Showing posts with label MMA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MMA. Show all posts

JAKE PAUL goes MMA, signs with Professional Fighters League for Historic Exclusive Agreement

Professional Fighters League (PFL) has announced(January 15, 2023) a historic two-part exclusive partnership with Jake Paul which will accelerate PFL’s mission to innovate and grow the global sport of MMA.



  •  PFL ANNOUNCES NEW PPV SUPER FIGHT DIVISION WITH “FIGHTER FIRST” MODEL THAT COMMITS TO SHARE 50% OF THE REVENUE WITH PPV FIGHTERS
  • PAUL AND NAKISA BIDARIAN TO HELP BUILD NEW PFL PPV SUPER FIGHT DIVISION
  • JAKE PAUL SIGNS TO FIGHT IN MMA EXCLUSIVELY FOR PFL


First, Jake Paul begins his MMA journey with PFL by signing as the first fighter in the new Pay-Per-View division he co-created with PFL called “PFL PPV Super Fights.”  Second, Jake Paul, along with his business partner Nakisa Bidarian, will utilize their expertise and platforms to help recruit, market, and promote the new PFL PPV Super Fight Division for the benefit of all top fighters. 


The new PFL PPV Super Fight Division is open for business effective immediately. The league is in the process of signing top PPV fighters, who want to become true economic partners. Fighters in the PFL PPV Super Fight Division will earn 50% of the revenue from PPV events, which is groundbreaking pay in MMA.  


As the first fighter under contract for PFL PPV Super Fights, Paul is partnering with PFL due to its “fighter-first” culture to co-create this new 50-50 revenue partnership model for all PPV fights.  As a long-time advocate for fighter-pay, Paul has also been appointed Head of Fighter Advocacy and will continue to work towards a business model that benefits all top fighters. 


PFL PPV Super Fights are stand-alone events separate from the PFL League Season.  PFL will stage two PPV Super Fights starting in 2023, scaling to more PPV events in following years. 


PFL is entering its next phase of expansion by launching the PFL PPV Super Fight Division and is welcoming Paul and Bidarian as minority equity owners in its parent company.  Paul and Bidarian will deploy their expertise, creativity, network, and platform to help promote fights, produce content, and recruit talent to help build PFL and the grow the awareness of its great fighters.  




“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 Jake 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.”


“I founded PFL to innovate, professionalize, and grow MMA, and we have done that with our disruptive sport-season format which put “fighters-first” as they control their own destiny,” said PFL Chairman and Founder 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 revenues.   I’m gratified that Jake and Nakisa chose to join PFL, and I can’t wait to see what Jake does as a fighter, creator, and promoter in MMA with PFL.” 


 “Jake and I have proven our ability to successfully promote and stage major international PPV events.  We look forward to having a similar result with PFL within the sport of MMA.” said Nakisa Bidarian. “Our creativity and expertise, paired with PFL’s great reputation and strong position, will push MMA into a new phase of growth and one with more freedom and economic opportunity for fighters. Through our years of experience, we have developed a unique network of people and a novel approach to promotion and content, which we plan to bring to PFL with full force.” 


“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.”


Further information regarding the PFL PPV Super Fight Division and this historic exclusive partnership will be announced in the coming months. 


PFL is the #1 fastest growing company in MMA and the #2 MMA company on worldwide basis.  PFL is the only in MMA with the sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in sports-season “win and advance” meritocracy like all other major sports.  The PFL fighter roster is global and world-class, with fighters from over 20 countries and 25% independently ranked in the top 25.   PFL leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage powering real-time betting and next-gen viewing experience.   PFL airs live primetime in the U.S. on ESPN and ESPN+ and via 25 distribution partners is broadcast and streamed to 140 countries worldwide.

Eduard Folayang Out To Break His Skid At ONE: BATTLEGROUND II

AT this point, Eduard "Landslide" Folayang should have grown tired of the criticism thrown his way, on whether at 36 years of age, the two-time ONE Lightweight World Champion should already hang his gloves for good.

Wiz Khalifa joins PFL Professional Fighters League ownership Group

The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative sports league in the world, announced today that multi-platinum GRAMMY® & Golden Globe nominated artist Wiz Khalifa has invested in the league and will play an active role in continuing to shape the PFL brand for this generation’s sports fan.

Team Lakay's Stephen Loman Joins ONE Championship

There's a new name to root for in ONE Championship and he's now fighting for Team Lakay and the Philippines. 

Lito Adiwang Wants to Be Side by Side with Joshua Pacio by the End of the Year

Filipino mixed martial arts phenom Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang of the famed Team Lakay of Baguio City wants to be the #1 ranked strawweight contender by the end of the year, if only to sit next to reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion, his teammate Joshua Pacio.

Honorio Banario Hopes for Another Run at the World Title in 2021

Former ONE Featherweight World Champion Honorio “The Rock” Banario of the famed Team Lakay of Baguio City, Philippines, is looking to embark on another run at the ONE World Title this year. 

ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX Official Results, Dutch Knight takes down a Burmese Python

ONE Championship™ (ONE), held it’s biggest event of the year. ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX featured four exciting World Championship contests, broadcast live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday, 30 October.

Teenage Mixed Martial Arts Prodigy Victoria Lee Signs with ONE Championship

Women’s mixed martial arts prodigy Victoria Lee, younger sister of ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee and ONE Lightweight World Champion Christian “The Warrior” Lee, has signed with ONE Championship. ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced the news on his official social media accounts.

Joshua Pacio Joins the Team Lakay Mountain Biking Craze

Team Lakay is hands down the most prolific martial arts team in the Philippines. With well-known and established stars such as former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang, and former ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin Belingon leading the pack, Team Lakay is the absolute elite in Asian martial arts.

Brandon Vera Excited With Possibility of Facing ‘Monster’ Buchecha in the ONE Circle

Want to see Brandon Vera back in the ring and who he will go against this 2020? He may face the Monster soon!

ONE Championship Lands in Top 10 in Facebook Engagement Among Global Sports Properties

Singapore-based martial arts organization ONE Championship has broken into the Top 10 Most Engaging Sport Profiles on Facebook Worldwide, according to figures released by independent social media marketing company Socialbakers. The data was collected between 1 January and 30 June, 2020.

Intense Team Lakay Training further toughens Lito Adiwang; “Thunder Kid” sets sights on World Title

Rising ONE Championship strawweight prospect Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang of the Philippines is one of the most exciting athletes in his division. With a knack for scoring highlight-reel finishes, and electrifying huge crowds with his fan-pleasing style, Adiwang has captivated audiences in his time inside the ONE Circle.

ONE:Why Team Lakay’s Mark Sangiao is a Perfect Candidate for The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition

“The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition” is coming in the second half of 2020 and Team Lakay's coach deserves to be one of its candidates. Here's why!

WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi, SAMOAN Dynasty to bring wrestling mania in Manila this March

This March, wrestling and boxing fans and afficionados in the Philippines are in for a treat. World Wrestling Asia or WWA, opens its doors to  for all aspiring pro wrestlers in the Philippines.

Mixed Martial Arts Legends Miesha Tate and Brandon Vera Visit US Troops in Guam

Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion and current ONE Championship Vice President Miesha Tate joined ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera in the US territory of Guam recently to visit American troops stationed at Andersen Air Force Base. 

ONE Championship’s Singapore Event Converted to Closed Door Event

ONE Championship recently announced that the company has made the decision to convert one of its live events into a closed-door event.

Team Lakay’s Gina Iniong confident against Asha Roka, ‘I Am The More Well-Rounded Fighter’

As Gina Iniong enters her third year with ONE Championship, she is focused on making the most of each opportunity presented to her.

Eduard Folayang Begins Another Run at the Lightweight World Title in Manila this January

Filipino martial arts veteran and two-time ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang is confident he has enough left in the tank to bag another shot at the title this year.

Team Lakay's Danny Kingad Promises ‘Something New’ In Coming Year

"The King" Danny Kingad has set his eyes in getting his crown this year. For three rounds, Danny Kingad tested himself against the greatest flyweight in history, Demetrious Johnson

And while Kingad was unable to secure the victory over “Mighty Mouse” when they met in the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Championship Finals, it did give him a sense of placement in the rankings.

Kingad will try to rebound into the win column at ONE: FIRE & FURY when he faces Xie Wei on 31 January from the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines. 

The loss at ONE: CENTURY for “The King” snapped a six-bout win streak and also forced him to do a little self-reflection before deciding to return to action in early 2020.

 “Everyone will see something new from me in the coming year,” Kingad said. 

“With everything that I learned about myself in 2019, the next year will be a chance for me to show how much I have grown. My personal goal is to win every match in order to become worthy of a World Title challenge soon.”

Kingad, who earned victories over Reece McLaren, Senzo Ikeda, and Tatsumitsu Wada over the past 12 months, is now 13-2 in his career. That includes nines triumphs in 11 appearances for ONE Championship.

Both of Kingad’s victories over McLaren and Wada came inside the Mall of Asia Arena, giving him a feeling of comfort for his next bout. 

And while each and every chance to compete helped create the person that prepares to stand against Xie, the opportunity to face someone like Johnson helped him grow like no other.

 “I learned a lot,” Kingad said.

“I was against top-caliber athletes who were able to make me realize some of my weaknesses, which I continuously work on to improve. The experience (of facing Johnson) was very exciting, and I was really happy because I was given a chance to be a part of (the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Championship).”

Despite coming away without the victory, Kingad said: “I am very much satisfied with my performance, and I am really happy to have competed against such talented athletes.”

“Not everyone can get a chance to compete against an in-his-prime DJ, but I was able to go toe-to-toe with him and push him for three rounds.”

Kingad will be joined on ONE: FIRE & FURY by his Team Lakay teammates, ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua Pacio and Eduard Folayang. Pacio defends his ONE Strawweight World Title against Alex Silva in the main event, with Folayang battling Ahmed Mujtaba in a lightweight contest. 


Joshua Pacio says The Best Version of Himself is Yet to Come

Reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio of the Philippines says if you’ve been impressed with his performances so far, you haven’t seen anything yet. The 23-year-old phenom vows to showcase a much better version of himself this year.