Summary:

Global Fight League (GFL) announces six inaugural franchise cities for its new team-based MMA league.
Teams will be based in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, London, São Paulo, and Dubai.
Legendary MMA figures like Wanderlei Silva, Lyoto Machida, and Cain Velasquez are involved as managers and coaches.
The inaugural draft will take place on January 24th in Phoenix, Arizona.
Several notable fighters, including Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Yoel Romero, are eligible for the draft.

Global Fight League: Six Cities Ready to Rumble!

The Global Fight League (GFL), a new team-based MMA league, has announced its six inaugural franchise cities, setting the stage for its first-ever draft.

The Cities

The GFL will feature teams from three US cities and three international locations:

United States: Los Angeles, New York, and Miami
International: London, São Paulo, and Dubai

Team Management and Coaching Staff

Several high-profile figures in the MMA world have already been confirmed as managers and coaches for these teams:

Los Angeles: Managed by MMA legend Wanderlei Silva and coached by Rafael Cordeiro.
New York: Coached by Ray Longo (managers and coaches to be announced).
Miami: Managed by former UFC title challenger Thiago Alves and coached by Conan Silveira.
London: Managed by former UFC middleweight Luke Barnatt and coached by Carl Prince.
São Paulo: Managed by former UFC champion Lyoto Machida and coached by Andre Pederneiras.
Dubai: Managed by former UFC champion Cain Velasquez and coached by Javier Mendez.

The Inaugural Draft

The GFL's inaugural draft will take place in Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday, January 24th. The teams will select their fighters for the upcoming season.

Notable Draft-Eligible Fighters

The GFL also announced a list of notable fighters eligible for the draft, including:

Mauricio "Shogun" Rua
Yoel Romero
Chad Mendes
Renan Barao
Douglas Lima
Ovince Saint-Preux
Todd Duffee

More athletes are expected to be added to this list soon. Commissioner Darren Owen stated, "This league is built on respect for the sport's history and a vision for its future." The GFL draft promises an exciting start to the league's inaugural season.

Source: Newsweek