The Professional Fighters League (PFL) and SMT (SportsMEDIA Technology) announced an exclusive, long-term technology partnership. Under the terms of the agreement, SMT will partner with the PFL to create proprietary technology that will measure real-time MMA fighter performance analytics along with biometric and positional data that will provide fans a live event experience across all platforms.
Starting in 2019, SMT will help power the PFL’s vision of the first-ever SmartCage. The SmartCage will utilize biometric sensors and proprietary technology that will enable the PFL to measure and deliver real-time fighter performance data and analytics, what the PFL is dubbing: Cagenomics. PFL fans watching linear and digital broadcasts of the league’s Regular Season, Playoff, and Championship events will experience a new dimension of MMA fight action with integration of live athlete performance and tracking measurements including: speed (mph) of punches and kicks, power ratings, heart rate tracking, energy exerted, and more.
“The Professional Fighters League is excited to be partnering with SMT to advance the sport of MMA. The PFL’s new SmartCage will revolutionize the way MMA fans experience watching live fights as next year every PFL fight will deliver unprecedented, real-time fighter performance data and analytics, biometric tracking, and an enhanced visual presentation of this great sport,” says Peter Murray, CEO, Professional Fighters League. “Not only will PFL fans benefit from our SmartCage™ innovation, but our pro fighters will now have access to new performance measurement data, analysis, and tools to help them train and compete. The PFL’s vision has always been two-fold: deliver the absolute best experience to fans and be a fighters first organization and with the SmartCage we will accomplish both.”
“SMT is thrilled to be collaborating with the Professional Fighters League’s forward-thinking innovation team to bring our latest and greatest technology to PFL events,” says Gerard J. Hall, Founder & CEO, SMT. “Starting in 2019, PFL fans will begin to see real-time, live, innovative technology that is unique to the PFL in the MMA space. SMT’s OASIS Platform will provide the PFL with a seamlessly integrated system that combines live scoring with real-time biometric and positional data to enhance the analysis, storytelling and graphic presentation of the PFL’s Regular Season, Playoffs and Championship events next season.”
The PFL 2018 Championship takes place on New Year’s Eve live from The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden and consists of the 6 world title fights in 6 weight classes of the PFL 2018 Season. Winners of each title bout will be crowned PFL World Champion of their respective weight class and earn $1M. The PFL Championship can be viewed live on Monday, December 31 on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) from 7 to 11 pm ET in the U.S. and on Facebook Watch in the rest of the world.