IBFA UK launches new WPC Pro League with prize money and expansion plans
Matthew Ali says the new organisation will provide athletes with a professional pathway while allowing the IBFA UK to retain its amateur identity.
By Gary Chappell
THE IBFA UK has announced the launch of a brand-new professional bodybuilding circuit – the World Pro Circuit (WPC) – with plans to award professional status, offer prize money and expand across Europe from 2027.
Speaking exclusively to Front Double, IBFA UK President Matthew Ali revealed that the WPC has been created to provide a genuine professional pathway for athletes, while allowing the IBFA to remain focused on its role as one of Britain's leading amateur federations.
Amateur focus remains
Ali stressed that the IBFA has no intention of moving away from its amateur roots and that the WPC is a sister organisation, with athletes qualifying through IBFA UK events.
He said: "We've always seen the IBFA as an amateur federation and that's something we want to protect. We don't want to pretend to be something we're not. Our aim is to remain one of the best amateur federations while continuing to improve every year.
"At the same time, we recognise that many athletes want to earn pro status. They want professional opportunities, to travel internationally and represent Team IBFA UK."
Why the WPC was created
Ali continued: "Originally, I was working with the ACP in France. The idea was that we'd support each other by sending athletes to each other's events. I'd already committed to bringing a large UK team to the ACP Universe.
"However, when I asked how many French athletes were coming to our event, I was told there weren't any. At that point I decided I'd still honour my promise and take a team to France, but I wasn't prepared to invest in something that had stopped being a two-way partnership.
"That was really the catalyst for creating our own professional circuit."
The decision to establish the WPC follows months of discussions and planning between Ali and IBFA UK Head Judge Keith Williams.
Ali explained that, although the IBFA recognises the IFBB Professional League as the pathway to the Olympia, many competitors still want opportunities to compete professionally elsewhere.
The WPC has therefore been created as a standalone professional circuit designed to complement rather than replace the amateur federation.
Ali said: "IBFA only recognises IFBB professional status in terms of restricting amateur eligibility because the IFBB remains the route to the Olympia.
"Athletes holding pro cards from other federations are still able to compete as amateurs with IBFA UK, which is the same approach taken by many other federations.
"We didn't want IBFA itself to become a professional federation. Instead, the WPC gives athletes a separate route into professional bodybuilding."
Professional cards will officially launch at the IBFA Mr & Miss Universe on July 12.
Three professional shows planned for 2027
Although still in its infancy, Ali confirmed ambitious plans for the circuit's first full competitive season.
Three professional events are currently planned for 2027:
WPC World Championships (Alicante, Spain)
WPC European Championships (Portugal)
A major UK professional event
He said: "We're already in discussions with other countries and planning our first international professional events.
"The biggest project is a World Championships in Alicante, Spain, next year. I'm currently looking at venues and working with Muscle Finesse, who have been very supportive.
"Everyone who wins their class at our qualifying shows this season will be considered for invitations, while outstanding runners-up may also receive invitations if the standard is high enough."
One of the biggest talking points surrounding the new circuit is prize money. Ali confirmed that professional events will offer financial rewards, with sponsorship already attracting significant interest.
He admitted much of the logistical work remains ongoing, including establishing the WPC's banking arrangements before sponsorship income can officially be accepted.
Learning from established pro leagues
Rather than attempting to reinvent the wheel, Ali said he has been studying established organisations including the PCA and 2 Bros Pro Events.
He said: "I'm looking to learn from top people like the PCA, 2 Bros, anyone who's got a good pro league going."
One area Ali appears particularly passionate about is disability bodybuilding. Having previously introduced disability classes into the IBFA UK programme, he confirmed those athletes will also have opportunities to earn professional status through the WPC.
Plans are also underway to introduce dedicated wheelchair bodybuilding competitions once suitable venues have been secured.
Beyond bodybuilding itself, Ali also revealed ambitions for the organisation to support charitable causes.
Future fundraising initiatives are expected to focus on:
Autism charities
Bereaved children
The causes are both personal to Ali. He said: "Disability bodybuilding is something that's particularly important to me.
"My daughter is non-verbal autistic, so autism awareness and support will become a major part of what we're doing.
"I was the person who originally introduced disability classes into IBFA UK. Since becoming President, those classes have expanded and now feature throughout the qualifying season and at the British Championships.
"The next step is introducing disability professional classes within the WPC. We're also planning a dedicated disability event, including wheelchair bodybuilding. We couldn't introduce wheelchair classes immediately because our existing venues weren't suitable, but we're sourcing venues that can accommodate every athlete properly.
"Nobody should be excluded from bodybuilding.
"Alongside competition, we also want to support charities. Autism is naturally close to my heart because of my daughter.
"I'd also like to support bereaved children. I lost my own father when I was 14, so helping young people access counselling is something I'd like the organisation to contribute towards."
Raising standards
Ali added: "One thing I'm passionate about is raising standards. Whether it's trophies, medals, venues or presentation, I want the WPC to stand out.
"For this year's Universe we've designed new trophies inspired by classic bodybuilding shows from the 1980s.
"The overall men's trophy has been named the Martyn Yates Brown Trophy as a tribute to [former President] Martyn and everything he has done for IBFA."
Front Double verdict
The announcement represents one of the biggest structural changes within the IBFA UK in recent years.
While the WPC remains in its early stages, the promise of professional cards, prize money and international competition offers athletes another route into the professional ranks outside the traditional IFBB system. It also offers athletes another professional option alongside organisations such as the PCA and NABBA, whose own professional league launched this year.
Much work remains before the first professional shows take place but, if Ali delivers on his ambitions, the WPC could become a significant addition to the UK's bodybuilding landscape from 2027 onward.
IBFA split explained: Matthew Ali reveals why UK bodybuilding fed broke away
In an exclusive interview, IBFA UK president Matthew Ali outlines the governance issues, declining standards and disputed incident he says led to the split
By Gary Chappell
IBFA UK president Matthew Ali claims the IBFA split was rooted in governance failures, declining international standards and a breakdown in trust following an alleged serious conduct incident at last season’s British Championships.
Ali says the move towards independence began not as an act of defiance, but as a practical necessity.
In order to open a community bank account and formalise UK operations, Ali says he was required to register an entity in his own name. That process, completed in October, led to the registration of the Independent Bodybuilding Fitness Association UK, while continuing to operate domestically under the IBFA UK banner.
Ali said: “The ‘independent’ part didn’t start as a breakaway. It started because I needed to open a proper bank account. To do that, I had to register a name and I wasn’t prepared to run UK shows through someone else’s identity.”
Allegations of misconduct at British Championships
According to Ali, tensions escalated following an incident at last season’s British Championships in Blackpool, involving a German-linked sponsor.
Ali alleges the individual became intoxicated, accused judges of fixing results, and caused distress backstage. He says he initially attempted to defuse the situation and allowed the individual to remain at the event and present trophies.
Ali said: “The guy in question was Kyle Vice. His father, Terry, competed in the show and came second. Kyle went backstage and started screaming and shouting about the result, saying we had fixed it. Kyle’s father said, ‘Listen, stop, I’m happy with the result, stop acting like this.’ But Kyle was saying, ‘No, no, Martin [Yates Brown] fixed it.’
“I asked Kyle what was going on and he said, ‘Let’s go outside. You’ve got a problem because I’m IBFA Germany.’”
Allegations: Matthew Ali
Ali says the individual was removed from the venue but later asked to return after apologising. “Security told me he was outside saying he was sorry, so I let him back in and allowed him to present the trophies for the class he sponsored.
“But after the show, people started messaging me saying they were really offended by what had gone on. So Martyn [honorary president Martyn Yates Brown] and I spoke and decided we had to make an example of it. That’s when we issued a lifetime ban.”
Ali says that ban was not well received internationally. “They told me it had to be discussed with other countries,” he said. “That’s when things started to change.”
Concerns over international standards
Ali also raised concerns about standards at recent international events, including the World Championships in Rome, which he says featured fewer than 30 competitors – nearly half of them from the UK.
He claims UK athletes were returning unimpressed, which he believes damaged the credibility of domestic titles.
Ali said: “When I went to the World Championships in Rome there were about 20 to 30 competitors in total – 12 of them were mine. Without the UK team there wouldn’t have been a show. There were people doing a class where they were the only competitor in it. I said it was devaluing the federation. In Britain, any one of my overall winners could take the Worlds easily.
“Without the 12 athletes we brought over, there wouldn’t have been a show. There was even one guy who did six or so classes.”
Ali also criticised the quality of trophies used at the IBFA Worlds and Universe. “Another bit of feedback I gave them was that they give women trophies of men,” he said. “Women don’t want a man’s trophy. Temugin [Filizola, of IBFA Italy] said, ‘Women like the trophies,’ but I told him I’d spoken to my athletes and they don’t.
“They’re made of Plaster of Paris – you make them yourself – and sometimes they crumble or break in people’s hands.”
Rejected proposals and breakdown in communication
Ali says he repeatedly offered to help rebuild the international calendar by hosting a Universe competition in the UK, saying he could guarantee strong numbers and support from British athletes. He claims those proposals were rejected, which he says further contributed to the IBFA split.
Instead, Ali says he was offered the opportunity to host a World Championships in France in 2027, but only if he cancelled his independently organised UK Universe.
“That’s where it stopped making sense to me,” he said. “If I’m trusted to host a world championship in another country, why can’t I host my own independent show at home? I also said I would still support their finals and bring the biggest team of all countries.”
Ali claims he later received a message from Temugin Filizola stating this was the final offer.
“He said, ‘Cancel the Universe and I can give you the World Championships in France in autumn 2027.’
“Why would I want a show in France in 2027? I don’t know anyone there. I can’t put a big show on. I told him I was already registered as independent – he knew that – and that I was going to run the Mr Universe as an independent show and still bring a team to them.
“My shows in the UK have no impact on theirs in Sapri or Rome. We bring them the most athletes. The Universe on July 12 in Cardiff will go ahead as an independent competition.”
Ali claims Filizola responded with an angry-face emoji.
After refusing to cancel the UK-based Universe, Ali says communication broke down. He claims he was blocked by international officials and later became aware of social media posts announcing Kenneth Brown as president of IBFA UK, the position Ali held.
Cease and desist notices followed, along with public confirmation that IBFA UK had been registered in October as the Independent Bodybuilding Fitness Association UK.
Shortly afterwards, the Italy-based federation launched IBFA GB, formally establishing a separate UK pathway.
Ali insists the split was not about walking away, but about being prevented from building what he believes the federation needed to survive.
“This wasn’t me going off and doing my own thing,” he said. “I was trying to raise standards, grow numbers and protect what we’d built in the UK.”
IBFA GB declined to respond to the claims outlined in this interview.
In correspondence with Frontdouble, a representative writing on behalf of IBFA GB said: “We offer absolutely zero response to the matter in question and will not respond to Matthew’s claims.”
Temugin Filizola of the Italy-based IBFA and IBFA GB secretary Kyle Vice were both contacted for comment. At the time of publication, no response had been received.
All allegations referenced in this article are attributed claims made by Matthew Ali during an interview with Frontdouble.com. No findings of wrongdoing are asserted as fact.
IBFA UK splits from international body amid presidency dispute
Matthew Ali denies takeover claims and warns of legal action
By Gary Chappell
IBFA UK has split from its former international parent organisation following a dispute over governance and the federation’s UK presidency.
A social media post published by IBFA International suggested that Kenneth Brown had been appointed as the new president of IBFA UK.
However, current UK president Matthew Ali has strongly denied the claim, issuing a public statement rejecting any suggestion of a takeover and warning of potential legal action.
Ali, who took over leadership of IBFA UK from Martyn Yates Brown at the start of the 2025 season, confirmed that IBFA UK is no longer affiliated with the Italy-based organisation.
According to Ali, a committee meeting was held on December 1, 2025, attended by himself, his wife Natalie, photographer and committee member Anthony Chia-Bradley, and honorary president Martyn Yates Brown. At that meeting, it was agreed to change the meaning of the IBFA UK acronym from International Bodybuilding Fitness Organisation to Independent Bodybuilding Fitness Organisation.
Ali also confirmed that, in a letter dated October 9, 2025, he and his wife published The IBFA UK Constitution & Rules, formally establishing IBFA UK as “an unincorporated, non-profit association”.
The dispute escalated on Saturday, January 10, when IBFA official Temugin Filizola published a Facebook post. It read: “New IBFA UK President is Mr Kenneth Brown.”
The post further claimed that Brown would be authorised to send Team UK athletes to international IBFA competitions and organise national and international events in the UK in 2026. Comments on the post were restricted. The same announcement was reposted on Sunday, January 11.
Ali responded publicly with a strongly worded statement denying the claims. In his announcement, he said: “No one is taking over IBFA UK. I have legally registered IBFA UK and copyrighted the acronym ‘IBFA UK’.
"I have all the documentation showing that a committee was formed. And this is published on the Independent Bodybuilding Fitness Association website.
"There is a cease and desist in place. Anyone attempting to slander our name or profit from our organisation will face legal action.”
It means historical trips to compete in the IBFA Universe in Sapri, Italy and the World Championships in Rome will no longer go ahead for those competing with the Independent Bodybuilding Fitness Association UK. But it remains unclear whether those competitions will be available for those competing under the International Bodybuilding Fitness Association UK, under Kenneth Brown.
Ali has confirmed that his IBFA UK will hold a Mr & Miss Universe competition in Cardiff on July 12.
Replying to a request for comment from frontdouble.com, Ali said: "“I took over IBFA UK from former president Martyn Yates Brown with only four competitions remaining in the season, two of which were my own. I personally sponsored the Universe in Italy and the World Championships in Rome, both of which were very poorly attended.
“Since then, I have rebuilt IBFA UK from scratch, staging around eight shows of my own, including a sold-out British Finals with over 120 competitors. At the Rome World Championships there were approximately 20 to 30 competitors in total, 12 of whom were athletes I brought over.
“I offered to help grow the international finals but was told no. At that point, I decided to formally register IBFA UK as an Independent Bodybuilding Fitness Association, with plans to stage finals both in the UK and internationally.
“I have provided documentation showing that the IBFA UK acronym is registered to me and that everything is legitimate. I then woke up to a social media post stating that Kenneth Brown was now IBFA UK president, despite receiving no communication whatsoever.
“I have received no correspondence from Temugin, who runs the international federation in Italy, and I have since been blocked.
“What I want to make clear is that IBFA UK is going from strength to strength. We have simply cut ties with the international federation, and they have done the same with us. That is the truth, and I have all the documents to support it."
No response from Filizola has been received at the time of publication.
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