Andy Shepherd (Credit: Matt Davies Photography)
Andy Shepherd: “PFL Champions are second to none, league format super intriguing”
Andy Shepherd is not just the voice of the PFL SmartCage, he is superbly talented with his knowledge and talent in combat sports. As a ring announcer and broadcaster in WWE, boxing, and mixed martial arts, Shepherd has quite literally seen and experienced it all. As his career continues to elevate so does the Professional Fighters League, and he’s proud of the rising journey he’s been around for with the promotion.
Speaking to MyMMANews.com ahead of PFL MENA 2, Shepherd discussed the impact of the PFL’s worldwide focus on finding talents, why their international leagues finding success is crucial, and how all champions in PFL have found benefits both professionally and personally. Just as they have with their PFL Global and PFL Europe leagues, the company will have their second PFL MENA event this week, which, like PFL Europe, will see multiple champions crowned the league title, $100,000 in grand prize money, and an opportunity to make it onto the Global roster and achieve even bigger goals.
The importance of these leagues are not only for the future of the fighters involved, but for the PFL as a whole, and Andy Shepherd believes leagues like PFL Europe and PFL MENA have major rewards for all parties involved.
“Massive, massive. These shows are massively important, first of all, I think the league format is super intriguing. We know what other MMA organizations do, we know what the UFC does, they have fights. People can make the fights they want to make [in other promotions]. When you come into the PFL, the Global season for example, you have to earn, you have to put together a body of work, it’s not about one fight. It’s not about one fight and you have to perform well, you have to put together a body of work over an entire season, that to me is why it is so intriguing.”
With that intrigue comes the experience of a PFL Regular Season and the most fascinating time of it all according to Andy Shepherd, the second round matchups. It is during the second round were all playoff berths are clinched. Even if fighters come into the second-round with six points from their first round fight, there are tiebreaker scenarios that play a final say in the playoff field.
“The second round apart from the Championship is the most intriguing time because really for the only time, a MMA fight is not just about winning or losing. There are so many different permutations and so many different things you have to think about going into fights because it’s about amassing points. The four athletes with the most points will progress onto the playoffs and then the winners will go on to the Finals. How you win is so important.”
Behind the unique format that the Professional Fighters League has with their season style format, the reward is more than just a world title. For those who may be unfamiliar with the Professional Fighters League or their roster of fighters, there is more to than just the championship title, PFL champions get more than most may realize, and in comparison to other world champions, those representing the PFL are up there with the very best.
“When you get to the championship on the global level you win the title, $1 million, first of all, life-changing. Life-changing because you’re now a world champion, life-changing cause you won $1 million, it allows these athletes to have a cushion, to provide for their family, and if they’re not already, to put their all into mixed martial arts, it’s a game-changer. I think that PFL Global title is certainly recognized up there with the best titles in the world.”
It is because of the PFL Regular Season format, the awards received by the champions, and the focus on internal and external growth from everyone involved, that the champions and the entire stable of fighters are comparable to the very best in the world. Andy Shepherd has seen the growth, he’s experienced the growth in the PFL, and as business is starting to pick up around the world, it is truly just getting started for Shepherd and the PFL as a whole.
