Jake Paul used a new interview with SportsCenter to lay out why he believes his newly merged MVP-PFL operation can go toe-to-toe with the UFC, framing the deal as a personal mission as much as a business move.
Paul has spent years building Most Valuable Promotions from a boxing outfit into a crossover combat sports brand, and he told SportsCenter the expanded infrastructure changes what’s possible going forward.
“I think it’s a one-of-a-kind combat sports organization now with even more capital infused to continue to grow at the rate we have,” Paul said. “That’s really why one plus one equals three here and why we decided to team up with PFL to really go and change the landscape and give fighters the opportunity to have the viewership and the big paydays and to go ahead and compete with the UFC head to head.”
Eyeing More TV Rights Deals
Paul said the next phase of growth centers on locking down broadcast partnerships rather than just staging bigger cards.
“You’re just going to see more events on a bigger global stage with an expanded roster, and we look to scale the company and lock down more TV rights deals to be able to put on more events onto these platforms,” Paul said.
Paul also pointed to live combat sports as a category he believes is positioned to grow regardless of advances in artificial intelligence.
“It’s such an exciting time for sports entities with the evolution of AI. The physical world is becoming more important, and it’s something that AI can’t replace, and that’s humans in sport,” he said.
Paul’s comments follow the newly announced MVP-PFL merger and build on his earlier stated plan to compete with the UFC on fighter pay.
