A passion for the sport and the freedom to defend it
As the Chairman of the SFL Josh Tolley has been a fighting fan since early childhood and the passion he has for combat sports has only intensified. Seeing the destruction that has come from multi-owner groups, private equity funds, matchmaker politics, and publicly traded fight promotors all destroying the sport he loves, he knew he had to do something.
Not only has the corporate model worked to destroy combat sport, but it has chewed up and spit out countless fighters who should have had decent careers along the way. His belief is that a fighter who fights seven or eight times a year should be able to put food on the table, have health care, and a retirement plan all earned from that fighting career, so that is what he provides his fighters.
With dozens of actual real-life hand-to-hand combat fights under his own belt he is a fighter's fighter. With a business empire that spans dozens of companies across multiple states he also has the experience and depth of resources to not only provide a better path forward for fighters but to create a league where careers can be built and championships won.
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The SFL
The Fighting: We run an eight-fight night season where each fighter starts on equal footing. Your past does not matter, only the fight you bring into the ring on fight-night. After the leaders rise to the top the season shifts into the semi-finals where the action increases along with purse size. By the time we get to championship night each fighter will have had the opportunity to fight in at least seven fights and the champions will have battled for most exciting belt in world.
The Ultimate Fan Experience (The UFE): When you are in the seats during a fight your heart is racing, your voice is screaming, your fists are hitting imaginary faces, and nothing could beat that fight fan experience...until now!
With our UFE we have split the arena in two and each side is randomly assigned a fighter for each bout, when that fighter wins, so do you! Not just winning in the emotion of a great battle, but real prizes and real awards. You thought you were excited before, wait until every punch, every kick, is literally being thrown for your benefit!
The Fighters: Since our founder doesn't have to answer to a board, to shareholders or partners he can focus on the most important element of the league; the fighters. Fighters can find out more details under the fighter tab but we think it is important to let fans know as a fan of the SFL you are helping us do more for fighters than any other promotion company in the world (including the big one in Vegas)! When you buy a ticket, a hat or a pay-per-view you should know that empowers the SFL to provide fighters with:
- Contracted seasons so they can focus on their careers
- Health coverage, like any real profession should be provided
- Higher average pay for experience than other promotions
- Financial training and opportunity (No more broke pro-athletes)
- Career development though media, promotion, and opportunity
- Retirement programs like those offered by the NFL and NBA
- Fighter representation on the Chairman's Board
- Revenue share with all SFL fighters
- NO restrictive contracts
As fans help the SFL grow, the SFL helps better conditions for all fighters!