Alex Rodriguez Joins Professional Fighters League as Investor, Board Member
May 19, 2022
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 15: Alex Rodriguez greets a young fan before Game Seven of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on May 15, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Former MLB All-Star Alex Rodriguez is joining a rising MMA promotion, the Professional Fighters League, as an investor and a member of its board of directors.
"I love the global reach of MMA," Rodriguez said in a statement. "The PFL continues to build and innovate for fans, media and fighters, and there is massive demand in the marketplace."
The Professional Fighters League was founded in 2018 with the idea of having fighters compete in a regular-season and playoff format, similar to how major professional sports leagues operate. Standings are determined by the result of a fight, with a win in earlier rounds garnering more points in the aggregate.
It's unclear how much of an investment Rodriguez made in the promotion, which has successfully pulled off three seasons to date. The company announced Rodriguez's inclusion on the board as part of a $30 million round of new funding.
The three-time AL MVP has been increasing his investment foothold in the sports world in recent years, becoming a minority owner of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves and the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx in 2021.
Rodriguez made $455.1 million during his MLB career, not counting endorsements.
