When Tony Ferguson signed with the Global Fight League in January, it seemed like the beginning of something fresh. A new chapter. After years in the Dana White-led UFC, he was venturing into unknown terrain with a promotion that promised major events, a daring format, and big money. But here we are in April, and not a single GFL fight has occurred. Worse, the first two shows scheduled for May in Los Angeles have been canceled. It isn’t the start anyone expected, and the issue now is whether the GFL will even make it off the ground.
The promotion’s founder, Darren Owen, responded immediately with an explanation. “Our primary investor didn’t fulfill his April obligation, which has caused some issues,” he said, calling it a difficult week for the promotion. However, he did say there is a solution and that they are planning to launch in June instead. “However, we have a solution in place. We are likely going to have to launch in June, but 100 percent moving forward,” he added.
The latest dates being floated are June 15 and 16, although there’s a good chance they won’t take place in California. On paper, it all seems hopeful—but hope does not pay fighters or book venues. And for the fighters who passed up other opportunities to join the GFL, patience is wearing thin. This delay has a significant impact on Ferguson. He was slated to fight Dillon Danis on one of those opening shows, leading a packed weekend that included Anthony Pettis, Urijah Faber, and Holly Holm. The GFL started out strong, signing ex-UFC champions and well-known personalities with offers that raised eyebrows—possibly too expensive for a company with no events or track record. Now, with nothing formally rescheduled and no venue confirmed, it’s reasonable to question if the ambitious start was just too much too soon.
There’s still a chance the GFL may bring everything together and launch in the summer. Owen remains confident, and the fighters stay relatively silent for the time being. But the reality is settling in: without trust and action, excitement fades quickly. This wasn’t meant to be Tony Ferguson’s next storyline. It was intended to be about revival in a new league. Instead, he and many others are stuck waiting—for answers, dates, and something real to hold onto. This cancellation surely is massive news for many; in fact, it may even take a UFC fighter by surprise as he was looking for a move to the new big-money promotion.
GFL’s major woes may help Josh Emmett change his mind
When word spread that the GFL’s debut shows had been canceled, it affected more than just the fighters who had previously signed with the promotion. Others—veterans still working inside the UFC—had been silently eyeing the exit door. Josh Emmett, for one, had expressed his curiosity openly. Watching stars like Tony Ferguson and Urijah Faber get signed by GFL for what he characterized as “ridiculous” money sparked something in him. Perhaps it was hope. Perhaps it was validation that, after all these years, there could finally be a way to cash in big. But what about now? Well, that window suddenly appears fogged over.
Emmett, who headlined UFC Fight Night just a week ago, had openly discussed leaving the UFC for a one-time appearance in the GFL, hoping to earn a well-deserved payout before retiring. You couldn’t really blame him. At 40, he’s absorbed enough damage and fought enough fights to deserve a final reward. He spoke as if he had one foot out the door, intrigued, and already imagining what his new life might be like. But, with the GFL struggling before even taking its first step, he may be reconsidering everything. After all, you cannot walk through a door that’s been slammed shut.
Fighters like Emmett, who have dedicated their bodies to this sport but have yet to achieve generational wealth, nonetheless have a quiet hunger. It’s natural to pay attention when a new promotion comes along that offers those opportunities. However, hope fades swiftly when promises turn into delays, and delays become uncertainty. Emmett, for all of his honest yearning, may now find himself returning to the UFC grind—not because he has ceased dreaming, but because the alternative appears to be a mirage. What do you think? Will the GFL walk out of the situation unscathed? Let us know in the comments.
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