Jake Paul appears to be all in on his combat sports involvement.
Earlier this month, the PFL announced they’d come to terms with the outspoken YouTuber-turned-boxer to compete in MMA. Paul, along with his business partner Nakisa Bidiar now have equity shares. Paul will compete as part of the promotion’s “Super Fight division” which will be its PPV event series.
PFL Founder Donn Davis anticipates “The Problem Child” to make his MMA debut in early 2024 and sees any type of opponent possible as the welcoming committee. Davis considers the most important aspect of this deal to be the endorsement and overall presence of Paul and Bidarian.
“If you look at each of them individually, Jake is the best marketer and promoter we’ve seen in combat sports ever. Ever. Maybe since Muhammad Ali,” Davis told TSN. “With Nakisa [Bidarian], he’s one of five people in the world that understand the economics and financials of pay-per-view. Maybe one of the five. So, we have one of the best businessmen in pay-per-view and we have one of the best promoters and marketers in pay-per-view now exclusively on the PFL platform to help us build that division. Couldn’t be more exciting.
“Once again, if you’re a pay-per-view fighter, we’ve added muscle expertise to our already existing … call it global distribution and renowned production ability. You can now build your brand and make more money .”
.
Heading into the upcoming 2023 season set to begin on April 1, the promotion understands it needs to go big with the two PPV events planned. Late last year, PFL announced that there will be a 50/50 revenue split between the main event fighters of said event. The more the event is successful, the more the fighters will receive in addition to their fight agreements.
While Paul falls under that same umbrella, he’s allowed to continue his boxing endeavors along with his MMA involvement. The 26-year-old is scheduled to box Tommy Fury on Feb. 26 in Saudi Arabia.
“The bigger part of this deal is Jake Paul being a marketer, creator, and promoter of the fights that he is not in for PFL,” Davis said. “He is now exclusively on our platform to raise the profile of other fighters in other fights in the super fight division and in the league. Jake has more followers and more engagements than the UFC himself.
“His ability to build the reputation of PFL as well as increase engagement in fights that he does not participate in, is what is most important and exciting. And it’s already taking effect.
” The second part of the deal involves him as a fighter. Eating his own cooking,” he continued. “He’s made over $50 million in just three years and he’s saying, ‘Hey, the place I’m choosing in MMA is PFL, this is the best platform and I’m gonna be the first fighter to sign to this platform.'”
TOP STORIES
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VIDEO STEW
The MMA Hour.
UFC Vegas 68 promo.
Free fight.
Road to UFC finals.
Crazy prelim moments from Bellator 290 fighters.
RIZIN Confessions 116.
Invicta FC 51 highlights.
How do you fix Conor McGregor.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Oh.
I think everyone should send pictures of there dogs nuts to @RishiSunak so he knows we mean business #Dognuts
— Arnold billy allen (@Arnoldbfa) January 30, 2023
BMF.
Come on @danawhite April 8 has to be 5 rounds! Put that belt on the line! Everybody knows It’s only one guy in the @ufc that fights ANYONE! #ufc287 pic.twitter.com/XRYhB2phLP
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) January 30, 2023
Jessy ready.
Win or lose, there’s not much that compares to the feeling of staring across the cage at your opponent, your team at your back, knowing you’re about to get in a fist fight. @ufc I’m ready to go! pic.twitter.com/xabapV8sjR
— Jessy Jess (@missjessyjess) January 30, 2023
Happy Monday
I was sick and bedridden yesterday, but damn I feel good today
Pads with coach, deadlifts at 220# now time for cardio and teaching pic.twitter.com/q9GTy9ueib— Jessy Jess (@missjessyjess) January 31, 2023
Khamzat vs. Kadyrov.
Hey luke. All is well. Wouldn’t say it’s sad. I think it’s more being respectful. He’s not gonna go 100 percent on a none pro, an elder and the leader of the country. I wouldn’t either. Except that he was chatting some crap! https://t.co/dUdgdULUWm
— michael (@bisping) January 30, 2023
Opportunity.
Congratulations @laura_sanko
So many women helped paved the way for us to compete in this sport. Now you are helping pave the way for women who want to stay involved when they are done competing. You aren’t being given this opportunity, you earned this opportunity— Jillian DeCoursey (@lionheartjill) January 31, 2023
Prepare to Kinoshita.
Yu Xi shitoiteXia saina https://t.co/wGjHaypmHH
— Mu Xia You Shuo [(YUSAKU KINOSHITA)] (@yusakukinoshita) January 30, 2023
Larkin.
A is coming to LA. @Da_Monsoon returns to take on Mukhamed Berkhamov LIVE on #Bellator290‘s stacked prelims.
Main Card | 9p ET / 6p PT | @CBS @ParamountPlus pic.twitter.com/Xg09DtZ4kX
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) January 31, 2023
Starting young.
Daddy’s little girl pic.twitter.com/H0z4ehVz8Y
— Rich Chou (@rich_chou) January 31, 2023
Pain.
Every……single….. time https://t.co/eef8NNNbQ8
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) January 31, 2023
Will they get another one?
The KO King is BACK @TheBeast_UFC headlines #UFCVegas68 Saturday night!
[ 10pmPT | LIVE on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/5rnFZFR75K
— UFC (@ufc) January 31, 2023
Backup?
Great fight! If something always count on me @danawhite @seanshelby @AliAbdelaziz00
— GIGA CHIKADZE (@giga_chikadze) January 31, 2023
Impressive.
XTREME COUTURE #BURNTHEBOATS pic.twitter.com/snezayYMki
— Chris Curtis The Action Man (@Actionman513) January 31, 2023
Put a little bit of something on your (shoes) face.
Reproducao TV Globo / GloboPlay #teamsapato #bbb23 pic.twitter.com/ipyGAh60iD
— Cara de Sapato #BBB23 (@caradesapatojr) January 31, 2023
Happy belated to an OG.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Max Holloway (23-7) vs. Arnold Allen (19-1); UFC Fight Night, April 15
FINAL THOUGHTS
I’m interested to hear Dana White’s thoughts about these comments.
Thank you for reading!
POLL POSITION
Last Week’s Results:
Friday: 65% of 700 total votes answered “No” when asked, “Do you have any interest in a Jake Paul vs. Luke Rockhold boxing match?”
Thursday: 51% of 803 total votes answered “Alexander Volkanovski” when asked, “Who wins?” Volkanovski challenges Islam Makhachev for the UFC lightweight title in the main event of UFC 284 on Feb. 11.
Wednesday: 63% of 817 total votes answered “Yes” when asked, “Are you interested in any type of fight between Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury?”
Tuesday: 58% of 504 total votes answered “Yes” when asked, “Should Jessica Andrade vs. Lauren Murphy have been stopped?” Andrade defeated Murphy via a unanimous decision at UFC 283.
Monday: 78% of 659 total votes answered “No” when asked, “Will Khabib Nurmagomedov’s absence make a difference at UFC 284?”
Today’s exit poll:
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Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/1/31/23578546/morning-report-pfl-founder-declares-jake-paul-best-marketer-promoter-weve-seen-combat-sports-ever?rand=96749
