9 Former UFC Champions Included On GFL’s Draft-Eligible Roster

News on the Global Fight League is gaining momentum by the day.

The mixed martial arts league will kick off its inaugural season in April, followed by playoffs leading to the crowning of its first champions.

The roster is large and packed with recognizable names from the UFC, Bellator, PFL, and ONE Championship. There are dozens of draft-eligible fighters in the men’s and women’s divisions, including nine former UFC champions.

I asked a GFL representative for a full list of the draft-eligible fighters. Here’s a look at the men’s and women’s lists as of January 3:

GFL Heavyweight

• Alan Belcher
• Aleksandr Maslov
• Alexei Oleynik
• Andrei Arlovski
• Fabricio Werdum
• Frank Mir
• Greg Hardy
• Junior Dos Santos
• Oli Thompson
• Philipe Lins
• Robelis Despaigne
• Roggers Sousa
• Stuart Austin
• Tanner Boser

GFL Light Heavyweight

• Alexander Gustafsson
• Cleiton Silva
• Da Woon Jung
• Emiliano Sordi
• Grant Neal
• Ovince Saint Preux
• Rafael Carvalho

GFL Middleweight

• Chauncey Foxworth
• Gegaro Mousasi
• Glaico Franca
• Hector Lombard
• Jared Revel
• Jozef Wittner
• Kyle Daukaus
• Luke Rockhold
• Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz
• Markus Perez
• Phillip Hawes
• Wanderlei Silva

GFL Welterweight

• Abubakar Nurmagomedov
• Adilet Nurmatov
• Austin Tweedy
• Benson Henderson
• Danny Mitchell
• Dominick Meriweather
• Francisco Trinaldo
• Joao Zeferino
• Jordan Mein
• Jozef Wittner
• Julio Spadaccini
• Michael Irizarry
• Rousimar Palhares
• Ruan Machado
• Tyron Woodley

GFL Lightweight

• Aaron McKenzie
• Alex Oliveira
• Amirkhon Alikhuzhaev
• Anthony Pettis
• Ayinda Octave
• Ayton De Paepe
• Benson Henderson
• Charles Rosa
• Christos Giagos
• Jefferson Pontes
• Jeremy Stephens
• John Makdessi
• Kevin Lee
• Killys Mota
• Lucas Martins
• Mohamed Tarek Mohey
• Oscar Ownsworth
• Raimundo Batista
• Sidney Outlaw
• Stephen Beaumont
• Will Brooks
• William Lima
• Yan Cabral

GFL Featherweight

• Alexsandro Cangaty
• Andre Harrison
• Claudeci Brito
• Deberson Batista
• Lance Palmer
• Marcel Adur
• Marcelo Dias
• Marlon Moraes
• Mohammad Abzakh
• Patrizio De Souza
• Renan Oliveira

GFL Men’s Bantamweight

• Cameron Else
• Denis Palancica
• Diego Teixeira
• Jimmie Rivera
• Marciano Ferreira
• Marcus Paulo Amaral
• Omar Arteaga
• Renan Barao

GFL Women’s Featherweight

• Julia Budd
• Julia Dorny
• Fernanda Guersone
• Mariza Loch
• Evelyn Martins
• Lorrany Santos

GFL Women’s Bantamweight

• Fernanda Barbosa
• Talita Bernardo
• Queila Braga
• Juliet Chukwu
• Brittney Cloudy
• Alexa Conners
• Bianca Diamoni
• Thaliat Diniz
• Tonya Evinger
• Pannie Kianzad
• Gisele Moreira
• Zurina Turrey
• Luz Vazquez
• Tamires Vidal

GFL Women’s Flyweight

• Mara Borella
• Miao Ding
• Kalindra Faria
• Janaisa Morandin
• Chiara Penco
• Andressa Rocha
• Antonia Silvaneide
• Paige VanZant

GFL Women’s Strawweight

• Melissa Amaya
• Yasmin Castanho
• Maria Luiz de Abreu
• Isabela de Padua
• Eva Dourthe
• Randi Field
• Hannah Goldy
• Brenda Gottig
• Kayla Hracho
• Natalia Kuziutina
• Pamela Mara
• Silvania Monteiro
• Bi Nguyen
• Jessica Penne
• Viviane Pereira
• Livinha Souza
• Isis Verbeek

GFL Women’s Atomweight

• Jessica Aguilar
• Claire Lopez

The GFL isn’t done locking fighters in as there are a few free agents who could be targets for the league. The PFL/Bellator’s Aaron Pico would be an excellent get for the GFL.

His contract with the PFL is coming to an end soon, but rumors suggest they would like to re-sign him. Likewise, rumors suggest the UFC is interested.

If the GFL could snag Pico, it would be a strong storyline for them heading into their first season. The GFL Draft happens on January 24.

Look out for more coverage of the league leading up to the draft.