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By Michael Gallagher
Sports Content Coordinator
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YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul hasn’t been shy about his desire to break into the mixed martial arts market.
Paul went 12-2 as a boxer, and how it seems like he’s laser-focused on trying to get an MMA company up and running. Paul is the co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, which put on its first MMA card earlier this year with a main event that featured Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano.
Now, Paul is taking a giant step toward being a major player in MMA when it was announced that MVP MMA was merging with the Professional Fighters League, formerly World Series of Fighting.
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“Breaking: MVP and PFL are merging,” Ariel Helwani wrote on X. “The companies are combining to create a new combat sports platform under the MVP banner. PFL will eventually become MVP MMA after a brand migration that will take place over the course of the next few months.
“The new company will be led by Co-Founders and Board Members Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, with John Martin serving as CEO and Board Member. Bidarian will continue to oversee MVP's boxing business and mega events, with the company backed by Founding Investors 885 Capital and Knighthead Capital Management.”
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During the Rouse-Carano card, UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones stated he wanted out of his contract so he could join Most Valuable Promotions and fight former UFC Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
Mega star Conor McGregor also mentioned having interest in big-money fights in promotions outside the UFC, and many believed he could turn up in MVP MMA after his UFC contract expires.
With another MMA company now in the mix with a big platform and a promoter known to draw big money like Paul, some fighters could be enticed to leave the UFC for potential bigger paydays working for Paul.
MVP MMA doesn’t currently have any talent signed to deals, but on its inaugural MMA card there was plenty of star power including Ngannou, former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos, former UFC lightweight title contender Nate Diaz, former UFC star Mike Perry.
The company also has world class boxer Amanda Serrano under contract. Serrano does have a few MMA fights under her belt as well.
Conversely, the PFL has a roster has lots of top talent including light heavyweight champion Corey Anderson, interim middleweight champion Johnny Eblen, lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov, women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, who’s also a former UFC women’s featherweight champion.
PFL also has other stars including former Bellator light heavyweight champion Phil Davis, former Bellator featherweight champion A.J. McKee, former Bellator lightweight champion Sergio Pettis, and ex-UFC star Kevin Lee.
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