‘Things just got bigger’ – Jake Paul set to make MMA debut after his MVP company merges with PFL in new business venture

JAKE PAUL is set to make his MMA debut after Most Valuable Promotions announced a merger with the Professional Fighters League. MVP promoted their first MMA event in May when UFC great Ronda Rousey returned after ten years out. Jake Paul promoted Ronda Rousey’s return to MMA Credit: Getty The PFL is set to rebrand to MVP MMA Rousey, 39, submitted Gina Carano, 44, in just 17 SECONDS with over 17 million tuning in on Netflix. Meanwhile the PFL – launched by Donn Davis in 2018 – traded hands in January sparking debate over its future. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! And after a period of negotiations, Paul’s MVP have joined forces with the PFL and the 12-2 boxer is expected to male his cage debut as a result. Paul, 29, said: “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. Most read in Sport BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS The Home of Boxing in 2026 There's a massive year of boxing ahead! It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring. The Gypsy King has beaten Mariusz Wach in his second fight of the year to set up a huge fight with Anthony Joshua And AJ did the same, knocking out Kristian Prenga in the second round of a thrilling encounter – the Brit was knocked down twice in the opening round. Now fans are looking forward to Moses Itauma’s return for his toughest fight yet against Filip Hrgovic in August. Here’s all the big fights coming up… August Sat 1 – Pierce O’Leary vs Mark Chamberlain – DAZN Sat 15 – Claressa Shields vs Kaye Scott – DAZN Sat 29 – Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic – DAZN September Sat 12 – Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia – DAZN *If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue. “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.” Paul launched MVP in 2022 with Nakisa Bidarian to since become the premium platform for women’s boxing. The YouTuber-turned-prizefighter made his pro boxing debut in 2020 but has not returned since being knocked out by Anthony Joshua, 36, in December. PFL is the greatest rival to the UFC and has stars like Dakota Ditcheva, Paul Hughes and AJ Usman Nurmagomedov signed to its roster. However, it is due to be rebranded to MVP MMA next year following the merger with John Martin continuing as CEO and Paul and Bidarian on the board. Comment now