Being an MMA fighter comes with significant risk. It's a brutal sport fought by some incredibly tough people. However, it would appear that some former UFC stars are done with being bludgeoned for a living and are switching to a softer combat sport.
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Enter professional pillow fighting.
Yes, you read that right.
Pillow Fight Championship, or PFC for short, has become a fully professional and licensed combat sport. It holds licenses in nine countries, with more expected to follow.
"We fit squarely between UFC and WWE in our own niche," Steve Williams, founder of the PFC, said. "The competition is 100% real with a truly unique entertainment value."
It would also seem that the cheif content officer of the PFC, Kevin Powers, is also bullish on the companies chances of success.
"We definitely embody that Ocho Sports spirit," he said. "The kind of 'wtf is this' on paper, but once you actually see it, you become a fan."
In fairness, Professional Pillow Fighting does sound fun. Not only will it potentially attract combat sports fans, but it will also appeal to those who are against the brutal nature of MMA.
What Are the Rules of Professional Pillow Fighting
As with any sport, Professional Pillow Fighting has its own set of rules. Chief among those rules is not striking an opponent with any part of your body. You can swing the pillow full force, you can strike down from over your head, and you can hold the pillow one-handed.
However, you cannot grab or charge your opponent. Dropping or throwing the pillow is also prohibited.
"The PFC's patented Combat Pillows are constructed from a neon-coloured ripstop nylon originally sourced from sailcloth, a material Williams stumbled upon almost by accident during the sport's development, with a special coating that makes the pillow air-tight, creating a drum-like surface that cracks like a whip on impact," Unilad reports. "A single-handed grip is mandatory."
There's always scope for a more whimsical combat sport. Especially one as easily entertaining as Professional Pillow Fighting. The challenge will be getting it to take off on the international scene. It might not happen overnight, but it certainly sounds like fun!
