You can’t blame Jake Paul for trying.
Last week, Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions announced it was merging with the PFL to create one combat sports promotion under the MVP banner. While the PFL won’t officially change until 2027, the promotion’s event last Friday in New York had Paul and MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian in attendance, and Paul did his best to make some big moves for their new company.
PFL New York was headlined by a lightweight title fight between Usman Nurmagomedov and Archie Colgan.
Of course, Nurmagomedov was accompanied by his coach and cousin, the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov, and backstage at the event, Paul tried to recruit the UFC Hall of Famer to come out of retirement for the new MVP.
“With what we’re doing, this merger with MVP, we’re changing MMA forever, where we give fighters a better place to live,” Paul pitched to Nurmagomedov in a YouTube video showing behind the scenes of the merger. “If you fought for us, it would monumentally change the sport forever. So, it’s about change.”
While Nurmagomedov called the merger “good for MMA,” his response to Paul’s pitch was not shown. However, it’s fair to say Nurmagomedov probably won’t be taking him up on that offer, given a Telegram post he made a few days after, mocking the interaction.
“My face when they start trying to persuade me to come back.” (per Google Translate)
Considered by many to be the greatest lightweight of all time, Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from MMA in 2020 following his lightweight title defense against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 and the passing of his father, Abdulmanap. Nurmagomedov has repeatedly said he has no interest in returning to fighting.
