Jake Paul has signed a multi-year contract with the PFL. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Jake Paul’s combat sports show is on the move — to the cage.
Paul — the YouTuber turned prizefighter turned mastermind promoter — is teaming up with the Professional Fighters League on a groundbreaking deal that, when announced on Thursday, sent shockwaves across the MMA industry.
Paul and the PFL have co-created a pay-per-view division called “PFL PPV Super Fight,” a division that guarantees fighters will receive 50% of revenue from its events. Paul is the first fighter signed to the new division. He does not have a match scheduled but plans to compete in 2023.
“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,” Paul said in statement released by the PFL on Thursday.
Paul and the PFL said they want to create a “fighter-first” culture with the new 50-50 revenue partnership model for all pay-per-view fights. The revenue split is much better than what talent makes in the UFC, where fighters reportedly earn less than 20 percent of gross revenue.
Also per the announcement, Paul has been appointed “head of fighter advocacy” and said he will continue to work towards a business model that benefits fighters. “I invite all top MMA fighters, both men and women, to join the PFL and get a payday like they’ve never had before,” he said.
Fighter welfare is no new crusade for Paul, who has repeatedly demanded that UFC president Dana White increase fighters’ pay. “Equal fighter-pay and advocating for female fighters has been my passion, and I am aligned with PFL to evolve the sport,” Paul said.
As a result of the deal, Paul and his business partner Nakisa Bidarian, who was previously the UFC’s chief financial officer, now own an equity share of the PFL and plan to leverage their expertise and platforms to help promote and recruit fighters for the Super Fight division.
PFL CEO Peter Murray said the league and Paul share a compatible vision regarding fair pay for fighters. “What Jake stands for in values, the PFL stands for in values in terms of creating more opportunities for fighters on major stages, to earn more money and for fighters to get their due,” Murray said Wednesday evening.
Murray said Paul’s brand, along with the 50-50 revenue split, will draw elite talent to the season-based PFL — which already awards $1 million prizes to the champions of six divisions at the end of each season.
“Partnering with Jake Paul will absolutely further capture the attention of top fighters because now they have a global stage and business opportunity to earn more money,” Murray said.
PFL Chairman and Founder Donn Davis said the Paul deal starts “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.”
Here is Paul announcing his MMA move to the PFL:
The Super Fight division will host stand-alone events separate from the PFL season and will stage two pay-per-view cards starting in 2023, scaling to more in following years.
Paul — known as “The Problem Child” — has compiled an impressive boxing record (6-0-0, 4 KOs) against non-boxers. However, his in-ring skills are clearly evolving, having dominated three former UFC luminaries in his last four bouts. His highlights include sensational knockout victories over Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley, whom he also beat by decision.
The biggest moment of Paul’s boxing career came in October when he defeated MMA legend and former longtime UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Paul won by unanimous decision after knocking Silva down with pulverizing right hand. Here’s the shot that rocked Silva:
Paul said he will continue to pursue a boxing career while also making his PFL debut at some point this year. He said: “I plan to enter the PFL SmartCage and once again show the world that that anything is possible with hard work and dedication.”
