PFL CEO open to cross-promotion deal with MVP

Professional Fighters League CEO John Martin said he's willing to work with Most Valuable Promotions on future events, but only if the arrangement benefits both sides equally.

Martin told Home of Fight that MVP outdid his organization in one key area at its debut MMA card in May, which featured Francis Ngannou and Ronda Rousey. He credited co-founder Jake Paul's social media reach and CEO Nakisa Bidarian's promotional skill for pulling in casual viewers the PFL has struggled to attract.

PFL wants equal terms in any MVP partnership

"What MVP has done, honestly better than PFL, is bringing in casual fans," Martin said, per Sherdog. "And that's Jake Paul as a really well known social media influencer for a really long time, and now a true boxing star. And Nakisa's done a wonderful job building that promotion."

Martin added that he and Bidarian have discussed potential joint projects. The PFL already operates a fighter-sharing agreement with Japan's Rizin and is open to a similar model with MVP.

The catch, Martin said, is that any deal must be reciprocal. "What we won't do is share our fighters to build somebody else's promotion," he told the outlet. "It's gotta be reciprocal."

PFL's next card airs Saturday night from San Diego, with A.J. McKee headlining against Tymur Isbulaev on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — PFL CEO open to 'reciprocal' cross promotion with MVP