The
Most Valuable Promotions and
Professional Fighters League merger already has top fighters
rallying for a spot on their roster, including a former
Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight.

MVP and PFL recently announced a historic merger that has made
waves in the world of combat sports. The new league will operate
under the MVP banner, led by Jake Paul and
Nakisa Bidarian. Meanwhile, former PFL CEO John Martin will serve
as CEO and Board Member of the new company.

The new league vows to follow a fighter-first approach with
equitable compensation for athletes, along with the opportunity to
build their brands inside and outside of the cage.

Muhammad Mokaev eyes new home after PFL-MVP merger

Former UFC flyweight Muhammad
Mokaev (17-0) is already rallying for a spot on the new
league's roster if they have a flyweight division.

“If MVP & PFL Make 125 division I'm ready for long term deal,â€
Mokaev wrote on X.

Since MVP doesn't have a full-fledged roster and PFL didn't have a
men's flyweight division, it remains to be seen if the new union
introduces the 125-pound division for men.

A lightweight
title fight headlines PFL NY: Tune on Friday, July 31 at 7 p.m. ET
on ESPN.

Despite being on the cusp of title contention, Mokaev shockingly
left the UFC following a lackluster win over Manel Kape
in 2024 after the promotion opted against offering him a renewal.
While the reason for his exit was speculated to be issues outside
the Octagon, “The Punisher†claims he'd been warned to change his
wrestling-heavy fighting style.

Mokaev has finished three of four MMA outings since leaving the
UFC, along with a finish at Karate Combat. Notably, he was
scheduled to fight Adriano
Moraes at MVP's first MMA card this past June. However, the
Dagestani-Brit was pulled from the card a week before fight night
due to visa issues.

If MVP & PFL
Make 125 division
I'm ready for long term deal 👀

— Muhammad
Mokaev (@muhammadmokaev)
July 30, 2026

Khabib
Nurmagomedov believes Archie
Colgan is a serious threat to Usman
Nurmagomedov's title reign in the
Professional Fighters League.

Usman is set to defend his lightweight title against Colgan in the
main event of
PFL New York on July 31 at UBS Arena in Long Island. Khabib
believes the undefeated American is the toughest opponent of his
cousin Usman's career so far.

Khabib Nurmagomedov breaks down Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Archie
Colgan

Khabib notes that Colgan has a strong wrestling base, which could
neutralize Usman's ground control. Nevertheless, the
Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Famer remains confident
and recently revealed that Usman is well-prepared for the bout
while breaking down the matchup.

“I think this is the toughest fight for Usman,†Khabib told Will
Harris of Anatomy of a Fighter. “This guy’s a real deal. He knows
how to wrestle. He’s tough, never lost. He’s the toughest challenge
for Usman, I think. Of course, Usman is in incredible shape —
physically, mentally, everything is there. His weight is good, mood
is good, the most important. I think this is a very-very high-level
fight. Can’t wait to see this match.â€

Usman (21-0) has defended his PFL lightweight title twice since
winning it last year against Paul
Hughes. This fight also likely plays a key factor in the
Russian's future in the PFL as it is the last bout in his current
contract with the promotion.

Meanwhile, Colgan (13-0) is a former D1 collegiate wrestler with
notable wins over the likes of Manuel Sousa, Mansour
Barnaoui and Jay-Jay
Wilson. Khabib's former opponent and current UFC lightweight
champion Justin
Gaethje will be in Colgan's corner at PFL New York.

A lightweight
title fight headlines PFL NY: Tune on Friday, July 31 at 7 p.m. ET
on ESPN.

ANATOMY OF @PFLMMA NEW YORK:
@Usmannmgdv vs.
Archie
Colgan | Episode 3
#PFLNewYork https://t.co/rESctVOT2f pic.twitter.com/iiIhwZY7XF

— Anatomy of a Fighter (@WillHarrisAOAF)
July 29, 2026

Professional 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.â€

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.

A lightweight
title fight headlines PFL NY: Tune on Friday, July 31 at 7 p.m. ET
on ESPN.

“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.â€

🚨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