Jake Paul's MVP merges with PFL, creating a new MMA organization

MVP and PFL have merged, but with the new company operating under the MVP banner as Paul bids to disrupt the UFC’s hold on mixed martial arts

Jake Paul's MVP promotion has snatched up the PFL to create a combined promotion that could challenge the UFC in the combat sports space.

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 22: Jake Paul looks on during the Battle of the Giants Press Conference at The Anthem on August 22, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images The highly-rumored Most Valuable Promotions and Professional Fighters League merger is officially a done deal. MVP and PFL announced on Thursday morning that the companies have merged together under the MVP banner. According to a press release, creates a global sports and entertainment company that brings together boxing, MMA, media, blockbuster live events, athlete development, and worldwide content distribution. Front Row Brian first revealed the merger was being discussed on Twitter earlier this month. The newly merged MVP will be led by co-founders and board members Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, while John Martin will serve as CEO and board member. “Since launching MVP, our goal has always been bigger than just building a boxing promotion,” Bidarian said. “It has been to build the future of combat sports. In less than five years, MVP has become one of the most influential and culturally relevant brands in the industry, producing some of the biggest events in combat sports history, elevating women’s boxing to unprecedented heights, and bringing millions of new fans into the fight game. “The success of MVP MMA’s first event confirmed our belief that there is enormous demand for a modern, fighter-first approach to MMA. This merger accelerates our MMA ambitions while strengthening our ability to continue investing in boxing and MVPW. By combining MVP’s audience-building engine, storytelling capabilities, and brand with PFL’s roster, infrastructure, and international footprint, we are creating a new global home for combat sports. Under the leadership of John Martin, a world-class media executive with deep MMA knowledge, and investment from leading financiers 885 Capital and Knighthead Capital, MVP is going to achieve great things for fighters, fans, and partners.” “We started MVP to disrupt a broken model,” Paul said. “We wanted to give fighters fair pay and a bigger, modernized stage to become global superstars. Joining forces with PFL accelerates that vision by a decade. We now have a scaled platform to give today’s fans what they want: elite talent mixed with culture, lifestyle, and massive social velocity. MVP was always bigger than me and bigger than any one fighter. MVP is an inevitable movement that needs to happen for the athletes, and now we have all the resources we need to build something that changes this sport forever. “I have more conviction in MVP than ever, driven by the proliferation of AI, which will only increase the value of real, live experiences and the sports properties that can bring fans closer to the athletes they love. I look forward to putting my entire promotional muscle into our new company, returning to the boxing ring and making my MVP MMA debut. To all current MVP and PFL fighters, things just got bigger. To fighters fighting in other organizations, we are open for business when you are contractually free. The time for change is now. Welcome to MVP.” “Over the past seven years, PFL has built the world’s No. 2 global MMA company, assembling one of the sport’s most elite fighter rosters while creating a world-class global business with premier media distribution across 34 broadcast and streaming partners, reaching fans in more than 170 countries,” Martin said. “At the same time, MVP has redefined how combat sports connects with a new generation of fans, creating events that become cultural moments and proving that athletes, sports, entertainment and creators can all thrive together. “This merger brings scale – in operations, in distribution and media rights, in sponsorship, in fighter development and in fan engagement. We’re not just combining companies, we’re bringing an entire combat sports community together and creating a more powerful platform to accelerate growth. One company, one global stage, millions of fans and we’re only just getting started.” Per a promotional official, Friday’s MMA event headlined by Usman Nurmagomedov and Archie Colgan will still be held as a PFL event. MVP serves as the “master brand.” According to the release, MVP and MVPW will continue as “boxing cornerstones of the company.” PFL’s roster, league operations on a global scale, media assets, and more will form the foundation of MVP MMA. The merger will be fully completed later this year. The new combat sports company is set to have five events across boxing and MMA in August.

MVP and PFL have officially merged

In a shocking move, Jake Paul is suddenly poised to lead the biggest challenger brand to the UFC the sport of MMA has seen in more than a decade.