compared outgoing two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison to NBA player Kevin Durant joining a superteam. UFC president Dana White has repeatedly dismissed competitive threats from Davis and PFL, at one point saying Davis only comments on things that concern him.
In his resignation statement, Davis highlighted PFL’s achievements while expressing confidence in the organization’s foundation. “PFL’s global footprint, valuable assets and market position have never been achieved in MMA outside of UFC,” he wrote. “I am convinced that this foundation will lead to great future success.”
The statement ended with a philosophical question: “I loved fighting to build PFL. What are you fighting for?”
PFL’s next event is scheduled for February 7, 2026 at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, where lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov defends his title against Alfie Davis.
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