Former HBO Sports executive Mark Taffet is launching a new MMA promotion that will attempt to draw from traditional pro sports, placing fighters on teams to compete as groups representing different cities.
The MMA Pro League will start with its first non-broadcast event on July 20 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, N.J. The league will hold four more cards at the location in 2018 before moving to an eight-team system in 2019.
"We're launching the league in two phases," Taffet told ESPN's Brett Okamoto. "Phase one is the period between now and the end of 2018, in which we will form the teams and roll them out one by one, so we can spend time with each city and develop a connection between fans and athletes.
"In 2019, we will have a full regular season and playoffs. Four teams from the East and West. The Eastern division champion will face the Western division champion in the finals."
Teams will consist of 12 fighters (10 men and two women) across six weight divisions. Taffet hopes to set up teams in New York, Florida, Texas, and California, among other locations. The first event will involve teams from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, coached by former UFC fighter Dan Miller and Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner Daniel Gracie.
Fighter tryouts are set to be held before the first season and will be followed by a full draft process. Events will be hosted at each team's location, with the teams billed as home and away.
Taffet left HBO in 2015 after 25 years of building up the network's boxing coverage and will be joined by CEO Hani Darwish, a longtime MMA promoter and owner of a Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy.
