MVP's Acquisition of PFL Creates New Landscape in MMA
Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian of Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) have taken their disruptor moniker to heart, causing the latest shift in the MMA landscape with their acquisition of PFL.
The biggest winners in the immediate aftermath of the news are clear. Dakota Ditcheva, the PFL's golden girl, is now officially their MVP. With MVP backing her, Ditcheva is primed to become even bigger of a star, especially with the emphasis on women in combat from Paul and Bidarian.
Dakota Ditcheva was one of the best homegrown stars of PFL's existence, and her status as one of MMA's most wanted will only grow as time goes on.
Donn Davis, the founder of PFL, is a loser in this deal. Despite his departure from the promotion, it's safe to assume he's not happy to see where PFL is going. Davis's inability to take the promotion to the next level has led to its acquisition by MVP.
AJ McKee, a former Bellator featherweight champion, is another winner in this deal. McKee fought five times for PFL, making his price point difficult to maintain. With MVP taking over, McKee enters a win-win situation, even if he loses his upcoming matchup against undefeated champion Razhabali Shaydullaev.
Middle-of-the-pack fighters are the biggest losers in this deal. With fewer events and a focus on high-profile fights, these fighters will have fewer opportunities to compete. This is especially true if there's some type of exclusivity baked into future MVP contracts.
MMA fans are winners in this deal, as the competition between promotions will force them to try harder and provide better content. The acquisition of PFL by MVP has given fans enough reasons to believe that they'll do everything in their power to make a splash.
Cris Cyborg is also a winner in this deal. The tail-end of Cyborg's career has reached a very bizarre state, but with MVP taking over PFL, she may find new opportunities to compete in the MMA world.
The future of PFL under MVP ownership is unclear, but one thing is certain: the landscape of MMA has shifted once again.
Source: Yahoo Sports