A Canadian MMA organization with deep roots in the sport is poised to gain significant visibility on a global stage.
Battlefield Fight League (BFL) was among a select group of promotions worldwide to secure a UFC Fight Pass agreement this week, launching in 2021.
For the past decade, BFL has cemented its reputation as a leading force in Canada's mixed martial arts landscape, with BFL president Jeffrey Golsani attributing their success to strong fan-fighter connections.
"Typically, viewers tuning into a new event care less about the actual fights unless there's a compelling storyline or buildup," Golsani explained in a conversation with MMA Empire.
"Many promotions fall short in developing the narratives leading into each matchup. Our approach differs—we invest heavily in crafting and shaping each fighter's story from the moment they sign with us. This UFC Fight Pass partnership will significantly impact Canadian MMA competitors. The stories we build will now reach audiences across the UFC Fight Pass platform, and every fighter who advances to the UFC through our system will carry substantial marketing momentum and recognition when they join any major global promotion. This represents something entirely new for Canadian athletes."
As the deal prepares to launch in the new year, Golsani indicated they're eager to resume operations promptly.
Yet with ongoing COVID-19 complications, a confirmed date and venue remain undecided.
"We're examining various pathways to initiate our Fight Pass partnership in early 2021," shared Golsani.
"We expect to finalize our first 2021 event location shortly, as we're coordinating with multiple regulatory bodies throughout Canada and the United States."
Golsani optimistic about expanded event schedule
Empowered by the new streaming arrangement, Golsani is enthusiastic about MMA's trajectory in British Columbia. He envisions the possibility of staging additional shows annually.
"We've consistently produced seven or eight events per year over the previous decade, aside from 2020," noted Golsani.
"Considering all the COVID safety measures in place, I'd estimate we'll maintain that same event count for 2021. Still, we intend to expand our schedule once the pandemic subsides. Our upcoming venues will be determined in consultation with the UFC Fight Pass organization. We plan to host events in Canada and possibly the Pacific Northwest. One notable shift will be fewer Saturday card events and increased Friday events, since we naturally want to avoid competing with UFC showtimes."
UFC chief executive Dana White recently discussed on a UFC broadcast his intention to incorporate additional promotions onto the UFC Fight Pass platform as part of his strategy to develop regional talent pipelines.
Golsani and BFL were among the organizations that capitalized on White's announcement, though he declined to disclose specifics about how the agreement materialized.
"Certain contractual arrangements and negotiations conducted with the UFC remain confidential," Golsani stated.
"We're restricted from discussing the terms and specifics of our talks.
What I can confirm is that our historical fight catalog won't appear on UFC Fight Pass. Every event from 2021 onward will stream live and remain accessible afterward on the UFC Fight Pass platform."
BFL has maintained a consistent presence broadcasting their events through their proprietary pay-per-view service for multiple years.
Golsani noted that he and his staff prefer maintaining complete oversight of what airs on screen, but acknowledged the UFC Fight Pass organization will only enhance their operations.
"Controlling our broadcast narrative has always been essential to us. We've declined various licensing opportunities before because we refused to surrender production authority," Golsani remarked.
"The UFC Fight Pass staff will undoubtedly provide assistance, recommendations, and supervision to verify we meet their quality benchmarks. Nevertheless, we retain full authority over the marketing and pre-event storytelling as well as during our broadcasts, provided everything aligns with UFC Fight Pass guidelines."
BFL's Acknowledgments
"Above all, we want to express our gratitude to Mr. Crowley and Tecce from the Fight Pass team for their counsel and direction throughout the past three months. We also owe thanks to Carolyn for her dedication over the last nine years with UFC Canada, helping elevate the sport domestically. We appreciate Mr. Patel from UFC's Canadian division for his confidence in our organization. We're thankful for all the effort Stephanie contributes regarding UFC communications. We extend our appreciation to the UFC for their relentless commitment within Canada. They played a crucial role in legalizing the sport in B.C. back in 2010. They've continued collaborating with commissions worldwide to establish safety protocols protecting all participating athletes. We especially want to recognize every martial arts school across British Columbia for standing by our team throughout the past decade. Without their backing and faith in our commitments, we wouldn't exist today."
