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Jake Paul<\/a>\u2019s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) is merging with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), bringing the MMA promotion under MVP\u2019s umbrella and creating a single combat sports company spanning boxing and mixed martial arts.<\/p>\n As reported by ESPN<\/a>, the deal marks MVP\u2019s formal entry into MMA ownership after the company\u2019s first MMA event in May, a Netflix card headlined by the returns of Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano. That event drew 12.4 million viewers, according to figures MVP released, with viewership peaking at 17 million during Rousey\u2019s 17-second armbar win over Carano.<\/p>\n PFL, launched in 2018, has positioned itself as the top MMA promotion outside the UFC, a status reinforced by its 2023 acquisition of Bellator MMA. Its roster includes Dakota Ditcheva, Usman Nurmagomedov, AJ McKee and Johnny Eblen, and its events reach more than 170 countries through 34 broadcast and streaming partners. John Martin, who joined PFL as CEO in 2025, will remain in that role and stay on the board under the merged structure.<\/p>\n \u201cWe started MVP to disrupt a broken model,\u201d Paul said in a news release. \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Martin framed the combination as complementary rather than absorptive: \u201cThis merger brings scale in operations, in distribution and media rights, in sponsorship, in fighter development and in fan engagement.\u201d MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian called it confirmation \u201cthat there is enormous demand for a modern, fighter-first approach to MMA.\u201d<\/p>\n As part of the deal, existing PFL shareholders 885 Capital and affiliated entities of Knighthead Capital Management are putting in new capital.<\/p>\n