Australian and New Zealand MMA fighters are calling for the PFL to follow through with its promise and launch the Pacific League’s inaugural event in 2026.
It has been almost a year since the MMA organisation, in a joint venture with Nine Network and Stan, announced the launch of the Pacific League on May 13, 2025, at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art.
Since then, the calls have only grown louder, especially following the Aussie, Kiwi domination at PFL Belfast several weeks ago.
Four out of five Pacific fighters claimed victory in enemy territory, stealing the spotlight from their Irish opponents. The highlight of the night was arguably in the main event, where Jay-Jay Wilson KO’d Darrragh Kelly in just 36 seconds before calling out former title contender Alfie Davis.
Fight News Australia has spoken to several PFL fighters since the launch of the Pacific League. Read what they had to say about the promotion’s move Down Under as they expressed their desire to compete in the first event.
“For me, I feel like I’m the lead horse in the PFL for the Pacific,” Jay-Jay Wilson said.
“We have talented fighters in New Zealand, Australia and Tahiti. Look at how many UFC champions have come out (from those regions) or even title contenders and top five. The level that comes out of that side of the world is insane.
“I pray that it does happen there because it’s going to give a lot of fighters more opportunities to be able to change their life and be able to make this a career. That’s the hard thing for a lot of people … is to make fighting a career because when you’re fighting in those local shows … the pay is not that great, so you can’t stop working.
“To be able to give those opportunities to my fellow people, my fellow countrymen and people from the same side of the world would be great. I’ll be more than ecstatic to be able to go home and headline a card.”
The Pacific League is the organisation’s fourth regional league, following PFL Europe, PFL Africa and PFL MENA (Middle East and North Africa).
The Pacific League was scheduled to host four events across 2026. However, there have been no updates since the launch announcement.
Furthermore, the 2026 PFL MENA season was originally scheduled to launch on May 8, 2026 in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, but has been postponed.
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The most prolific Pacific fighter in the PFL is undoubtedly former 2022 light heavyweight world champion Rob Wilkinson. Despite a three-fight losing streak, his accolades and star power would still propel him onto the main card. Most likely being the co-main event behind Jay-Jay Wilson, who is on the verge of fighting for the lightweight title in his next one or two fights.
“After spending the last however many years fighting mainly in America, but now going to Dubai and fighting overseas, it would just be awesome to be able to fight back in Australia. To have all my friends and family come and watch,” Rob Wilkinson told Fight News Australia.
“It would be really good for the sport. Not just the UFC coming, but having other really big promotions, world promotions coming to Australia and doing their thing. I think it would sell out in Australia. I think the fans would love to see it and I’d be very excited to be on that card.
When asked where his first choice city would be, he unsurprisingly went with his hometown.
“I’d have to say Hobart, but I don’t think that it’s going to be at the top of the list. Maybe the Gold Coast (Queensland) would be cool. Nice, sunny Gold Coast, get the flight done there.”
Flyweight and bantamweight prospect Sean Gauci was asked to picture “every fighter’s dream” – a world title fight in his home country – and he plans to manifest that exact scenario.
“To me, that would mean everything. That would be a dream come true. That’s what I want to make happen, and I foresee that happening,” he said.
Former PFL featherweight title contender Sara Collins revealed it has been a long time since she set foot on Australian soil and would relish the opportunity to fight at home so her friends and family would “not have to travel” far to support her in person.
“My friends and family don’t get to come and watch me overseas just because it’s so far to go and it’s really expensive. So to be able to fight in front of all my friends and family at home and have the crowd cheer for me and not boo for me would be really good,” she said.
Full list: PFL Pacific League fighters
- Rob Wilkinson
- Jay-Jay Wilson
- Tyson Pedro
- Chelsea Hackett
- Sean Gauci
- David Martinez
- Jacinta Austin
- Sara Collins
- Joseph Luciano
- Raihere Dudes
The targeted location for the first event would most likely be Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Auckland, Christchurch or Wellington.
The Pacific Islands are also part of the league but would presumably not host events for quite some time due to the lack of infrastructure compared to Australia and New Zealand’s major cities; instead, up-and-coming Pacific Islanders would probably be sourced from regional promotions to boost the PFL’s Pacific roster.
The PFL is available to watch in Australia via Stan Sport and in New Zealand via Sky Sport.
