Jake Paul Signs Exclusive PFL Deal, Debuts Later This Year
Paul has been an advocate for bettering fighter pay.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul has made his move into the Professional Fighters League.
The New York Times confirmed the news Thursday morning that Paul has signed a two-part exclusive partnership with the PFL and will compete in the Super Fight class. His debut is expected later this year.
“Jake Paul begins his journey to fight in MMA today by signing exclusively with the PFL for our global capabilities, innovative platform, and fighters-first culture,” said PFL CEO Pete Murray.
“PFL built a great roster of world-ranked fighters for our PFL League, and PFL is now open for business to partner with the best MMA PPV fighters on the planet to be part of our new PFL PPV Super Fight Division.”
Paul has signed with the PFL as the first fighter in the new pay-per-view division that he helped co-create, naming it “PFL PPV Super Fights.” Paul and his business partner, Nakisa Bidarian, will recruit, market and promote the Super Fight Division.
On the fighter side, the contract is a multi-fight, multi-year agreement.
This division’s fights are stand-alone events and are not included in the PFL’s traditional League Season format. There will be two PPV Super Fights starting in 2023. Fighters in this division will earn 50% of the revenue from the PPV events.
Paul, who has a 6-0 record in professional boxing, has long criticized the MMA – specifically the UFC – for its fighter pay.
“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,” said Paul.
“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.”
Now, Paul made his offer to former UFC star Nate Diaz.
“I’m so dedicated to this that I offered Nate Diaz a two-fight deal. First we box. Then six months later we fight MMA in the PFL smart cage and lay it all on the line. If that’s not balls, then I don’t know what is. Nate Diaz, I’m down to fight you in your own damn sport. It’s a two-fight deal. Let’s make it happen.”