James Frewin | PFL MMA's Future Plans, Jake Paul & Francis Ngannou | Energized Show

Summary

What is up and welcome to The Energized Show! On this episode PFL MMA's SVP James Frewin joins us to discuss his PFL MMA's future plans, Jake Paul, Francis Ngannou & More MMA craic. Like, Comment, Subscribe & Hit the notification bell for more Energized Shows! Youtube …

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Kind: captions Language: en [Music] en sh up the Irish time okay what's going on guys and welcome to a brand new episode of energized brought to you by Forest IR Stout Russ are you intoxicated or something introduce the guest man today we are bringing you the senior vice president of pfl it's the one and only James fruen James welcome to the show it's not often we have a nonf fighter on the show but we made the special exception just for you we appreciate it thank you for having me on and big respect to you guys I'm a big fan no no we're more than happy to have you on and uh thanks very much um we asked we asked offir who is james' favorite but we won't tell you on this episode yeah absolutely H obviously James things are heating up in in h pfl at the moment um you know you guys have had a phenomenal year what do you make of the year so far and all roads leading to Du at the moment how excited are you for that yeah it's been an awesome year it's been an awesome four years to be honest since we started on this journey or five seasons now we're in our in our fifth year so yeah all roads lead to Dublin the year in Europe's just got better and better um and we've got the big Crescendo in Dublin Ireland we we had to put it there we Dublin's the epicenter of European MMA and um you know this is the the biggest night in European MMA so it felt right and uh the season is uh building nicely yeah for the people tuning in make sure to check it out there is ticket still available pfl Dublin it's on Friday the 8th of December and you can check it out on the Zone Russ ABS absolutely and you have already two Irish men fighting for 100k H that's that's that's a big bag that those Lads are fighting for France malambo and John Mitchell so not to be missed not to be missed uh we might as well start there uh Dublin um other signed fighters to the roster Nathan Kelly can we expect to see Nathan Kelly on the card uh an announcement will be made this week and I think it's looking good that Nate Kelly will be on that card yeah and I I've heard rumors about some people so like you don't have to give me like the yes or no I've heard the likes of Andreas binder I've heard on cheran's been looked at uh and a few others uh you don't have to confirm or deny but give us a rough estimate how many a would you expect to be on this card I mean we're looking to break the record for the the highest number of Irish athletes competing on a on a global promotions um show in Dublin so expect a lot um few things that are playing out at the moment and we're going to make an announcement later this week but it's going to be really really strong from an Irish perspective James what what is it about the the Irish scene that like pfl are really looking into right now cuz like it was it was looking ideal that John Mitchell will be fighting Dylan T in the finale like what is it about Dublin that's like really or Ireland that's really captured the imagination of pfl uh look I think as I mentioned earlier it's uh the epicenter over the last few years of European MMA right some of the biggest uh shows that have taken place in Europe have been in Dublin Ireland right and and we respect that we we appreciate that and uh as I say that's why it felt right that our big moment our Championship you know four title fights on one night plus a huge stacked card of of top Irish athletes and and more broadly from from Europe um there was no other place we were going to do it so yeah we feel great we're excited we can't wait and look Paris was a massive show but we're gonna make sure Dublin is uh even bigger yeah just uh going back to the Paris card you had kilan mbappe in there is there any big names You're Expecting uh pfl Dublin myself and Ras obviously James you guys the top of that list Brian adris hit us he's down to come down and uh yeah we're going to we started to get a lot of requests from uh sports and entertainment we got a few um surprises up Our Sleeve in terms of how we're going to curate the the card and the personalities that are going to be involved so it's going to be a celebration of all things Irish MMA if one of us go to war we all go to war just remember to sit us next to Roy Keane in the middle of us John John Mitchell's the uh the Roy Keane of MMA so we we we we see it that way the cork horse box what a man what a man get it right get it right yeah can't it can't be it can't beat it uh obviously James you see a lot of value in the Irish Fighters and you see a lot of star power in them um and with that the promotion of fighters in pfl seems to be different it seems to be unique like I remember H Nathan Kelly was over fighting in the US and he was racing I know electronic cars around around the street and I thought that that was really really cool um who who comes up on the creative side with those sort of things and where does the creativity come um within pfl's promotion of these fights look I think at the the core of what we're building storytelling is top of that list right so you know we've we've designed a a modern MMA product right which which is designed in a way to give fans more of what they want and give Fighters more of what they want right and with that we focus us on storytelling it's like an Olympic like experience you you know the mainstream audience is interested in the stories behind the fighters their their families where they come from we double down on that that's very important to us so it's not just what goes on in the cage we give give the athletes you know a platform to show us who they are and um yeah we're going to be doing a lot more of that so fight week in in Dublin is going to be exciting and in the meantime uh we're going to be rolling out a whole host of different content series focused on France John you know what it means to them to become a European champion and potentially go on to become world champions because remember in the pfl you become Champion you in Europe you have the opportunity to go up into the million dollar season and become a world champion right and there's no other promotion at least that you know I I can see right now that is offering the opportunity for a European athlete to become a European champion in year one po a world champion in year two takes a lot longer yeah it definitely does and I think the selection of European talent that you have available are ready to compete at that World level and we're touching on with France I think there's something special about European MMA I know uh obviously us has like the larger Global audience but I think in terms of a fandom I think you know when the European Fighters make the walk in their home countries it's a different level to when some of the Americans make the walk over in the US do you do you feel that when you're at the shows in the US versus when you're at the shows in Europe uh yeah I'd say every every country is different um you know Paris was an unbelievable energy um we know Dublin will will will set a new standard Al together with the pfl it's our first show the US is a a great market for us too I we've been course yeah we've been at it for a long time but yeah I I would say the energy in Europe is uh pretty cool right now yeah I I always bring back to like football fans and like just like the chants and the the singing and stuff like that I just think like that's like in the European DNA um and I think that's just what makes it that bit more different um but look we can't wait to see whoever does win these tournaments move on into the million dollar tournament um with that being said if pfl did sign a more tenured Irish fighter H could they go directly into the million dollar tournament yeah look we're committed to the Irish market right so we have multiple franchises now to work work with right we're creating a system in the sport that does not exist today right so you can be a athlete in Europe competing in pfl Europe as of next year you can be an athlete in the Middle East competing in pfl Middle East and then we also have the Challenger Series we have the million dooll global season and then next year we have pay-per-view where uh we're going to be launching our pay-per-view super fight division that's going to be two events next year you know we've announced Francis Inu we've announced Jake Paul so you know from an Irish perspective there's going to be more opportunity than ever and that's what we're excited about we're just you know you you look at the talent pool in the in the gyms across iseland you know they're not getting enough opportunity and so we're here to to solve for that and and build more Irish world champions quickly yeah we love it uh one one person you did mention there is H Jake Paul obviously there was a bit of a spectacle on a Manchester over the weekend I think were you at it I was there yeah yeah so yeah yeah see see I see these things James did you not jump into the into the into the ring after the Dylan Dan lan power point no I didn't I was tempted but it wouldn't have been pretty for me this is number one H look obviously the these these things like capture a worldwide audience and now with uh Jake Paul being in the pfl and having a deal with the pfl what are we expecting to see from Jake Paul in 2024 cuz I assume we're not going to see him anytime active in 2023 look Jake's committed to the pfl he's a he's a partner of the pfl he he's had a cage uh built by the pfl in his facility in um Puerto Rico and and he's training so you know you will see Jake Paul compete in the pfl smart cage in uh in 2024 which is exciting for everyone but it's also exciting for the the other pfl athletes that you know enjoy the halo effect of everything that comes with Jake right so if you're a young Irish athlete that's aspiring to not become a European Champion but also a world champion and potentially a pay-per-view star you know we now have that platform and we have you know great Partners like Jake who you know are going to support us all the way and and so it's an exciting time yeah one thing he already he's uh made connections with Ian Gary as well um what what sort of what sort of Jake bringing to behind the sces like obviously he's like a Amic genius but like what's he sort of how's he sort of helping in the background uh look Jake Jake is um Jake is a busy guy he he's you know as I say committed to the pfl he's a he's a an excellent voice he's an advocate for all athletes really Beyond just MMA or Beyond even you know pfl but um you know Jake you'll see use his voice to to support our message and uh support our fighter first mentality um you know so we have um an athlete Advisory Board where you know the best Minds in the sport including Jake come together to make decisions around around how best to serve the athletes that are on the pfl roster and uh so Jake brings that energy he brings a massive promotional platform and uh you're gonna see much more from him from a pfl perspective starting next year and uh James just just on that uh obviously for maybe those who are watching don't know but uh you spent six plus years with WWE so like we we know you love the storyline aspect when Jake Paul steps in the smar cage in 2024 will we see him fight an M fighter or will we see fight someone from his own realm someone from the influencer realm it's a it's a good question uh Jake has taken this really seriously like he has with the boxing you know he's had a a variety of different opponents in the in the boxing ring but um look there's a short list you're gonna love it uh when the when the rumors Mill starts um but but for now I can't share any more information on that but I think you know we've been very open that Nate Nate uh Diaz is had an offer he's received an offer from the pfl it's sitting on his desk and uh we're waiting to hear from him give me a hell yeah I mean that's a massive Global fight that that is you know going to be as big as anything in this sport so we're hopeful we can make it happen yeah we definitely tune in to that as well uh another person who's really important to the promotion as well is Dan Hardy how did how did the whole connection with Dan Hardy come about and like how instrumental has he been to the promotion itself I think you know the way we approach everything is you we want to work with the best right Dan is a an exceptional athlete you know he went all the way to the top of the sport um you know he's he's incredibly intelligent uh he sees the field uh you know we we we initially started working with Dan you know bringing him in into the the commentary Booth to to tell the stories around the athlete in the cage but it became very clear that Dan um you know was was as passionate as anyone in helping grow Advance this sport right and you know we we called ourselves the professional fighters League Professionals in our name every single thing we do is to set a new standard in the sport right so who else are you going to call if you're looking for a Pioneer of English MMA European MMA Global MMA whatever you want to call it um Dan Hardy's top of that list right so it's a privilege to have Dan on board as our our head of fighter operations for pfl Europe his influence is seen around the world um the fighters you know respect Dan they look up to Dan He paved the way you know he was a two weight World Champ Ion with cage Warriors yeah he uh you know he got very close to realizing that dream with the UFC against some of the best competition in in the history of the sport so um Nob brainer Dan's the man and uh I I know that he's got some massive plans for this Dublin card but then also moving into next year in terms of that pfl Europe roster is is going to go from strength to strength under Dan's leadership yeah I think having someone who is engulfed in the scene like picking up talent and like eyeing a the talent for you I think it's something on the European scene that like is really going to help like and like he's from the Grassroots up as well like obviously he has hard Hardy wallhead with u Jimmy wallhead and like he has his own gym he has his own own crop of Fighters and with that like he's at the the omf events he's at the regional shows you know I mean and then like all the rest of the shows all the way up to yourselves and the other top promotion so he is he is someone who is in the know at all times well he he's as passionate about the amateur sport as he is about the professional sport which is incredibly unique but that's exactly what we're trying to achieve it we we talk about it a lot create a system where a young Irish athlete can turn professional and and curate his career all the way to world champion and pay-per-view start what more do you want yeah exactly that and that that is what we want and like I think one thing I've said uh about pfl that makes you guys different to other promotions is you guys are willing to grow and build your own stars like um I was only having this conversation with bar the other day and I was saying like you look at the likes of like Kayla Harrison is a pfl star you know I mean like not many people can say these are these Stars especially in an MA organization because nearly everyone has gone through the UFC at some stage who has a big name but pfl are building their own names and like Doom Bay is already a pfl star after you know that one bent in Paris that's enough to like get him over the line as a star in my like that was absolutely insanly if you can pull Kil mbappe to your event that means you're a star like there's no no ifs or buts about it and hake and hakei as well and the uh the other 14 of the team yeah exactly the the rest of the squad as well but uh once mbappe shows up the you know the others get overlooked unfortunately but probably the same if inter Miami went somewhere and Messi was there it's like Messi was here lots honestly it ties back to what we're trying to build a global platform for for the athletes to to to flourish and all of that stuff it's great but ultimately as I say we're we're here to to create more opportunity for these these great athletes absolutely and uh I was just going to ask uh W with talking of global Superstars Francis and ganu what's what's the sweep Stakes looking like for him like H obviously he's implemented this contract where whoever he fights gets I think is a guaranteed 2 million uh which is pretty incredible uh on that end I still don't know if I was offered the contract here today James would I sign up for that that's the time is na though yeah so uh but Inu is an absolute monster h both in the cage and outside the cage he's uh someone who all all the eyes of the world are on he's going to be obviously fighting toys and fury next H is toys and fury someone you could look at offer an MMA contractor to have a rematch look we are we are interested in athletes across the board you you mentioned Kayla Harrison Kayla Harrison was a two time Olympic Judo gold medalist she came over to the pfl trusted the pfl with her career um you know Clarissa Shield Savannah Marshalls just started her journey so you know we are um committed to providing more opportunities and whether they're boxers judokas you name it we're we're open and and I think Tyson is a a truly Global star with we're big fans of Tyson and um yeah I'm sure you'll see him at a pfl show very soon James what d one yeah hope he's at the duin one yeah uh James what other what other athletes on the roster like do you really want people to keep an eye on as well like obviously you have Simeon Powell on the card H Dakota DEA like what other Fighters should people definitely be tuning uh tuned into pfl for look we're gonna announce things uh this week but yeah I'd say um it's it's looking likely it will be one of the first cards to have a brother and a sister competing on the same card um in Europe which is you know extremely exciting and it and and one of those siblings will be competing for the world title against Dakota so more to come on that that's a little hint for you um we we uh we're excited about Simeon and Dakota I mean Simeon and Dakota are you know exceptional athletes right they're young they are starting out on that Journey but both future world champions right I mean again the the thing with this card I love the most is you know there's a there's high stakes coming to Dublin right this isn't just a an MMA card that we you know we're putting together to come and sell some tickets this means a lot it means a lot to the sport it means a lot to the fan and as I say we've got France and John um you know by way of Ireland uh competing for for for you know European title and life-changing money um Sime and Dakota I gave you a little nugget there with the the brother and the sister yeah um but look Nate Kelly will be will be there Nate's an interesting character man like he he's a great example of an athlete you know had a bit of a bumpy Journey at the start but you know has has sharpened his his tool set and he's you know started to you know really show that he has all the potential in the world and and he's a great example of what we're building um beyond that I I I'll tease you that you know we're we're looking at putting something really special in the main event um you know beyond the the the championship fights and then you know we'll have a a card that will announce uh or at least the athletes on the card later this week and as a say I think you're going to you're going to take a look and you're going to you're going to you're going to smile guys it's uh it's going to be special yeah absolutely like I'm excited for it I think it's something new it's something fresh and like the matchups already mouth water and like after watching Paris like I was glued to it uh thought it was unbelievable can't wait for Dublin um in saying that you know you said Dublin's going to be a hot bed and you know the C card sounds like it's going to be tasty how many times do you see yourself coming to Dublin in 2024 it's a really good question um I think we look at the Irish Market as a whole so you know we we as I mentioned earlier respect and recognize the role that Dublin has played in the growth of this sport right that we all love and and yeah and and so but I think also you know Ireland's a relatively big place right there's options you know to look at uh new markets perhaps um but I think multiple events a year is is is is the plan yeah James one thing I just want to say is like well that first of all that's great news but like hopefully you do go across all gyms in the country as well looking for top talent because like there is loads of other promotions coming in right now trying to get as much talent as possible even the amateurs uh so like hope you do go across every gym let me ask you if if pfl were gonna sign one name who would you want us to sign Jesus and you can go first US just one yeah let me think well like I'm sort of in the know on one or two who who who have contracts in front of them so like I don't know if I'm going to El them or not but look I think uh Andreas spinder after winning the NFL I think uh was uh that was a huge win for him over there and that that was some knockout and I think he'd be great for the pfl I think uh a promotion like that would be great for him to get behind him so I think that's uh one definitely to be looking out for yeah I'd say I'd say if you're going to go all in for someone I'd say Max L is some person you have to have a conversation with he's same agent as Andreas spender he's like the the next star coming through he's just turn gone one and0 he's he's actually he's heading over to Thailand now to train but he's one guy to 100% watch out for it not only is he quality but he has a like a a large foll one as well that like go to all his fights that they're just two names there's loads we can mention we go we've got two new pfl matchmakers yeah I love like there's there's others like uh Gary Rooney a flyweight I haven't seen much of a flyweight division uh so so far from the pfl but like if you ever need to build one like uh there's him Alan Phil pots over in Australia like he he's uh fighting on a Turnal FC uh quite often but uh he's very very good he'd love to come home and fight in Dublin and if possible i' say jar Harris as well he's just after fighting the cage Warriors there and he's a free agent the people he brought there were that was crazy yeah he bring he brings a crowd thought Jerry Springer was going to come out the audience with the Jerry chance going uh and then also there was someone else was going to say oh if you're looking if you're looking for uh someone who tick the numbers on social media someone like the home wedy is someone who will uh definitely create a store for you there we go guys I ask for one I got about 15 yeah people giving out to us now for not mentioning them yeah people are g go what about me what about me you know I mean so uh yeah and like I I don't know whether miles has hung up the gloves yet but like I love to see miles price do a swan song in Dublin if if he if he is still going all great answers yeah look as I say you know lots of opportunity to come for for for the top Irish athletes so we're excited yeah and if you want any more you have to put us on the payroll right yeah they're they're free they're free they're free but uh yeah but like look as I was saying earlier make sure to check out pfl Dublin Friday December 8th it's gonna be live in the zone I'm sure we're going to be giving away some tickets James aren't we absolutely yeah yeah but uh James we'll give you the last word like um but like thanks man for coming on the show like um I'm sure the people checking this out now are going to be definitely tuning in to pfl Dublin on the 8th of December Friday night yeah can't can't wait to see it there Friday Night Fights that's what that's what we'll call it h James any anything to say to to the old enero norish and masine before we go look just just look we appreciate it we're excited please come down you know where to buy tickets you know we're bringing something new fresh um and it's all about the athletes it's all about the fans and uh there's high stakes four belts on the line and uh you know card of unbelievable fights going to be announced this week so keep an eye out can't wait to see you all and yeah let's go let's do this we we love it uh James thanks mil for your time you're an absolute gent can't wait to come see you probably th Thursday at the weigh I'm sure we'll probably see you there uh that'll be incredible um guys thanks for me fav watching home make sure to like share subscribe and as always stay energized energized sh up the been susing you guys a couple of times I've seen a couple of Clips I think you're doing some interviews with Dylan and that I saw so keep going keep up the good work guys