Sensation: Jake Paul Takes Over PFL, Now Dakota Ditcheva's Boss!

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Professional Fighters League (PFL) are merging to form a new global powerhouse in combat sports. PFL is notably the organization home to Bulgarian-British MMA star Dakota Ditcheva.

The unified entity will operate under the MVP brand, bringing together world-class boxing, MMA, major live events, athlete development, and global content distribution under one umbrella. This new structure aims to be fighter-first, building a combat sports company fit for the modern era.

The new company will be led by co-founders and board members Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, with Jon Martin serving as CEO and also a board member. Bidarian will continue to oversee MVP's boxing business and large-scale live events. The company will be backed by key investors 885 Capital and Knighthead Capital Management.

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Professional Fighters League (PFL) have announced a landmark merger, creating a new home for combat sports under the MVP brand. This deal accelerates MVP's entry into mixed martial arts following the record-breaking success of MVP MMA 1, establishing a global sports and entertainment company that unifies boxing, MMA, media, major live events, athlete development, and worldwide content distribution.

MVP will continue to operate with a fighter-first philosophy, emphasizing fair pay, maximum exposure, and opportunities for athletes to build their personal brands both inside and outside of competition.

PFL CEO Jon Martin will assume the role of CEO and board member for the combined company, overseeing its overall operations. Martin is recognized as one of the most successful executives in the media, sports, and entertainment industries.

Previously, he served as Chairman and CEO of Turner, where he was responsible for a portfolio including TNT, TBS, CNN, and Turner Sports, and also as CFO of Time Warner.

Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian will serve as co-founders and board members, maintaining active leadership roles within the company. Bidarian will continue to develop MVP's boxing ventures and major live events, working closely with Martin and the executive team.

Jake Paul, the most-followed combat sports promoter globally, will continue to leverage his platform, audience, and cultural influence to boost viewership, develop fighters, expand the brand, and foster fan engagement across all business segments.

As part of the deal, existing PFL shareholders – 885 Capital and affiliates of Knighthead Capital Management, LLC – will become cornerstone investors in the new entity. They will provide fresh capital, ensuring the combined company begins operations with the strongest balance sheet in its history.

Sudip Ramnani and Jai Mahtani of 885 Capital are global entrepreneurs and investors in technology and sports, bringing contemporary international management expertise to the table.

Ara Koen is a co-founder of Knighthead Capital, a diversified institutional investment firm with extensive experience partnering with management teams to build and grow businesses long-term. The company provides strategic capital and operational support in complex industries, including sports.

MVP will be the primary brand for all combat sports assets of the new company. MVP and MVPW will continue to be key pillars in boxing and the organization of major live events.

PFL boasts an elite roster of MMA fighters, global operations and infrastructure, media assets, and a proven ability to stage world-class MMA events worldwide. This will form the foundation of MVP MMA, with the full transition expected to be completed in the coming months.

In August, the combined company will host five premium live events in boxing and MMA, showcasing the scale and capabilities of the new platform.

MVP will represent nearly 400 elite athletes, including world champions, title contenders, and some of the biggest names in combat sports. The company intends to invest aggressively in both boxing and MMA.

MVP and PFL will maintain their relationships with many of the world's leading media and distribution partners, including Netflix, ESPN, and Sky Sports, as well as PFL's network of 34 partners across Europe (including voyo.bg in Bulgaria), the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and other key markets such as Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand.

Together, these partnerships form one of the largest content distribution platforms in combat sports.

Since its inception in 2021, MVP has become one of the fastest-growing and most influential sports brands. The company has organized some of the most-watched events in sports history, reaching hundreds of millions of fans worldwide, with particularly strong engagement among hard-to-reach Gen Z and Alpha audiences, as well as female sports enthusiasts.

The company has produced the most-watched streaming sports event of all time, the most-watched professional women's sports match in US history, the most-watched streaming MMA event in the country's history, and record earnings for female athletes across all sports.

Through partnerships with Netflix, ESPN, Sky Sports, DAZN, and other leading media companies, MVP has built an internationally recognized brand and established itself as a leader in athlete-focused promotion, content creation, and fan engagement.

PFL has built one of the largest global platforms in MMA, with a world-class roster of over 300 fighters from more than 40 countries, and a live event presence across four continents.

In just over seven years, PFL has organized over 100 premium live events in 14 countries and became the first organization to host major MMA events in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Spain, and various parts of Africa.

In 2026 alone, PFL will produce 24 events in 11 countries, providing fans with approximately 150 hours of live content.

This global infrastructure, combined with PFL's rich roster of fighters, expertise in organizing premium events, and worldwide distribution network, provides a powerful platform to accelerate the development of MVP MMA and expand the combined company's global reach and influence.