Paul Vows To Win Fight Against UFC
Jake Paul says the newly merged MVP-PFL promotion intends to beat UFC, not merely compete with it.
Paul addressed the merger at a media event this week, pushing back on the idea that MVP is just looking for a scrap with Dana White's promotion. "Wall Street Journal said that we wanna pick a fight with UFC," Paul said, per MMA Mania. "We don't wanna just pick a fight, we wanna win the fight."
Can MVP-PFL Solve MMA's Talent Problem?
The merger pairs Most Valuable Promotions with the Professional Fighters League, combining Paul's promotional brand with PFL's existing infrastructure. The launch is slated for early 2027, though a streaming partner has not been announced.
The bigger obstacle is roster quality. UFC has locked up nearly every elite fighter under long-term deals, leaving rivals to build cards around aging names like Nate Diaz and Francis Ngannou or fighters who washed out of the UFC system. Past challengers like Affliction, EliteXC, and Strikeforce all struggled with the same gap before folding or getting absorbed.
Scott Coker's GFL and other upstart promotions face similar limitations. Until a promotion can sign top fighters before UFC does, Paul's group will be fighting uphill for talent and viewership.
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