A new MMA league is set to launch in the United States later this year with a new twist: a team-based competition.
MMA Pro League is a new league set to launch on July 20 with its first show at New Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City with a team from New Jersey and a team from Pennsylvania facing each other. The two teams will be coached by former UFC fighter Dan Miller (Team New Jersey) and Gracie family member Daniel Gracie (Team Pennsylvania).
The league is the brainchild of longtime MMA promoter Hani Darwish, and former HBO Sports executive Mark Taffet. Darwish will serves as CEO of MMA Pro League while Taffet will serve as MMA Pro League President. In a press release that was sent to Fightful, Darwish said he believes the MMA Pro League will usher in a new era in mixed martial arts.
?MMA Pro League is the dawn of a new era in MMA and I?m thrilled we are going to bring the fans a world-class product with teams they will love. There is no more noble pursuit in sports than fighting for your team. My passion for the sport is endless, as is my respect for and love of these athletes.?
The league will have a total of five events take place at New Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. More teams will be announced in the coming weeks and the league is expected to have events take place throughout the eight-man regular season in 2018 with the playoff period starting in early 2019.