Most Valuable Promotions has completed a landmark merger with the Professional Fighters League, creating a combat sports company combining boxing, MMA and entertainment under one banner. The combined promotion brings together the roster of the Professional Fighters League with Most Valuable Promotions' growing boxing stable.
The Professional Fighters League name will gradually disappear over the coming months before being retired completely in January 2027, when the organization officially becomes MVP MMA. The combined company boasts almost 400 athletes worldwide in what marks the biggest structural shake-up in mixed martial arts since the Ultimate Fighting Championship cemented its dominance over a decade ago.
Jake Paul, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, has spent years accusing UFC president Dana White of underpaying fighters while challenging him publicly on athlete welfare and revenue sharing. While company executives acknowledge they will not overtake the UFC in the near future, they view the merger as a long-term strategy to establish a true competitor in combat sports.
Long-term strategy and organizational structure
"We know we're not going to overtake the UFC in the near future," MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian said. "This is a long term plan and over time we can close in on their position and create a Nike-versus-Adidas dynamic, or a Pepsi-versus-Coke dynamic, over the next seven to 10 years."
Bidarian noted that Most Valuable Promotions started five years ago, pioneering boxing events and delivering the first live professional sporting event on Netflix. Under the new corporate structure, former Professional Fighters League chief executive John Martin now oversees the wider business as CEO of the overall platform, while Paul and Bidarian remain on the board.
"When we decided to enter MMA, we always said that if it proved successful, we would do more," Bidarian said. "Now, we have the advantage of world-class infrastructure, elite fighters and the leadership of John Martin as CEO of the overall platform. We are not here to mess around."
Revenue sharing model and fighter pay
A core element of Most Valuable Promotions' strategy is a commitment to direct revenue sharing with competitors. "The focus has always been to give at least 50 per cent of revenue back to the athletes," Bidarian explained, comparing the approach to traditional stick-and-ball sports leagues.
"If you look at traditional stick-and-ball sports that operate with those kinds of revenue-sharing models, they've created enormous enterprise value," Bidarian said. "When athletes receive a fair share, they're more invested, more committed, the product improves, and there's greater alignment across the sport."
Bidarian emphasized that branding, storytelling, 24/7 content creation, and athlete exposure will drive the company's growth alongside higher pay. "Nobody does that better than MVP and Jake Paul," Bidarian said. "Our first MVP MMA event was a tremendous success and this merger turbocharges our ability to build on that momentum."
Free agency plans and private ownership
Most Valuable Promotions plans to target contracted UFC fighters once their current deals expire. "In MMA, just like in boxing, if a fighter is under contract you can't interfere with that," Bidarian said. "You have to wait until they become free agents."
Bidarian cited 155-pound champion Usman, who completed the final fight of his contract on Friday night, as an example of an athlete the company would look at if he becomes a free agent. "Whenever a fighter comes out of contract with the UFC, of course we'll take a look," Bidarian said. "If they're the right fit for us, and we're the right fit for them, we'd love to make that partnership happen."
"Our goal is to become the Pepsi to their Coke, the Adidas to their Nike, and eventually make this a genuine two-horse race," Bidarian added, stating that MVP aims to become the leading alternative brand for Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and Gen Beta audiences over the next decade.
Bidarian stated that remaining a privately owned company gives Most Valuable Promotions financial flexibility that publicly listed competitors lack. "We intend to remain a private company for the foreseeable future because it provides us with a level of financial flexibility that public companies simply cannot match," he said.
Roster lineup and women's MMA focus
Bidarian noted that public ownership prevents competitors from easily increasing athlete pay because doing so would lower margins and impact enterprise value. "We have the freedom to be more aggressive in how we structure agreements and attract the best talent in the world," Bidarian said.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou remains central to the organization's plans. Bidarian confirmed he has spoken with Ngannou several times, saying: "Francis Ngannou is going to be part of what we're building."
Women's mixed martial arts will also serve as a cornerstone for MVP MMA. Bidarian revealed he spoke with former UFC star Ronda Rousey about the future of the sport, stating she would be welcome to join the promotion in whatever role she desires.
The company also plans to build around undefeated fighter Dakota Ditcheva. Bidarian described Ditcheva as the most marketable female MMA fighter in the world due to her youth, striking skills, and growth potential.
Boxing partnerships and industry response
Most Valuable Promotions is open to future collaboration with Matchroom Boxing, expanding on their existing boxing alliance. Bidarian noted that if Matchroom agency talent like Tom Aspinall or Ian Machado Garry ever become free agents from their UFC contracts, MVP would engage in discussions.
"I do think there's a huge long-term opportunity for Matchroom and MVP as combined entities," Bidarian said, pointing to potential synergy between Matchroom in men's boxing and MVP in women's boxing and MMA over the next five to 10 years.
UFC president Dana White dismissed the merger, joking that it combined "two organizations that struggle to sell tickets." TKO president Mark Shapiro offered a different perspective, stating that he welcomed legitimate competition in the market.
