Under Dana White’s leadership, the UFC has cemented its place as the undisputed premier MMA organization on the planet. But the head honcho is no stranger to challengers coming for the throne. Now, the Global Fight League (GFL) has thrown its hat into the ring, and it’s causing a stir. GFL, set to debut in April 2025, promises to rewrite the playbook with its unique league structure and jaw-dropping offers. Among them? A heavyweight deal reportedly worth $1.4 million per fight!

In a recent post shared on Instagram by NeverTapOutt, it was revealed that, “Alex Behunin reported a heavyweight on the GFL roster signed a contract for 1.4m per fight. There’s 4 former UFC champions available. Frank Mir, Andrei Arlovski, Fabricio Werdum, Junior Dos Santos.”

The GFL, originally announced as the World Fight League (WFL) isn’t just another MMA promotion. Backed by a Silicon Valley investor and helmed by Darren Owen, a seasoned name in MMA promotion, the league promises fighters something unheard of—a 50-50 revenue split, medical coverage, retirement benefits, and a points-based team competition format.

Dana White might not be losing sleep yet, but the offer signals GFL’s ambitions. With whispers of the contract targeting a former UFC heavyweight star, fans are abuzz with the rise of another contender promotion but there’s a catch. Here’s a look at what the MMA sphere had to say online!

Dana White’s latest opponent in the MMA world doesn’t convince fans even with reports of the massive contract offer  

For some fans, the addition of Robelis Despaigne in the Instagram update alongside Frank Mir and Junior Dos Santos raised some eyebrows. The 2012 Summer Olympics Bronze medalist in taekwondo was released from the UFC in 2024 after going 1-2 in the promotion. While there was a lot of buzz surrounding him due to his Olympic credentials and a staggering 87-inch wingspan, ultimately, he was unable to string together impressive performances.

“Why is Despaigne up there”

Other fans offered up the name of Chris Barnett as a possible addition to the GFL roster. ‘Beastboy’ most recently faced off against Kennedy Nzechukwu at UFC 308 and suffered a first-round TKO loss. With a 2-3 record under Dana White’s banner, could this be the next move for the UFC heavyweight? After all, names like Greg Hardy, Alexei Oleynik, and Tanner Boser, all former UFC stars have been linked to the GFL draft.

“Get Chris Barnett”

But what about the age of the fighters? With many of the names being far past their fighting prime, fans are also concerned about the visuals of watching veterans battling it out in the cage. What do you think?

“i don’t wanna see a bunch of 50 year olds fight”

Although names like Werdum, Arlovski, and Dos Santos have all had Dana White wrap the UFC gold around their waist at one point in their careers, fans aren’t too sure about them making a return to action. CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy), is a major concern for athletes involved in contact sports, and in the heavyweight division where every fighter is throwing sledgehammer-like fists, veterans taking more damage does ring some alarm bells.

“Oh boy all the heavyweight contenders from 2008. Call it the CTE Fiesta.”

While there aren’t any confirmations about who received the $1.4m contract at the moment, some fans have confidently predicted that Junior Dos Santos might be the one. Since his exit from the UFC in 2021, Dos Santos has fought in Eagle FC and Gamebred FC. It’s also interesting to note that he’s currently on a 2-fight winning streak in bare-knuckle MMA which also includes a win over Fabricio Werdum in 2023!

“Gotta be JDS”

As the dust settles on GFL’s ambitious $1.4 million contract offer, one thing is clear—it’s shaken up the MMA world. With a fresh league structure, unheard-of perks for fighters, and a focus on big names, GFL is making waves before its first fight even takes place. But the bigger question looms: can GFL truly challenge Dana White’s UFC empire, or is this just another fleeting experiment in MMA’s storied history? While the promise of revived legends is intriguing, many fans fear it could tarnish their legacies and more. Is GFL the dawn of a new era or simply another challenger in over its head? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!