Four-Week Paid Internship Opportunity for Eight Students Attending Title 1 Schools in Atlanta
Overtime Elite Arena at Atlantic Station to host PFL MMA on June 17, June 24
and July 1 live on ESPN networks and streaming platforms
NEW YORK – June 15, 2022 - The Professional Fighters League, the fastest growing and most innovative sports league, today announced a partnership with Next Generation Men & Women, a non-profit organization in Atlanta, to provide eight under-resourced students from title 1 schools with a paid internship with the PFL. The four-week opportunity will offer students the ability to gain experience in various fields including TV production, event marketing, entertainment & hospitality, professional athlete services and ticket sales.
The second half of the 2022 PFL Regular Season begins Friday, June 17 from OTE Arena at Atlantic Station in Atlanta, with additional events on June 24 and July 1.
“The Professional Fighters League is honored to showcase the second half of the 2022 PFL Regular Season on ESPN at OTE Arena in Atlanta with three consecutive star-studded Friday night MMA events on June 17, June, 24 and July 1." said PFL CEO Peter Murray. "We pride ourselves on giving fighters an equal opportunity, and are now grateful to continue this trend with Next Generation and provide local Atlanta students access to the world of sports career opportunities starting with our PFL Summer League internship experiences across TV production, marketing, digital content creation, sponsorship, hospitality and event operations."
"Next Generation Men & Women is thrilled to partner with PFL to provide summer internship opportunities,” said Next Generation Men & Women Director of Finance & Operations, Tim Eldredge. “These opportunities provide our students with the exposure and experience necessary to build towards their professional aspirations. We are grateful for PFL's partnership.”
The pathway to the 2022 PFL World Championships and $1 million purse that comes with it will begin with a field of 24 fighters across six divisions. Each of the three Playoff events will feature the top-four fighters across two weight divisions battling to earn a spot in the final – the biggest night in MMA – with no other sports league able to match the thrilling action in this win-and-advance, lose-and-go-home format.
PFL is the #2 MMA company worldwide by all key metrics, including distribution reach, broadcast and streaming audience per event, and fighter roster quality. The PFL talent roster is world-class, with 25% of the fighters independently ranked in the top-25 of their respective weight class, including 2x PFL Champions Kayla Harrison and Ray Cooper III, former Bellator Champions Rory MacDonald and Julia Budd, and former UFC Champion Anthony Pettis.
About Professional Fighters League
Professional Fighters League (PFL) is the fastest growing and most innovative sports league. PFL is the #2 MMA company worldwide and the only with the sports-season format where individual fighters compete in Regular Season, Playoffs, and Championship.
PFL is primetime in the U.S on ESPN and ESPN+ and broadcast and streamed worldwide to 160 countries with over 25 media distribution partners including Channel 4, DirecTV, RMC Sport, Eurosport, Sky Sports. The PFL roster is world-class, with 25% of PFL fighters independently ranked in the top 25 in the world. The PFL proprietary SmartCage data and analytics platform powers real-time betting and provides next-gen viewing experience.
PFL has over two-dozen blue-chip brand sponsors such as Anheuser-Busch, IBM, GEICO, DraftKings, Bose, Socios.com, Air Force Reserve, and US Marine Corps. PFL has raised $200 million of capital to date from major investors, including Ares, Luxor Capital, Waverley Capital, Elysian Park Ventures, Swan Ventures, Knighthead, Legends, and several NBA, MLB, and NHL team owners.
MMA is the growth sport of this decade, with 600 million fans worldwide, the youngest audience demo of any sport, and true global revenue streams.
PFLmma.com; Instagram (@PFLmma); Twitter (@PFLMMA); Facebook (/PFLmma)
About Next Generation Men & Women
Next Generation Men & Women (Next Gen) is an Education Non-Profit dedicated to ensuring that every student is prepared to seize the opportunities life has to offer. We do this by partnering with high schools, local companies and colleges to provide under-resourced Atlanta high school students with the necessary exposure and support to graduate ready and committed to college and career.
Next Gen works with Title 1 High Schools to create student cohorts that begin in the 9th grade and remain together until graduation. Cohorts are led by a teacher inside the school and a college mentor from the metro-Atlanta area that guide students through curriculum rooted in personal identity, post-secondary exploration, professional & leadership development, and college & career planning. Cohorts meet twice a week, after school, and take monthly trips to local colleges and companies to engage with different careers and professionals.
Through four years of mentorship and exposure to different college and career possibilities, students develop a stronger sense of self, set informed goals, and build the skills and confidence necessary to be successful after graduation.
Next Gen currently serves 435 Students across five high schools and has 150 alumni that have graduated from the program. To learn more and support our mission, check us at www.NextGenATL.org or on social at @NextGenATL.
