Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian’s Most Valuable Promotions and Professional Fighters League are merging according to a joint press release sent out Thursday morning. The newfound company will be backed by Founding Investors 885 Capital and Knighthead Capital Management.
MVP has been promoting boxing events with its product streaming on Netflix as well as ESPN. It now forges into the MMA sphere merging with the Professional Fighters League which has some new momentum coming off of consecutive months of events in the US airing on lineal ESPN.
The release indicates that PFL CEO John Martin will serve as the CEO and board member and “lead the overall business of the combined company.” Paul and Bidarian will also be board members and “continue to play active leadership roles across the business.”
The deal looks to build on its MMA event this past May headlined by Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano.
Payout Perspective:
With PFL moving in under the MVP umbrella is a good thing. No doubt Martin knows the business, but Paul and Bidarian are the key drivers that can elevate the MMA side of the product. While it is not going to usurp the UFC’s dominance in the sport, it can create a healthy alternative to it. We shall see what moves it makes the rest of the year and into 2027.
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