Jake Paul Signs With PFL, Buys Minority Stake to Start ‘PPV Super Fight Division’

Signed, Sealed, Delivered. Welcome to the Professional Fighters League @jakepaul pic.twitter.com/pgMDUprK6S

— PFL (@PFLMMA) January 5, 2023

Guess who’s coming to dinner.

Per the Professional Fighters League on Thursday via press release and social media, the organization has signed YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul (6-0, 4 KOs Box) to compete under its banner in MMA. Additionally, he has also bought in as a minority equity owner to the parent company along with fellow promoter and former Ultimate Fighting Championship exec Nakisa Bidarian. According to the release, Paul will jump-start the pay-per-view division to stage “PFL PPV Super Fights,” and he is the first person signed to that section of the PFL.

As the newly appointed Head of Fighter Advocacy, Paul has ordained that the pay-per-view revenue generated from these events will be at least an even 50-50 split with the organization and the competitors. These pay-to-watch fight cards will be separate from the tournament seasons of the PFL, and as stated in the press release, two such shows will air in 2023. The 25-year-old, with his platform, intends on boosting the awareness and popularity of the other competitors that will compete in this division. Paul has since called for fan-favorite free agent Nate Diaz to join him in the PFL ranks, even challenging the ex-UFC talent to one boxing match and one MMA fight.

Paul gave a statement about his new arrangement with the PFL, stating, “I’ve proven myself in and out of the boxing ring and now I am going to do the same in MMA, and there is no limit to the positive impact I can make on the sport. I plan to enter the PFL SmartCage and once again show the world that that anything is possible with hard work and dedication. Outside of the cage, equal fighter-pay and advocating for female fighters has been my passion, and I am aligned with PFL to evolve the sport. I believe in PFL, their mission, and what they have accomplished in a very short period of time. That is why I chose to partner with PFL exclusively, both as a fighter and a businessperson. As Head of Fighter Advocacy, I will consistently promote PFL fighters and I invite all top MMA fighters, both men and women, to join the PFL and get a payday like they’ve never had before.”

The goal of this division, according to the New York Times, is to pull in immediate buyers for the pay-per-views instead of those that need to first claim a belt in PFL to earn some notoriety. The tournament-centric league staged its first PPV on 2022, putting on the 2022 Season PFL Championships titled with six title fights and a notable bout between former UFC and Bellator MMA mainstays. Reports claim that the $50 show purchasable on ESPN+ did not exceed 10,000 buys, but the official numbers were never made public.

Of the signing and Paul’s buy-in, PFL founder Donn Davis was elated, saying, “I founded PFL to innovate, professionalize, and grow MMA, and we have done that with our disruptive sport-season format which put ‘fighters-first’ as they control their own destiny. Today, we begin our next phase of growth by disrupting the MMA pay-per-view market, with an unprecedented new model where fighters will be true 50-50 economic partners in PPV revenues. I’m gratified that Jake and Nakisa chose to join PFL, and I can’t wait to see what Jake does as a fighter, creator, and promoter in MMA with PFL.”

The former Disney Channel actor amassed a perfect professional boxing record of 6-0 thus far, with wins over three notable former UFC talents. Starting off by knocking out YouTuber Ali Loui Al-Fakri, also known as AnEsonGib, he went on to starch former NBA player Nate Robinson. From there, he threw down with Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley twice and Anderson Silva, knocking out the former two in 2021. Paul intends on remaining in boxing, but plans on using his high school wrestling chops to bolster his MMA skills should he indeed compete inside of a cage. A date of his arrival has not yet been set, and no opponent has been offered – although former UFC champ Anthony Pettis suggested he would be willing to welcome the youngster to the ranks of MMA if given the chance.