Jake Paul has never been one to hold back his opinions, and his latest comments about mixed martial arts wrestlers demonstrate exactly that confidence. During a recent Bloomberg Television interview discussing the landmark merger between MVP and PFL, the 29-year-old made a bold declaration about his wrestling credentials and the current state of MMA grappling.
“I have a wrestling background. Division one. When I see these MMA athletes wrestling, I’m actually embarrassed for them,” Paul stated matter-of-factly. “They wouldn’t last a minute in Ohio Division One high school wrestling.”
The comments came as Paul and PFL CEO John Martin announced their organizations were combining forces to challenge the UFC’s dominance in combat sports. This merger positions the newly formed entity as what Martin describes as “clearly the number two platform within the combat space.”
Paul’s wrestling background adds to his ambitions in MMA, which he plans to pursue next year once his jaw fully heals from his recent boxing match. The outspoken promoter and athlete has already revolutionized boxing through his promotional company MVP, bringing the first professional sporting event to Netflix with his fight against Mike Tyson.
The merger represents more than just business expansion. Paul and Martin emphasized their “fig hter first” philosophy, committing to giving athletes at least 50% of revenue, substantially more than traditional combat sports organizations. This approach has already transformed women’s boxing, with fighters like Amanda Serrano going from earning a few thousand dollars per fight to becoming millionaires.
“It’s war as far as I’m concerned. We’re here to make MMA great again,” Paul declared when asked about competing with the UFC. He didn’t mince words about the rivalry, calling it “Coke versus Pepsi” and suggesting his organization’s youth and hunger would overcome the established competition.
The combined MVP-PFL platform will allow athletes to compete in both boxing and mixed martial arts, giving athletes multiple revenue streams and career paths. With backing from investors including 85 and Nighthead, plus strategic partnerships with Netflix and a new alliance with Matchroom Boxing for women’s boxing, the organization has positioned itself for sustained growth.
Martin, who joined PFL less than a year ago, praised Paul as “a unicorn” for his unique combination of athletic talent, promotional ability, and massive social media following. That influence, Martin believes, will help elevate PFL athletes who have better skills than their current brand recognition suggests.
