IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Jake Paul is officially competing with the UFC.
On Thursday, Paul announced that his MVP Promotions banner had merged with PFL MMA to form a new combat sports super company.
In a press release, the new company vowed: “to invest aggressively in both boxing and MMA.”
🚨OFFICIAL: Most Valuable Promotions and the Professional Fighters League have officially merged.
Together under the MVP banner, we’re bringing world-class boxing, MMA, premium live events, athlete development, and global content distribution into one fighter-first… pic.twitter.com/Hy9mfR0Gde
— MVP – Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) July 30, 2026
Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and the Professional Fighters League (PFL) today announced a landmark merger, creating a new home of combat sports under the MVP banner. The transaction accelerates MVP’s expansion into mixed martial arts following the record-setting success of MVP MMA 1. It creates a global sports and entertainment company that brings together boxing, MMA, media, blockbuster live events, athlete development, and worldwide content distribution. MVP will continue operating with a fighter-first philosophy focused on equitable compensation, maximum visibility, and opportunities for athletes to build their brands both inside and outside of competition.
Paul spoke about the new promotion.
Jake Paul speaks on the merger of MVP and PFL.
“We started MVP to change the game for fighters. Now, by joining forces with PFL, we’re building a global combat sports platform with the scale, resources, and vision to reshape the future of boxing and MMA.”
The next chapter… pic.twitter.com/HNLotsJbyT
— MVP – Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) July 30, 2026
“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.”
MVP’s MMA debut featuring Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano in May drew 12.4 million viewers to Netflix and was marked as the highest-viewed MMA event in US history.
It’s clear that Paul is aiming for the UFC and Zuffa Boxing, but he has a long way to go.