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€

At the UFC Belgrade weigh-ins, all 28 fighters on Saturday's fight card step on the scale Friday in Belgrade, Serbia. Watch ceremonial weigh-ins above, set to kick off at 11 a.m. ET.

Ahead of Zuffa Boxing’s launch in 2025, White repeatedly stated
that the promotion had no interest in doing business with the WBA,
WBC, IBF or WBO. However, following Zuffa Boxing 9, the promotion's
founder acknowledged that they would work with the aforementioned
organizations depending on the circumstances, prompting a reaction
from Paul on social media.

Jake Paul criticizes Dana White's changing stance on WBA, WBC,
IBF and WBO partnerships

When asked about working with the major sanctioning bodies at the
recent Zuffa Boxing presser, White claimed that he's willing to do
so for certain boxers.

“On a case-by-case basis, trying to figure out what the fighters
want and what their goals are, we will try to figure out whatever
we can do to make those fights happen,†the
Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO said.

This drew an immediate response from Paul, who highlighted the
apparent shift in White’s position.

“They went from shi*ting on all of the boxing sanctioning bodies
and how they need to get rid of them for the good of boxing to now
this,†Paul wrote on X. “Truth is we need to further align
promoters and the sanctioning bodies to create the biggest
opportunities for boxers. That should be the goal. More
transparency, more collaboration and more big fights.â€

The change comes as Zuffa Boxing continues to expand its roster
with signings such as Jai Opetaia, Conor Benn and Shakur Stevenson,
while also co-promoting the welterweight title bout between Ryan
Garcia and Benn on Sept. 19 in Las Vegas.