When Jake Paul launched Most Valuable Promotions in 2021, he had a simple goal: fix a system that he felt was broken. The former YouTuber turned boxer wanted to help fighters earn better money and reach bigger audiences. Now, just four years later, that vision is getting a massive boost.
Most Valuable Promotions has merged with the Professional Fighters League to create what the companies are calling "a combat sports company for the new era." The combined organization will bring together more than 300 fighters under one roof, with Paul and his co-founder Nakisa Bidarian leading the new partnership alongside PFL CEO John Martin.
"We started MVP to disrupt a broken model," Paul said. "We wanted to give fighters fair pay and a bigger, modernised stage to become global superstars. Joining forces with PFL accelerates that vision by a decade."
The merger brings together two very different but complementary organizations. MVP made its name in boxing, building an impressive roster of women's champions including Britons Caroline Dubois and Chantelle Cameron. The company only stepped into mixed martial arts for the first time in May 2024, but its very first MMA show broke records. Roughly 17 million people worldwide watched former UFC star Ronda Rousey defeat Gina Carano on Netflix, making it the most-watched MMA event in United States history.
The PFL, founded back in 2017, has spent seven years trying to change how MMA works. The league uses a unique format where fighters earn points throughout the season before competing in playoff-style championship events. The company had offered $1 million in prize money at its launch but adjusted that to $500,000 in 2025.
Martin said the merger goes beyond just combining two businesses. "We're not just combining companies, we're bringing an entire combat sports community together and creating a more powerful platform to accelerate growth," he explained. "One company, one global stage, millions of fans — and we're only just getting started."
The deal comes just days after MVP announced another partnership with Matchroom Boxing, specifically aimed at creating more opportunities for female athletes across both promotional companies. Together with the PFL merger, the moves position the new company as a serious global player in combat sports.
Paul had a direct message for fighters considering a move: "To all current MVP and PFL fighters, things just got bigger. To fighters fighting in other organisations, we are open for business when you are contractually free. The time for change is now."