Exclusive: Lance Palmer Details Friction with Professional Fighters League

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The last four months have been a frustrating time in Lance Palmer’s career. In December, he says he chose “loyalty” over free agency, and re-signed with the Professional Fighters League days before he scored a second straight featherweight championship. Now with the 2020 season cancelled, a possible 18-month forced hiatus ahead of him, and recent drama between the league and his father Dwayne becoming a public mess, the PFL star has asked for is release. In his mind, his public stance on his displeasure is not being done on just his behalf, but for other fighters on the roster unwilling to do the same.

“They’re using the pandemic as a reason to extend the contract. But they are saying it’s a natural disaster, which it’s not. So, that’s where it starts getting into litigation and things like that. But that’s really going to extend my time of not fighting if we go into litigation. The reason why I asked for my release is because of the stuff with my dad. Because that’s just taking family into business. You don’t put somebody’s family into a business scenario. There’s no other reason you would have to make a statement like that, unless you’re angry with your position on me putting them in the media. I’m speaking my mind. You know how many people that fight for PFL who are like, “you got offered $1000 a month for five months?” And then they are saying they didn’t get offered that, [or] they’re saying they didn’t get offered anything to sit. There’s a lot of people that are unhappy but are afraid to say something and that’s kind of why I wanted to make my voice be heard.”

Along with laying out his reasons for wanting a departure from the league, Palmer also spoke in detail about the social media post from his father that lead to deeper friction between the featherweight and the PFL. Plus, “The Party” talked about his near decade long friendship with Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight mainstay Joseph Benavidez.