The Professional Fighters League (PFL) announced an exclusive partnership with social media influencer turned professional boxer Jake Paul on Thursday as he looks to increase his exposure within the global sport.
The 25-year-old will become the first fighter in the new pay-per-view division he co-created with the five-year MMA league, PFL PPV Super Fights.
LEAGUE OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLERS MAKES FALL PAY-PER-SHOW DEBUT
The star, who initially rose to fame on Vine, is known for her pranks on social media, but has found herself embroiled in a series of legal issues as she rose to fame. In 2018, she began her boxing career, which she says changed her life for the better.
His YouTube account has amassed more than 20 million subscribers to date. His and TikTok’s Instagram accounts have also amassed a large following.
Jake Paul walks out of the ring after his unanimous decision victory over Anderson Silva of Brazil in their cruiserweight bout at Desert Diamond Arena on October 29, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona.
(Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PFL founder Donn Davis had been in talks with Paul since last spring to become a wrestler and content creator for the PFL to help boost the league’s presence, which is still in its infancy.
«Our brand is new. Our brand needs more exposure,» Davis told Fox News Digital. «What better than Jake Paul’s voice, Jake Paul’s authenticity and Jake Paul’s fight-loving social media platform to further introduce our brand and product to a whole new generation of viewers.»
When not fighting, Paul and his business partner, Nakisa Bidarian, will help recruit, market and promote the PFL’s PPV Super Fight Division, according to the PFL.
The goal is to capitalize on Paul’s social media influence, creative content and voice to increase «the visibility of the PFL and all of its fighters,» Davis said.
Jake Paul stands in the corner during his cruiserweight fight against Anderson Silva at Desert Diamond Arena on October 29, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona.
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The new division is officially «open to recruit the best pay-per-view fighters in the world,» with each fighter receiving an even bigger payday than before.
To gain a competitive edge, the PFL also announced that wrestlers in the new division will earn 50% of the revenue from PPV events for the first time.
«It’s no secret … how unhappy pay-per-view star fighters are in the MMA market about the pay of their fighters,» Davis said.
In the past, pay-per-view fighters did not receive a fair share of the proceeds from their fights, Davis said. The PFL plans to change that with this new model, which allows fighters to become «true economic partners.»
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It’s just another way the league plans to innovate the sport and bolster its presence.
PFL 9 at the Copper Box Arena in London on Saturday 20 August 2022.
(Cooper Neill/PFL)
This year, the PFL represented 40% of the UFC audience. It was a major milestone for the MMA league, which has already made a name for itself with its SmartCage technology and its season format that includes playoffs and championship fights.
«I plan to enter PFL SmartCage and once again show the world that anything is possible with hard work and dedication,» Paul said in a statement. «Outside the cage, equal pay for fighters and advocacy for female fighters has been my passion, and I am aligned with the PFL to evolve the sport.»
the league is already valued at $500 million and backed by high-profile investors, including Ares Capital, Luxor Capital, and Elysian Park Ventures.
It has also captured the attention of prominent figures in the sport, such as former New York Yankees hitter Alex Rodriguez, as well as numerous team owners from the NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS.