NEW YORK –
Jake Paul, the YouTube megastar influencer, has focused on mixed martial arts and has signed a deal with the Professional Fighters League.
Paul has signed with PFL to compete in a new Super Fight division that will feature fights via pay-per-view. 25-year-old Paul is 6-0 as a professional boxer. He has won against former UFC champions Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva.
Paul also teamed up with PFL on Thursday to help create a new 50-50 revenue partnership model for all PPV fights. The YouTuber was also named Head of Fighter Advocacy, helping to promote the series and recruit more stars for the Super Fight Division. The PFL PPV Super Fights are standalone events separate from the PFL League Season. The PFL said it will host two PPV Super Fights in 2023 and expand to include more PPV events in subsequent years.
PFL did not say when Paul would make his debut. The terms of the deal were not disclosed
“I have proven myself in and out of the boxing ring and now I will 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 get into the PFL SmartCage and once again show the world that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible. Outside the cage, equal fighter pay and advocating for female fighters has been my passion and I am associated with the PFL to help develop the sport. I believe in PFL, their mission and what they have achieved in a very short time.”
Paul has 21.5 million followers on Instagram and another 4.5 million on Twitter.
Unlike most martial arts action, the PFL competes in a season-long format that includes playoffs and championship bouts. PFL has a TV deal with ESPN.
“I founded PFL to innovate, professionalize and grow MMA, and we’ve accomplished that with our disruptive sports season format that puts ‘fighters first’ as they control their own destiny,” said PFL Chairman Donn Davis . “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 earnings.”
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