RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesProfessional Fighters League and
Most Valuable Promotions have officially merged in a massive
development in the world of combat sports.
The new company will operate under the MVP banner, led by
Co-Founders and Board Members Jake Paul and
Nakisa Bidarian. Meanwhile, former PFL CEO John Martin will serve
as CEO and Board Member of the new league. MVP’s boxing business
and blockbuster live events will continue under Bidarian. Existing
PFL shareholders 885 Capital and affiliated entities Knighthead
Capital Management will be the founding investors of the new
league, committing new capital.
The new league vows to work under a “fighter-first” philosophy,
seemingly challenging rival
Ultimate Fighting Championship . While the UFC has been severely
criticized over minimum profit share for athletes, the new combat
sports league promises equitable compensation. The new league also
plans to encourage athletes to build their brands inside and
outside of competition, probably hinting at freedom to choose
sponsors. What the PFL-MVP merger means for Jake Paul, fighter pay, the
UFC and the future of MMA and boxing
“We started MVP to disrupt a broken model,” Jake Paul, co-founder
of Most Valuable Promotions, said in a press release. “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.”
The combined company also vows to display its capabilities by
hosting five premium events across boxing and MMA in August. The
brand will have 400 athletes combined under its roster and plans to
invest aggressively in both sports.
“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,” John Martin, chief
executive officer of the new company said in a press release. “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. I'm excited to work with Jake and Nakisa
as we build the future of combat sports together, and I'm deeply
grateful for the continued confidence and support of our lead
investors, 885 Capital and Knighthead Capital Management.” 🚨OFFICIAL: Most Valuable
Promotions and the Professional Fighters League have officially
merged.
Together under the MVP banner, we’re bringing world-class boxing,
MMA, premium live events, athlete development, and global content
distribution into one fighter-first… pic.twitter.com/Hy9mfR0Gde — MVP -
Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions)
July 30, 2026
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