(July 30th) Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), the combat sports promotion founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, and the Professional Fighters League (PFL) have announced a landmark merger that will unite boxing and mixed martial arts operations under one global combat sports platform operating under the MVP banner.

The groundbreaking agreement creates a new era for combat sports, combining MVP’s rapidly expanding boxing enterprise, athlete-driven storytelling, entertainment strategy, and global media reach with PFL’s established MMA infrastructure, international roster, competition framework, and championship-level talent base. The newly unified company will oversee boxing, MMA, live events, athlete development, media rights, sponsorships, and worldwide content distribution.

Under the terms of the merger, MVP will become the master brand for the combined organization. MVP and MVPW will continue serving as the company’s boxing platforms, while PFL will undergo a brand migration over the coming months and ultimately transition into MVP MMA, creating a unified identity across both major combat sports disciplines.

The new organization will be led by MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, who will serve as board members and continue guiding the company’s strategic vision. John Martin, the current CEO of PFL, will become CEO of the combined entity while also serving on the board of directors.

Nakisa Bidarian, Co-founder and Board Member of Most Valuable Promotions, said: “Since launching MVP, our goal has always been bigger than just building a boxing promotion. It has been to build the future of combat sports. In less than five years, MVP has become one of the most influential and culturally relevant brands in the industry, producing some of the biggest events in combat sports history, elevating women’s boxing to unprecedented heights, and bringing millions of new fans into the fight game. The success of MVP MMA’s first event confirmed our belief that there is enormous demand for a modern, fighter-first approach to MMA. This merger accelerates our MMA ambitions while strengthening our ability to continue investing in boxing and MVPW. By combining MVP’s audience-building engine, storytelling capabilities, and brand with PFL’s roster, infrastructure, and international footprint, we are creating a new global home for combat sports. Under the leadership of John Martin, a world-class media executive with deep MMA knowledge, and investment from leading financiers 885 Capital and Knighthead Capital, MVP is going to achieve great things for fighters, fans, and partners.”

John Martin, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of the new company, said: “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. 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.”

Jake Paul, Co-founder and Board Member of Most Valuable Promotions, said: "We started MVP to disrupt a broken model. 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."

Sudeep Ramnani, co-founder of 885 Capital, said: “We’ve spent our careers building and backing businesses across global markets and few things travel across every border, language, and generation like combat sports. Partnering with Jake Paul, Nakisa Bidarian, and John Martin to bring PFL’s international infrastructure and roster together with MVP’s audience engine builds a business with the scale, talent, and distribution to lead the category. It reaches fans from the most established markets to the fastest-growing regions in the world, with a fighter-first model built for how audiences consume sport today. At 885 Capital, we back founders and leaders who are building industries from first principles, and we believe this platform will do exactly that, while redefining the future of combat sports. As founding investors, we’re proud to commit new capital to help John Martin and the team build the premier global platform for fighters and fans.”

Ara Cohen, Co-Founder and Managing Member of Knighthead Capital said: “This transaction brings together highly complementary assets to create a scaled global combat sports platform with significant long-term growth potential. MVP has demonstrated an exceptional ability to build audiences, create cultural relevance, and elevate athletes, while PFL has built world-class MMA operations, international reach, and a deep roster of talent. We are pleased to deepen Knighthead Capital’s investment and support John Martin, Jake Paul, Nakisa Bidarian, and the broader leadership team as they build what we believe can become one of the premier global sports media and entertainment platforms.”

Goodwin Procter LLP served as legal counsel to Most Valuable Promotions, with MVP’s Rick Torres leading the transaction. Cooley LLP served as legal counsel to the Professional Fighters League, with PFL’s Jim Bramson leading the transaction. 

The merger brings together one of the deepest talent pools in combat sports, combining nearly 400 elite athletes from both organizations. The expanded roster includes world-class MMA stars and crossover combat sports figures such as Francis Ngannou, Ronda Rousey, Usman Nurmagomedov, Paul Hughes, Dakota Ditcheva, Mike Perry, and Nate Diaz, among others.

For Jake Paul, the merger marks the next stage of his evolution from professional boxer and entrepreneur into a combat sports executive and promoter. Paul also confirmed that he intends to make his long-awaited professional MMA debut as part of the new MVP combat sports platform, while continuing his boxing career.

Paul and Bidarian founded MVP with a mission of creating a new promotional model centered around athlete opportunities, fighter visibility, creative control, and innovative event presentation. The company gained worldwide attention through major boxing events, including its role in elevating women’s boxing and producing high-profile crossover events that reached massive audiences.

The announcement follows MVP’s successful entry into MMA with its debut mixed martial arts event at the Intuit Dome, which streamed globally on Netflix and featured a lineup of major combat sports names. The event demonstrated MVP’s ability to bring mainstream attention and casual sports audiences into MMA, helping establish the foundation for the company’s expanded role in the sport.

The merger is also supported by continued investment from PFL backers 885 Capital and Knighthead Capital, which will become founding investors in the newly combined company and provide additional capital to support future growth. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

MVP executives believe the unified platform will create new opportunities across sponsorships, broadcasting, international expansion, digital content, and fan engagement while providing fighters with a larger stage and increased commercial opportunities. The company aims to challenge traditional combat sports business models by combining elite athletes, global entertainment, and modern media distribution.

With boxing and MMA now operating under one unified banner, MVP enters its next chapter as one of the most ambitious combat sports ventures in the world — bringing together championship-level fighters, global personalities, and a new vision for the future of fight promotion.

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions is a global combat sports promotion company founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian. MVP focuses on building major boxing and MMA events, developing athletes, and creating innovative entertainment platforms designed to expand the reach of combat sports worldwide.

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is a global mixed martial arts (MMA) organization founded in 2018 that has become one of the world’s leading combat sports promotions. Built around a unique sports-season format, the PFL differentiates itself from traditional MMA organizations by organizing fighters into regular seasons, playoff rounds, and championship events where athletes compete for titles and significant prize money.

Unlike conventional MMA promotion models, the PFL operates with a league structure similar to major professional sports organizations. Fighters accumulate points through scheduled bouts, advance through a playoff system, and compete in championship events for league titles and multi-million-dollar championship purses. This format has helped establish a merit-based pathway where athletes can compete, develop their rankings, and pursue global recognition.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the PFL expanded from its original U.S. league into a worldwide combat sports organization with international divisions, including PFL Europe, PFL MENA (Middle East and North Africa), and PFL Africa, as part of its strategy to identify, develop, and showcase elite MMA talent across global markets.

The promotion has attracted some of the biggest names in MMA, including former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, two-time Olympic medalist and former UFC champion Kayla Harrison, lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov, and other top international competitors. The organization has also featured crossover stars and major combat sports personalities as it continues expanding its audience.

A major part of the PFL’s growth strategy has been its focus on technology, athlete development, and global distribution. The league introduced its patented PFL SmartCage™ technology platform, incorporating advanced statistics, data tracking, and broadcast innovations designed to enhance the viewing experience for fans.

The PFL has secured major media partnerships and distribution agreements around the world, bringing its events to millions of viewers through broadcast, streaming, and digital platforms. Its events have been featured across major networks and streaming services, helping position the organization as a significant competitor in the global MMA marketplace.

In addition to MMA competition, the PFL expanded into the broader combat sports ecosystem through ventures such as PFL PPV Super Fight Division, designed to showcase high-profile matchups between established stars, and strategic partnerships aimed at growing the sport internationally.

Founded by entrepreneur Don Davis, the PFL was built on the vision of creating a fighter-first global league that combines athletic competition, entertainment, and business innovation. The organization’s merger with Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) represents the next phase of its evolution, combining PFL’s MMA infrastructure and athlete roster with MVP’s boxing platform, entertainment expertise, and global promotional strategy.

Following the merger, the PFL brand is expected to transition into MVP MMA, becoming the mixed martial arts division of the broader MVP combat sports company while continuing its mission of developing elite fighters and delivering major global events.