Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) MMA has merged with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) in an effort to strengthen its position in the mixed martial arts landscape and create a more formidable competitor to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
The merger, announced Thursday, will see the PFL operate under the MVP umbrella, granting MVP MMA access to the PFL's roster of fighters. MVP MMA, which debuted in May with an event on Netflix featuring prominent fighters like Francis Ngannou and Nate Diaz, was established with the goal of offering fighters fairer pay and a larger platform. Paul stated that joining forces with PFL accelerates this vision.
The PFL has cultivated a roster of notable MMA talent, including Dakota Ditcheva, Paul Hughes, Usman Nurmagomedov, AJ McKee, and Johnny Eblen. PFL CEO John Martin highlighted the organization's growth over the past seven years, establishing itself as the second-largest global MMA company with a broad distribution network reaching over 170 countries. Martin also noted MVP's success in connecting with a new generation of fans through its events.
This consolidation brings together scale in operations, media rights, sponsorship, fighter development, and fan engagement. The PFL's prior merger with Bellator MMA in 2023 was described as a largely unsuccessful endeavor, with many Bellator fighters becoming free agents.
Paul expressed his commitment to the new entity, stating his intention to focus his promotional efforts on the merged company while also returning to boxing and making his MVP MMA debut.