Global Fight League is gearing up for a potential launch this April, and last week the draft was held to determine the teams prior to their debut event.
Over the course of the last several months, GFL has been stacking their roster, which now contains many legendary former UFC competitors, as well as a few wild cards.
The draft went down last Friday and lined up fighters to represent teams for Dubai, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and São Paulo. Most interestingly, Tyron Woodley, who has not been victorious in a combat sports appearance since 2018, was picked first overall and will represent Dubai.
Woodley’s time with the UFC ended in 2021 following 4 straight losses, but this was preceded by a dominant welterweight title reign that included 4 championship defenses. Following his MMA career, the former 170-pound king moved into professional boxing, where he lost two straight matches to Jake Paul, but earned a boatload of money in the process. Now Woodley will have an opportunity for one last dance, with a new organization full of other fighters that were also at one time retired.
Full Draft Results:
Dubai – Manager: Cain Velasquez, Coach: Javier Mendez
1. Tyron Woodley
2. Abubakar Nurmagomedov
3. Derek Brunson
4. Ali Isaev
Anastasia Nikolakakos
Alexa Connors
Adilet Nurmatov
Omari Akhmedov
Jessica Aguilar
Arlene Blencowe
Khumoyun Tukhtamuradov
Ronny Markes
Faine Mesquita
Farbod Iran Nezhad
Damir Ismagulov
Randi Field
Timur Valiev
Tofiq Musayev
Luke Rockhold
Todd Duffee
London – Manager: Luke Barnatt, Coach: Carl Prince
1. Gegard Mousasi
2. Alexander Gustafsson
3. Josefine Knutsson
4. Brett Johns
Chiara Penco
Julia Budd
Danny Roberts
Kelly Staddon
Pannie Kianzad
Mike Grundy
Norman Parke
Ilir Latifi
Cameron Else
Benson Henderson
Stuart Austin
Karolina Owczarz
Josh Hill
Tim Wilde
Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz
Tanner Boser
Los Angeles – Manager: Wanderlei Silva, Coach: Rafael Cordeiro
1. Sage Northcutt
2. Aspen Ladd
3. Tony Ferguson
4. Urijah Faber
Cory McKenna
Chad Mendes
Lorenz Larkin
Da Woon Jung
Jessica Penne
Leslie Smith
Tyler Diamond
Louis Glismnan
Rashad Evans
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane
Ray Borg
Grant Neal
Frank Mir
Cynthia Calvillo
Uriah Hall
Andrei Arlovski
Miami – Manager: Thiago Alves, Coach: Conan Silveira
1. Junior dos Santos
2. Anthony Pettis
3. Yoel Romero
4. Natasha Kuziuitina
Kayla Hracho
Cat Zingano
Andre Harrison
Dilano Taylor
Philipe Lins
Mariya Agapova
Charles Rosa
Gleison Tibau
Thiago Santos
Hannah Goldy
Eric Shelton
Hector Lombard
Robelis Despaigne
Paige VanZant
Marlon Moraes
Jeremy Stephens
New York – Manager: TBA, Coach: Ray Longo
1. Kevin Lee
2. Chris Weidman
3. Holly Holm
4. Melissa Amaya
Bi Nguyen
Lance Palmer
Neiman Gracie
Devin Clark
Marisa Messer-Belenchia
Liana Jojua
Kai Kamaka III
Dillon Danis
Ovince Saint Preux
Jimmie Rivera
Sidney Outlaw
Phillip Hawes
Alan Belcher
Miao Ding
Zviad Lazishvili
Aleksei Oleynik
Sao Paulo – Manager: Lyoto Machida, Coach: Andre Pederneiras
1. Fabricio Werdum
2. Douglas Lima
3. Carlos Petruzella
4. Camila Reynoso
Joice Mara
Alejandra Lara
Julio Arce
Alex Oliveira
Antonio Carlos Junior
Pamelo Mara
Paula Bittencourt
Maike Linhares
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
Raphael Assuncao
Patricky Pitbull
Alan Patrick
Bruno Cappelozza
Viviane Pereira
Renan Barao
Lucas Martins
(h/t Sports.Yahoo.com)