Professional Fighters League names Cloudbet as official sports betting partner

PFLmma

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has announced a multi-year partnership with Cloudbet, which will provide crypto betting and innovative betting technology to MMA fans. The partnership will start with the Road to Dubai Champions Series on 25 January. The deal will see Cloudbet advertising across PFL events and advertising and will bring innovative betting options to fans.

Cloudbet is best known for its cryptocurrency betting options and is the longest-running crypto bookmaker and casino in the UK, having launched in 2013. Its bookie covers all major sports and sporting events and it also sponsors Karate Combat. 

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Although the site already offers betting on MMA, this partnership will help increase exposure for the crypto-dedicated company. A spokesperson for Cloudbet said they were particularly excited about “the chance to innovate alongside the PFL and bring truly new ideas to the sport” before going on to say that fans can expect further announcements regarding innovations and fan experiences in the coming weeks. 

Cloudbet is a crypto-first bookie. Players can deposit and withdraw funds in 40 different cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Doge. Account holders can also deposit using fiat currency as well as use on-site third-party providers to convert fiat to crypto.

There has been a rise in the number of crypto exchanges and other crypto companies sponsoring sports events, teams and leagues, as companies look for ways to attract new audiences. Stake, for example, has partnered with the UFC itself as well as individual fighters including Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira. 

The PFL is considered one of the most exciting and fastest-growing sports leagues globally. Its mixed martial arts competition, which is broadcast in nearly 200 countries, and is considered unique due to its league-like structure. The PFL claims to have 650 million fans worldwide, and the youngest audience demographic of any MMA event.

The partnership starts at the Road to Dubai Champions Series, which takes place on 25 January at the Coca-Cola Arena. The main event will see Bellator Lightweight Champion Usman Nurmagomedov facing off against former Cage Warriors Irish Lightweight Champ, Paul Hughes. Other confirmed fights include Nathan Kelly taking on Akhmed Magomedov and Kenny Mokhonoana against Ibragim Ibragimov, leading to the event being billed as the Dagestan vs Ireland card. 

The event will be televised across nearly 200 countries, and fans in the UK can stream the whole card on DAZN UK. The Road to Dubai not only marks the first collaboration between PFL and Cloudbet but also the start of the PFL season. Across the season, 72 fighters compete in six weight classes. Four fighters will be left to compete in the playoffs, with the winner of the five-round final taking home a $1m prize. 

The deal has been described as a multi-year agreement, with EVP global partnerships at PFL, Damian Willoughby, saying: “We are excited to announce our new long-term partnership with Cloudbet” before going on to say the PFL is “elated to collaborate with Cloudbet to bring a fresh and premium experience for our fight fans around the world.”