CFFC inks multi-year extension with UFC FIGHT PASS
Nine CFFC veterans made UFC debut in 2020, further cementing Premier MMA brand status
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC) will remain a cornerstone of UFC FIGHT PASS live programming for the foreseeable future after the promotion recently agreed to a new multi-year deal with the UFC's online streaming platform, where it will remain among UFC FIGHT PASS' Premier MMA brands.
"CFFC has established itself as one of the world's top combat sports promotions, and we are fortunate to be able to provide our fans and subscribers all over the world with CFFC's best-in-class bouts that have entertained fans for many years," UFC FIGHT PASS General Manager Crowley Sullivan said. "The way in which we have been able to grow our businesses together has been represented with integrity and consumer value that comes through in the CFFC broadcasts on UFC FIGHT PASS. We're looking forward to a terrific year ahead, and we encourage all fans to enjoy everything that CFFC brings to the combat sports community in 2021 and beyond."
The new deal caps off a successful 2020 campaign for CFFC, which sent nine promotional veterans to the UFC despite the clear challenges presented.
"The ongoing coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on every industry in 2020, and MMA was no exception," CFFC President Rob Haydak said. "But with our commitment to COVID-19 protocol leading our efforts, we still safely held 10 events on the year, including nine following a brief, temporary hiatus. We successfully completed hundreds of COVID tests for our athletes, cornermen and staff ahead of our fight cards, adhering to the stringent guidelines necessary to operate in our current global environment.
"We also saw our national footprint expand with the acquisition of V3Fights, taking us outside of our home market on the East Coast for the first time. To be able to not only maintain our operations in 2020 – but to also take a step forward – was a huge accomplishment for CFFC, and we look forward to continued success in this renewed partnership with UFC FIGHT PASS."
The promotion's commitment to graduating fighters to the highest level of the sport was on full display in 2020, with nine fighters with CFFC experience earning UFC deals – and eight of those athletes already picking up victories in the sport's leading promotion.
"Despite the challenges we faced, CFFC still managed to regularly fulfill our goal of helping fighters reach their dream of competing in the UFC," Haydak said. "And we're not just sending names to fill roster spots – we're sending athletes who are fully ready of competing in the octagon, as proven by fighters like Bill Algeo and Chris Daukaus, who have already earned performance bonuses in the UFC, as well.
"We can't wait to see the UFC debut of Nikolas Motta, who earned his way into the UFC by beating fellow former CFFC champ Joe Lowry in one of the best fights in the history of Dana White's Contender Series. Kyle Daukaus. Tafon Nchukwi. The list of fighters who have gone straight from our cage to the UFC continues to grow, and we're excited to continue that process in 2021 and beyond."
In addition to those notables moving to the UFC's famed octagon, CFFC athletes Paris Artis, Santo Curatolo, Yohan Lainesse and Pat Sabatini were all featured among the "31 best finishes of 2020" on UFC FIGHT PASS, standing testament to the incredible action that took place in the CFFC cage.
"We couldn't be happier at UFC FIGHT PASS to have established a fantastic partnership with CFFC that has laid as strong of a foundation as possible since the inception of our collaboration," Crowley said. "We're thrilled to have extended our partnership, and we are as optimistic as ever about helping one another grow."
CFFC's 2021 schedule is set to kick off in March, with the promotion planning another exciting set of back-to-back events on consecutive nights. Stay tuned to CFFC.tv for future announcements regarding those events and more.
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ABOUT CAGE FURY FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Considered one of the best regional, developmental mixed martial arts organizations in the industry, Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC) hosts events across the United States with an emphasis on cultivating the best and brightest talent in the sport. CFFC events are broadcast live on UFC FIGHT PASS, the leading digital subscription service for fight fans.
ounded in 2006, CFFC has served as home to a variety of UFC stars, including Anthony Smith, Jimmie Rivera, Aljamain Sterling, Kimbo Slice, Paul Felder, Jim Miller, Nick Catone, Lyman Good, Katlyn Chookagian, Shane Burgos and Jared Gordon. Led by its respected President Rob Haydak, CFFC’s executive team consists of sports and entertainment industry executives who have worked for some of the most prestigious brands in the world.