UFC Acknowledges MVP-PFL Merger As Competition

UFC's parent company has publicly acknowledged the newly merged Most Valuable Promotions and Professional Fighters League as competition, despite the combined outfit's struggles to secure broadcast partners or retain top prospects.

TKO president and chief operating officer Mark Shapiro addressed the MVP-PFL merger during a recent financial call with investors, according to MMA Fighting. "I would say that clearly on an individual, standalone basis, these promotions, both MVP and PFL, were not necessarily sustainable," Shapiro said. "Now they've come together, and we'll see what they can conjure up."

What The Merged Promotion Means For UFC

Shapiro added that UFC has historically thrived when faced with rivals. "What we know is that competition has always made us stronger and a rising tide lifts all boats," he said.

The acknowledgment comes as the Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian-led venture has yet to lock down a television deal or streaming partner. The promotion has also lost several top prospects since the merger announcement.

MVP-PFL is expected to stage its first event in early 2027. Outside of former UFC fighters Nate Diaz and Francis Ngannou, the merged promotion's roster depth beyond the existing PFL fighters remains unclear.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — UFC is totally not a monopoly whatsoever, freely admits new-look MVP is ‘competition’