The
Ultimate Fighting Championship's parent company, TKO Group
Holdings, is unfazed by the recent merger between
Most Valuable Promotions and the
Professional Fighters League.

Following the announcement that Jake Paul's
promotion and the PFL will merge operations under the MVP banner
while continuing to promote boxing and MMA, TKO Group Holdings
President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Shapiro shared his views
on the latest major development in the combat sports industry.

TKO’s Mark Shapiro welcomes Jake Paul’s MVP-PFL merger, says
competition makes UFC stronger

The MVP-PFL union prompted questions about whether the combined
promotion could eventually challenge the UFC’s position atop the
sport. So far, UFC CEO Dana
White, several former fighters and now TKO Group Holdings' COO
have all rejected the idea that UFC could be surpassed.

Rather than dismissing the newly formed promotion, Shapiro
suggested that increased competition could ultimately benefit the
combat sports landscape.

An elite
middleweight clash headlines PFL Charlotte: Tune in on Friday, Aug.
7 at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.

“I would say that clearly on an individual, standalone basis, these
promotions, both MVP and PFL, were not necessarily sustainable,â€
Shapiro said on a recent call with investors. “Now they've come
together and we'll see what they can conjure up. What we know is
that competition has always made us stronger and a rising tide
lifts all boats.â€

Shapiro’s comments were more measured than White's, who previously
dismissed the merged promotion as a serious threat.

The new company plans to absorb the PFL into the MVP brand while
maintaining separate boxing and MMA events. Paul has made his
intention to challenge UFC for the top spot clear. That ambition is
supported by MVP’s early momentum, including its inaugural MMA
event in May, which drew strong viewership on Netflix. Paul has
also teased another major MMA card for 2027, one that could
potentially feature his mixed martial arts debut.

Steven
Asplund doesn't want to experience defeat inside the Octagon
again.

The
Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight is set to take on
Guilherme
Pat at
UFC Vegas 120 on Aug. 8 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. Asplund is
coming off a loss to Vitor
Petrino in his sophomore UFC outing this past March and has
left no stone unturned in preparation this time around.

Steven Asplund explains how his Vitor Petrino loss changed his
UFC training approach

Asplund admits that losses feel like the end of the world to him.
“Concrete†vowed to himself after his last defeat that he would
never have to question himself again about giving maximum effort in
preparation. The 28-year-old recently revealed that he has invested
in a home gym so he can be in better shape for his upcoming
bout.

“This time I have invested in myself,†Asplund said in a recent
interview. “I bought a home gym, I put a ton of dumbbells in my
garage, an Airdyne bike and squat rack… I never want to feel that
way again. These losses feel like death to me. I don't show my face
after a loss… This sh*t is like death. I don't just want to win. I
want to be champion someday. I dwelled on it, I thought about it a
lot and I came to an understanding and I made an agreement with
myself that I'm never going to ask myself if I could have done more
before I fight again. This fight I know I could not… I have done
everything I can.â€

Both Asplund and Pat are 1-1 in the UFC coming off losses. The
former is eager to make quick work of his Brazilian counterpart and
return to the win column.

“I'm going for a first-round KO. Heavy pace, lots of strength,
heavy elbows, swarm him.â€

“This time, I’ve invested in myself.â€

Steven
Asplund (@StevenA75) put
all the work in that he could to feel completely prepared for his
next test.

How To Watch
#UFCVegas120 âž¡ï¸: https://t.co/8hweKmO9uw

Fight by Fight Preview âž¡ï¸: https://t.co/jsiaaF5M89 pic.twitter.com/u7MsPQduQO

— UFC News (@UFCNews)
August 5, 2026

Ty
Cole Miller doesn't see the need to deviate from his usual
strategy for his upcoming bout in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Miller is scheduled to fight Billy Goff
in a welterweight bout at
UFC Vegas 120 on Aug. 8 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. The jab has
long been the weapon of choice for the 6-foot-2 Miller. He plans to
use his range as he typically does and pick apart Goff from a
distance.

Ty Cole Miller's jab and reach advantage will be tested against
Billy Goff at UFC Vegas 120

Miller admits that he has to be careful when reacting to Goff's
level changes and making sure that he is not backed up against the
fence.

“I'm gonna use [my height] as I always have, have people fight at
the end of my jab,†Miller said in a recent interview. “Stick ‘em
till they drop. I just need to be able to potshot a little bit.
Have them at the end of my punches and make sure my back isn't
against the fence. And just be able to react when he shoots and
level changes.â€

Miller (7-0) finished Adam Fugitt
in a first-round buzzer-beater in his UFC debut this past January.
The undefeated 26-year-old feels the time away has already been too
long and wants a quick Octagon return. His opponent, Goff (9-4),
enters the matchup needing a win after dropping his last two bouts
following his UFC debut victory in 2023.

“(I’ll) stick ’em ’til they drop.â€

Ty Miller plans to use his length to his advantage and hopes to set
himself up for a quick turnaround after August 8.

How To Watch
#UFCVegas120 âž¡ï¸: https://t.co/8hweKmNBEY

Fight by Fight Preview âž¡ï¸: https://t.co/jsiaaF5eiB pic.twitter.com/b9uK5KHOG7

— UFC News (@UFCNews)
August 5, 2026