British MMA star left in limbo as GFL promotion with UFC legends goes silent: ‘I don’t know what’s happening’
Stuart Austin signed with the Global Fight League at the start of the year, filled with anticipation. Fast forward four months, and Austin has yet to compete for his new promotion after its inaugural event was cancelled – leaving the 36-year-old in a situation where ‘nothing has been made clear.’ Austin signed to the GFL for Team London, alongside MMA stars like Alexander Gustafsson and Benson HendersonGetty Images - Getty But he’s been left in the dark ever sinceGetty Images - Getty Reports emerged this month that the GFL had cancelled its debut event in May. The doubleheader was meant to feature some of MMA‘s biggest stars, such as Tony Ferguson, Paige VanZant and Urijah Faber, but a statement from the promotion confirmed it would no longer be going ahead. GFL claimed its ‘primary investor’ had pulled out of ‘their funding commitment,’ and said that any athlete signed to the promotion could ask to leave immediately. This left a whole host of fighters unemployed, as many decided to announce their departure from the promotion on the day. As for Austin, who is one of three fighters to hold a victory over UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, he hasn’t heard anything. “We’ve basically been told if we want to be released we can,” he said speaking to talkSPORT.com, while also admitting he heard of the GFL’s collapse in the same way everyone else did. “I don’t know what’s happening. I don’t know whether a show is going to happen or not. Nothing has been made clear. “I’ve not had an email from them about anything. I heard some people have been asked about fighting in June. I’ve not. So I guess that’s basically it really.” Austin’s comments are extremely alarming, given the GFL invested a lot of time and money into making a big stamp on the MMA scene following its reveal. It was supposed to be MMA‘s next big thing, with legendary fighters like Fabricio Werdum, Anthony Pettis, Luke Rockhold, Tyron Woodley and Alexander Gustafsson having all signed with the promotion. The promotion released a short statement after news of its cancelled eventGlobal Fight League Less than four months after signing with the GFL, Austin isn’t expecting to hear any fight news in the near future “It’s weird the way they just went quiet,” Austin added. “They just went dead. “And I know some people did get paid, not like huge amounts, but they were getting paid.” Austin boasts a pro MMA record of 18-8, and although he has competed for some of the biggest promotions, including PFL and OKTAGON, he has fought just once since May 2023. His mindset has shifted from learning to teaching as he attempts to guide young fighters like UFC undefeated heavyweight Mario Pinto to the sport’s summit. The Englishman concluded by offering fascinating insight into communication between fighters and promotions, while asserting he’s not expecting anything from the GFL at this stage. “Most international level shows, the major regional shows, you’re not going to be speaking to them every day,” Austin said. MMA’s biggest stars like Tony Ferguson had signed with the GFLGetty As had former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley “You maybe get an email once a week about stuff and that’s about it. Maybe a phone call once in the whole camp, there’s not much going on. “You’ll be told, ‘We need you for an interview, we need you to do this or that,’ and it’s just left quiet. “People think there’s more to it than there is in terms of communication. “There have been shows where I get told I’m fighting and I don’t speak to anyone and, they send me the tickets, they send me the plane tickets and then I turn up. “A month later, two months later, you turn up and you fight and they give you money – it’s a bit of the Wild West in general MMA is.” GFL’s slump has opened up a wider story on the current state of MMA. Several MMA fans believe their move is bad for the sport, in terms of using it to take money from investors with no intent to construct an event in the long term. Other have showed sympathy for the fighters who have left or passed on other opportunities to join forces with GFL, which is now skating on thin ice. In a letter sent to MMA Junkie this month, GFL’s Founder Darren Owen was fully confident with his promotion coming back stronger. “We are likely going to have to launch in June, but 100 percent moving forward,” he said. This followed confirmation from California State Athletic Commission executive director Andy Foster that the event, due to take place at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, had been cancelled.
Stuart Austin signed with the Global Fight League at the start of the year, filled with anticipation.
Fast forward four months, and Austin has yet to compete for his new promotion after its inaugural event was cancelled – leaving the 36-year-old in a situation where ‘nothing has been made clear.’
Reports emerged this month that the GFL had cancelled its debut event in May.
The doubleheader was meant to feature some of MMA‘s biggest stars, such as Tony Ferguson, Paige VanZant and Urijah Faber, but a statement from the promotion confirmed it would no longer be going ahead.
GFL claimed its ‘primary investor’ had pulled out of ‘their funding commitment,’ and said that any athlete signed to the promotion could ask to leave immediately.
This left a whole host of fighters unemployed, as many decided to announce their departure from the promotion on the day.
As for Austin, who is one of three fighters to hold a victory over UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, he hasn’t heard anything.
“We’ve basically been told if we want to be released we can,” he said speaking to talkSPORT.com, while also admitting he heard of the GFL’s collapse in the same way everyone else did.
“I don’t know what’s happening. I don’t know whether a show is going to happen or not. Nothing has been made clear.
“I’ve not had an email from them about anything. I heard some people have been asked about fighting in June. I’ve not. So I guess that’s basically it really.”
Austin’s comments are extremely alarming, given the GFL invested a lot of time and money into making a big stamp on the MMA scene following its reveal.
It was supposed to be MMA‘s next big thing, with legendary fighters like Fabricio Werdum, Anthony Pettis, Luke Rockhold, Tyron Woodley and Alexander Gustafsson having all signed with the promotion.
“It’s weird the way they just went quiet,” Austin added. “They just went dead.
“And I know some people did get paid, not like huge amounts, but they were getting paid.”
Austin boasts a pro MMA record of 18-8, and although he has competed for some of the biggest promotions, including PFL and OKTAGON, he has fought just once since May 2023.
His mindset has shifted from learning to teaching as he attempts to guide young fighters like UFC undefeated heavyweight Mario Pinto to the sport’s summit.
The Englishman concluded by offering fascinating insight into communication between fighters and promotions, while asserting he’s not expecting anything from the GFL at this stage.
“Most international level shows, the major regional shows, you’re not going to be speaking to them every day,” Austin said.
“You maybe get an email once a week about stuff and that’s about it. Maybe a phone call once in the whole camp, there’s not much going on.
“You’ll be told, ‘We need you for an interview, we need you to do this or that,’ and it’s just left quiet.
“People think there’s more to it than there is in terms of communication.
“There have been shows where I get told I’m fighting and I don’t speak to anyone and, they send me the tickets, they send me the plane tickets and then I turn up.
“A month later, two months later, you turn up and you fight and they give you money – it’s a bit of the Wild West in general MMA is.”
GFL’s slump has opened up a wider story on the current state of MMA.
Several MMA fans believe their move is bad for the sport, in terms of using it to take money from investors with no intent to construct an event in the long term.
Other have showed sympathy for the fighters who have left or passed on other opportunities to join forces with GFL, which is now skating on thin ice.
In a letter sent to MMA Junkie this month, GFL’s Founder Darren Owen was fully confident with his promotion coming back stronger.
“We are likely going to have to launch in June, but 100 percent moving forward,” he said.
This followed confirmation from California State Athletic Commission executive director Andy Foster that the event, due to take place at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, had been cancelled.
