Most Valuable Promotions and the Professional Fighters League have united to establish a new combat sports entity. The leadership team includes MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian alongside PFL CEO John Martin, who will all serve on the board. The PFL will now operate under the MVP brand, consolidating a collective of over 300 athletes.
Since its 2021 inception, MVP has primarily focused on boxing, though it expanded into mixed martial arts this past May. That inaugural MMA event, which featured Ronda Rousey defeating Gina Carano in 15 seconds, reached 17 million viewers worldwide according to Netflix data. Jake Paul described the merger as an effort to overhaul an outdated system, emphasizing a commitment to better fighter compensation and a broader platform for talent.
The PFL, established in 2017, has sought to differentiate itself by using a league-based structure with playoff formats. CEO John Martin noted that this collaboration aims to merge two distinct combat communities into a more robust entity. This news arrives shortly after MVP disclosed a partnership with Matchroom Boxing, intended to boost opportunities for female competitors. MVP has supported numerous women’s boxing champions, including Caroline Dubois and Chantelle Cameron.
