The Global Fight League (GFL) is set to make a splash in the mixed martial arts (MMA) world with its official launch scheduled for April. This new promotion promises to bring back the exhilarating team format reminiscent of the old International Fight League (IFL). But before the fighters can enter the cage, roster selections had to be made, leading to the highly anticipated GFL draft held on January 24.

This three-hour event was star-studded, featuring numerous MMA legends—both fighters and coaches—who added a sense of prestige to the proceedings. Hosted by notable figures such as Mike Goldberg, Brendan Schaub, Robin Black, and Caroline Pearce, the night began with GFL founder Darren Owen announcing the picks. Interestingly, after the fourth round, the draft format was abandoned, leaving fans and analysts without a full explanation of how teams were ordered.

Over 420 eligible fighters were part of the draft pool, but only 120 made the cut for the six GFL teams spanning the globe. In a major surprise, former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley was selected first overall by Team Dubai. He was joined in the top picks by heavy-hitters like Gegard Mousasi, Sage Northcutt, Junior dos Santos, Kevin Lee, and Fabricio Werdum, all of whom have substantial accolades in the MMA scene.

Here Are the Full Rosters for Each Team:

Team Dubai

Manager: Cain Velasquez Coach: Javier Mendez 1. Tyron Woodley 2. Abubakar Nurmagomedov 3. Derek Brunson 4. Ali Isaev *(Additional fighters include Jessica Aguilar, Luke Rockhold, and Timur Valiev among others.)*

Team London

Manager: Luke Barnatt Coach: Carl Prince 1. Gegard Mousasi 2. Alexander Gustafsson 3. Josefine Knutsson 4. Brett Johns *(Completing the squad are Julia Budd and Norman Parke.)*

Team Los Angeles

Manager: Wanderlei Silva Coach: Rafael Cordeiro 1. Sage Northcutt 2. Aspen Ladd 3. Tony Ferguson 4. Urijah Faber *(Also featuring Rashad Evans and Andrei Arlovski.)*

Team Miami

Manager: Thiago Alves Coach: Conan Silveira 1. Junior dos Santos 2. Anthony Pettis 3. Yoel Romero 4. Natasha Kuziuitina *(Notable names include Cat Zingano and Paige VanZant.)*

Team New York

Manager: TBD Coach: Ray Longo 1. Kevin Lee 2. Chris Weidman 3. Holly Holm 4. Melissa Amaya *(The roster is bolstered by UFC veterans like Ovince Saint Preux.)*

Team São Paulo

Manager: Lyoto Machida Coach: Andre Pederneiras 1. Fabricio Werdum 2. Douglas Lima 3. Carlos Petruzella 4. Camila Reynoso *(Featuring names like Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Renan Barao.)*

What to Expect Moving Forward:

The excitement doesn't stop with the draft, as fans anticipate the GFL's game-changing format for fighter competition. Each team's performance will be scored based on individual fight results, earning points for their teammates, with a finish win bringing in a hefty four points. GFL intends to operate with seven men’s divisions and three women’s divisions, a shift from earlier plans that drew interest.

As the GFL approaches its official launch, anticipation builds not only around the roster of fighters but also the unique competition structure that aims to reinvigorate MMA viewing experiences. Keep an eye on this new promotion—it's sure to shake up the landscape of combat sports as we know it!