The Professional Fighters League (PFL) Europe is the European division of the PFL MMA promotion based in the United States. PFL Europe launched in 2022 and features both men’s and women’s divisions, with fighters competing in a regular season and playoff format for a championship and $1 million prize.
For MMA fans in the US looking to watch PFL Europe, there are a few different options available. PFL has media rights deals with broadcasters and streaming services in both the US and Europe, so coverage can be found on certain TV channels and streaming platforms depending on where you are located.
In this guide, we’ll break down the various ways to watch PFL Europe from the US:
Watch on ESPN
The main way to watch PFL Europe in the US is on the ESPN family of networks and streaming platforms. PFL has a broadcast deal with ESPN, making the sports media giant the home for PFL content for US audiences.
PFL Europe regular season events are available to watch live on ESPN+. ESPN’s direct-to-consumer streaming service carries all PFL Europe regular season matchups live. An ESPN+ subscription costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year.
For the PFL Europe playoffs and championship events, coverage shifts to ESPN’s linear TV channels, with events typically airing live on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. These channels come standard with most cable, satellite and live TV streaming subscriptions in the US.
So ESPN, and specifically ESPN+, is the best place to watch PFL Europe for MMA fans in the US. An ESPN+ subscription along with access to ESPN’s TV channels will get you coverage of the full PFL Europe season.
Watch on ProSiebenSat.1
While ESPN is the PFL’s US rightsholder, in Europe the league has a media deal with ProSiebenSat.1. The German media company carries PFL Europe events across its platforms in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
For fans in the US wanting to access the ProSiebenSat.1 coverage, the best option is to use a VPN (virtual private network). A VPN will allow you to set your location to one of the countries where ProSiebenSat.1 has the PFL rights.
Some popular VPNs that could work include ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Surfshark. Connect to a server in Germany, Austria or Switzerland and you should then be able to visit the website of channels like ProSieben MAXX Deutschland and stream PFL Europe events live.
Check the PFL Europe schedule ahead of time to know which ProSiebenSat.1 channel will have the fights you want to watch. The broadcasts are typically in German.
Watch on the PFL’s OTT Platform
Another alternative for watching PFL Europe is directly via the PFL’s own over-the-top (OTT) streaming platform. The PFL has a PFL MMA app and website that live streams events in select international markets.
Currently, PFL’s OTT platform has the rights to stream PFL Europe in a number of European countries but not the United States. However, as with the ProSiebenSat option, you can use a quality VPN service to set your location to a country like the UK or France to potentially access and stream PFL Europe events on the PFL platform.
The PFL’s own platform provides English language broadcasts, making it perhaps the most straightforward international option for US fans to watch the European league.
Watch Replays and Highlights
If you can’t watch PFL Europe events live, another alternative is to watch replays and highlights after they air.
PFL Europe match replays are available to watch on-demand on ESPN+ in the US. Usually full event replays are posted a day or two after live airing.
There are also PFL YouTube channels that post highlights and clips from Europe events a few hours after they happen live. This allows you to keep up with the action from the European league even if you miss the live broadcasts.
How to Get PFL Europe Updates from the US
In addition to watching PFL Europe, MMA fans in the US can also follow the events through news, updates and analysis:
- Check the PFL website and app for news, rankings, fighter profiles and statistics
- Follow PFL social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
- Watch PFL Europe previews, recaps and analysis on YouTube
- Listen to PFL podcasts like PFL Lead Off for insights
- Read PFL press releases for announcements of events, matchups and more
- Follow MMA media outlets like MMA Fighting, MMA Junkie and Sherdog for PFL Europe coverage
Staying up-to-date on news from PFL Europe will enhance the experience of watching the events and give you key storylines to look out for during the season.
PFL Europe Viewing Schedule in the US
Here is a breakdown of the options available for watching PFL Europe in the US and the schedule for the league’s 2023 season:
Regular Season
The PFL Europe regular season runs from March through June and features events each month. During the regular season, all PFL Europe events are available to watch live and on-demand via:
- ESPN+ (live)
- ESPN+ and PFL App (on-demand replay)
Dates:
- March 25 – London
- April 29 – Warsaw
- May 27 – Berlin
- June 24 – Paris
Playoffs
The PFL Europe playoffs take place in August and air live on US television:
- ESPN2 or ESPN Deportes (live)
- ESPN+ (on-demand replay)
Date:
- August 20 – London
Championship
The PFL Europe Championship is in September and also airs live on US TV:
- ESPN2 or ESPN Deportes (live)
- ESPN+ (on-demand replay)
Date:
- September 30 – London
So in summary, ESPN networks and ESPN+ provide the best options for watching PFL Europe in the US throughout the regular season, playoffs and championship.
Factors to Consider When Watching PFL Europe from the US
If you plan to watch PFL Europe from the United States this season, here are some factors to keep in mind:
Time difference
PFL Europe events will take place in locations like London, Paris, Warsaw and Berlin. The time difference between the US and Europe means many events will air early in the morning or afternoon in the US. Be prepared to either wake up early or avoid spoilers until you can watch a replay.
Broadcast Team
PFL Europe events feature a European broadcast team, not the US commentary crew fans may be used to hearing during PFL events in the States. The PFL has put together a knowledgeable team for the European league but it will be a different presentation than US broadcasts.
Regional Fighters
The PFL Europe roster consists primarily of fighters from Eastern Europe, Russia, the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe. US fans may not be as familiar with these fighters and their backgrounds compared to favorites in the US league.
Ruleset Differences
While generally using the unified PFL ruleset, there could be minor variations in the rules, scoring, judges and regulations between PFL Europe and US events. The core elements remain the same but small differences may be noticeable.
Being aware of these factors will provide more context when watching PFL Europe from abroad and following the new European league as an MMA and PFL fan based in the US.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about how to watch PFL Europe in the United States:
What channel is PFL Europe on in the US?
PFL Europe airs primarily on ESPN platforms – ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ for live events, and all events are available on-demand on ESPN+ after they air.
Does ESPN+ have PFL Europe?
Yes, ESPN+ is the best place to watch PFL Europe in the US. The streaming service carries the PFL Europe regular season live and has on-demand replays of all events.
What countries can watch PFL Europe on the PFL app?
The PFL app streams PFL Europe in certain markets like the UK, France and Italy. Fans in the US can access the PFL app broadcasts using a VPN set to one of those countries.
What is the PFL Europe schedule?
PFL Europe started in March and runs through September, with regular season events monthly, playoffs in August, and the championship in September. All events are on Saturday nights European time.
How can I watch PFL Europe fights live online?
For US fans, watching PFL Europe fights live online is included with an ESPN+ subscription, which carries all the regular season events exclusively. The playoffs and championship air on TV on ESPN’s channels.
Conclusion
PFL Europe offers MMA fans in the US an exciting new product to enjoy with elite talent competing in the PFL format. While watching from the US requires using various streaming and TV options at odd hours, the ability to see prospects from across Europe on the rise makes it compelling viewing.
With PFL Europe airing on ESPN platforms all season, signing up for ESPN+ and having access to channels like ESPN2 provides the full coverage of Europe events stateside. Alternatively, virtual private networks can help access the PFL Europe broadcasts from their home region when geo-restricted.
For the latest news, updates and analysis on PFL Europe to enhance the viewing experience, following MMA media outlets, the PFL website and PFL social media is recommended. With the proper streaming services or VPNs, US fans have multiple ways to watch PFL Europe and support the new league.