John Martin exits as CEO of merged MVP-PFL promotion

John Martin announced he is stepping down as CEO of the combined PFL and MVP company effective immediately, with Nakisa Bidarian set to lead the promotion.

John Martin announced Tuesday that he is leaving his post as CEO of the company formed by the merger of the PFL and Most Valuable Promotions, saying the change takes effect immediately. He had held the job for roughly 14 months.

In a statement posted on his personal Instagram account, Martin said he was proud of what the team accomplished and expressed confidence in the promotion's future. He said he and Nakisa Bidarian worked closely on bringing the two companies together and called Bidarian the right person to lead going forward.

Bidarian, a co-founder of MVP and Jake Paul's longtime business partner, is now positioned to guide the newly merged MMA promotion into 2027.

Martin joined the PFL in July 2025, arriving after the departures of CEO Peter Murray and executive Donn Davis. Under his leadership, the PFL announced its merger with MVP in early August, with a full rebrand of the combined company expected to be completed in early 2027.

Martin was initially named CEO and a board member of the new MVP MMA entity, but that plan changed less than two months after the merger was announced.