John Martin Steps Down As PFL-MVP CEO

John Martin resigned as CEO of PFL-MVP on Tuesday, one year after taking the top job at the merged promotion.

Martin announced the move on Instagram, backing Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian to lead the company moving forward. "After an incredible year and the successful combination of PFL and MVP, I've made the decision to step down as CEO of the combined company," Martin wrote, per a report from MMA Fighting. "Nakisa and I worked closely together to bring these companies together, and I believe he is the natural person to lead this next chapter."

What Martin's Exit Means For PFL-MVP Rebrand

Martin took charge of PFL in July 2025 after the departure of former CEO Peter Murray and chairman Donn Davis. Before joining the fight business, he ran Turner Entertainment and held the chief financial and administrative officer role at Time Warner. The promotion merged with Jake Paul and Bidarian's MVP brand last August, with a full event rebrand scheduled for 2027.

When the merger was announced, Martin told reporters he saw the deal as a growth accelerator for both sides. He praised Paul's ability to command attention and disrupt combat sports, calling the YouTuber-turned-fighter "a unicorn" who had done what few thought possible in boxing. The combined entity, Martin said at the time, would offer fighters opportunities across boxing and MMA that no other promotion could match.

PFL-MVP has not announced a timeline for naming Martin's successor.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — John Martin steps down as PFL-MVP CEO