MMA News

Category: MVP

  • Gina Carano Says Dana White Called First About Fight Against Ronda Rousey

    Gina Carano Says Dana White Called First About Fight Against Ronda Rousey

    Gina Carano has revealed the full timeline of how her May 16 fight against Ronda Rousey came together, and the path ran through a collapsed UFC deal before Rousey stepped in to finish the job herself.

    Speaking with Ariel Helwani on Wednesday, Carano explained that Dana White made the first call in December 2024, months after she had already begun working on her own to get back into fighting shape.

    “Dana called in December,” Carano said. “From September 2024 to when Dana called in December, I had lost about 30 lbs by that point, but I had a long way to go.”

    White had spent the back half of 2024 publicly teasing a major announcement, which Carano confirmed was tied to her. She asked him to stay quiet while she found a gym and got into condition without public scrutiny. Those initial conversations were UFC conversations, and they eventually stalled.

    Carano was candid about where her negotiating leverage actually sat. “I didn’t really have that much negotiating power, except for the fact that Ronda wants to fight me. I’m the only one she wants to fight. So I was just like, ‘Ronda, go for it.’”

    When the UFC negotiations went nowhere, Rousey handled it personally. The two women, linked by dream fight hypotheticals for more than a decade, finally sat down together in person.

    “She really led the way, she led the way a thousand percent. I just said yes. And then when their negotiations weren’t going anywhere, she called me personally. And then we had dinner and actually talked about it,” Carano said.

    The fight landed at Most Valuable Promotions with Netflix as the distribution partner, making Carano the headliner of the first live MMA card the streamer has ever produced. For Carano, the entire process had a clarity that she found grounding.

    “When you have a purpose and a goal, this goal of a fight has really just consumed me and put a protective shield over me that I needed to experience,” she said. “It’s very selfish. Eat, sleep, train. I needed to live like this for a second. And I’m already going to miss it.”

    Carano vs. Rousey headlines the Netflix card on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

  • Ronda Rousey Shuts Down Age Critics Before Long-Awaited MMA Return On May 16 – ‘Not Like My Ovaries are ighting’

    Ronda Rousey Shuts Down Age Critics Before Long-Awaited MMA Return On May 16 – ‘Not Like My Ovaries are ighting’

    Ronda Rousey is set to make her long-awaited return to MMA nearly a decade after her last fight, and she is pushing back firmly against doubts tied to her age.

    The former UFC bantamweight champion will face Gina Carano on May 16 in a high-profile bout that will headline the first MMA event to stream live on Netflix. The matchup brings together two of the sport’s early stars, though it has also sparked debate due to the extended time both fighters have spent away from competition.

    “Rowdy”, now 39, has not competed since her loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016, where she was stopped in just 48 seconds.

    That result came after her first professional defeat against Holly Holm at UFC 193 in November 2015, which ended her dominant run as champion. Rousey holds a 12-2 record in professional MMA, including a 6-2 stint in the UFC.

    Ronda Rousey Addresses Criticism Over Age

    During a recent interview on CBS Mornings, Rousey dismissed the idea that her age should be seen as a limitation, as questions about her comeback continue to dominate discussion in the MMA community.

    “I never hear Jon Jones’ age being brought up as a disqualifying factor,” Rousey said. “It’s not like my ovaries are fighting. You know what I mean? Why are we even talking about this?”

    At her peak, Rousey was one of the most dominant fighters in the sport. She successfully defended the UFC women’s bantamweight title six times, often finishing opponents in under a minute, while becoming one of the promotion’s biggest crossover stars.

    Following her time in MMA, “Rowdy” transitioned into professional wrestling with WWE and appeared in several Hollywood films. Despite her long absence, she never officially retired, which left the possibility of a return open.

    “There was kind of like a cascade of things that led to it, but largely I wanted to rewrite my own ending in MMA,” Rousey said. “It was just unfinished. I never formally retired. Dana said I retired and I hadn’t fought in, like, 10 years, so I think I needed everyone to kind of give up on me coming back before I knew I was coming back just for me.”

    Carano, 43, has not competed since 2009, when she suffered a knockout loss to Cris Cyborg.

    For Rousey, the upcoming fight is expected to be a one-time return, aimed at closing her career on her own terms while rediscovering her connection to the sport.

  • Jake Paul’s MVP Eyes Long-Term MMA Future After Rousey-Carano

    Most Valuable Promotions is preparing to make a major statement in MMA with Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano headlining a Netflix card on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian says the promotion’s long-term involvement in the sport hinges on the success of that event.

    The card features Rousey returning to competition for the first time in 10 years against Carano, who last fought in 2009. Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou faces Philipe Lins on the card, while Mike Perry takes on Nate Diaz in another featured bout.

    MVP’s MMA Strategy Depends on Netflix Card

    Bidarian told Sports Business Journal that the promotion’s future in MMA depends heavily on the May 16 results. “I think a lot of it depends on May 16th, right?” Bidarian said. “We’re putting a lot of fire power, star power, distribution to the event.”

    “If it works, and I’m very confident it will work, yes — MVP will be involved in MMA over the long term,” he added.

    The promotion, headed by Jake Paul and Bidarian, has primarily focused on boxing to this point. MVP produced Paul’s fight against Mike Tyson, which peaked at over 100 million viewers on Netflix.

    Blockbuster Live Events Model

    Bidarian clarified that MVP won’t compete directly with the UFC’s weekly event model. Instead, the promotion plans to focus on what it calls “blockbuster live events” or BLEs featuring marquee matchups like Rousey vs. Carano.

    “[Netflix is] really a difference maker in being able to stand up a product that can be viewed as top-tier distribution and exposure for the athletes, so May 16th will be tell-tale in terms of what’s possible,” Bidarian said. “I’m confident that we will have one of the, if not the most viewed, MMA event in history, just like I was confident that Paul-Tyson would break streaming records in the U.S. versus any form of content.”

    Netflix has over 325 million subscribers globally, giving the Rousey vs. Carano card potential to become the most-watched MMA event in history. The streaming platform has already aired several MVP events including Paul vs. Tyson and Paul vs. Anthony Joshua.

    Bidarian said MVP has received significant interest from fighters wanting to compete on future cards. “We’ve had no shortage of interested athletes reaching out to us to be involved,” he noted.

    “This to me is a crossover mainstream event,” Bidarian said. “And for us to be able to add the caliber of star power, plus true top-tier current contenders … it’s a great card that we’re proud of and we think we’ll be very successful come Saturday, May 16th.”

  • Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz Rematch Eyed for Netflix

    Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz Rematch Eyed for Netflix

    Jake Paul and Nate Diaz could headline a future Most Valuable Promotions MMA event on Netflix, according to MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian. The potential rematch would take place inside the cage after Paul defeated Diaz via unanimous decision in their 2023 boxing match.

    Bidarian addressed the possibility during a recent interview with MMA media, confirming that both fighters remain interested in the matchup. The bout could land on Netflix following the streaming platform’s debut MMA show headlined by Ronda Rousey’s comeback fight against Gina Carano.

    “It’s kind of funny, Nate Diaz called Jake out for MMA,” Bidarian said. “I know that Jake is going to come out and say ‘listen, beat Mike Perry and we can run it in MVP MMA, so we’ll see how that develops.”

    Netflix Expanding MMA Presence After Boxing Success

    Netflix has already broadcast multiple combat sports events through MVP, beginning with Paul vs Mike Tyson in November 2024. That event drew an estimated 125 million viewers and was followed by Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano 3 and Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford.

    Bidarian believes the Rousey vs Carano card represents the first of many potential MMA events on the platform. He compared the trajectory to Netflix’s approach to boxing, starting with spectacle fights before expanding into more regular programming.

    “I think similar to Paul-Tyson this is our first event with Netflix in MMA,” Bidarian explained. “I am confident the event will do well, depending on how well it does I’m also very confident we will do more MVP MMA events with Netflix and potentially others.”

    Previous Negotiations Fell Through With PFL

    Paul and Diaz have discussed an MMA fight for years, with the Professional Fighters League previously attempting to make the bout happen. Those negotiations ultimately collapsed over financial terms.

    “If you recall, Jake talked about doing MMA against Nate Diaz for a long time in PFL,” Bidarian continued. “The numbers just couldn’t work for Nate Diaz in terms of what he wanted and what PFL wanted to do. Maybe things change.”

    Diaz was also considered as a potential replacement opponent for Paul’s Netflix boxing match against Anthony Joshua last year after Gervonta Davis withdrew due to legal issues. That rematch never materialized, but the MMA version appears to have gained momentum.

    Bidarian noted that the MMA landscape remains wide open for competition outside the UFC, creating opportunities for MVP to establish itself in the space. Diaz is scheduled to face Mike Perry on the upcoming Netflix card, with Paul suggesting that victory could set up their cage rematch.

  • Jake Paul Defends Francis Ngannou’s Netflix Opponent

    Jake Paul Defends Francis Ngannou’s Netflix Opponent

    Jake Paul is defending the choice of opponent for Francis Ngannou’s return to MMA on May 16. The former UFC heavyweight champion will face Philipe Lins on Netflix’s first MMA event.

    The matchup has drawn criticism from fans who expect Ngannou to easily defeat the relatively unknown Brazilian. Lins was released by the UFC in 2024 despite winning his last four fights with the promotion.

    Paul Calls Lins ‘Very Challenging’ Opponent

    Speaking on Theo Von’s This Past Weekend podcast, Paul pushed back against the narrative that Lins will be an easy fight. He revealed that another, bigger-name opponent was considered but would have been easier for Ngannou.

    “He’s very f—— good,” Paul said about Lins. “It’s a more dangerous fight than — who did we have as the other opponent? We had a different name, who was a bigger name and an easier fight for (Ngannou).”

    “Francis, we joke around about a fight and blah, blah, blah…but like, respect to him for doing this. It’s a very challenging fight,” Paul added.

    Ngannou Returns After PFL Stint

    Ngannou became a free agent after his three-year stint with the PFL ended following just one fight with the promotion. The Cameroonian has won six of his last seven fights via knockout, including his 2021 victory over Stipe Miocic to capture the UFC heavyweight championship.

    Rico Verhoeven was reportedly offered the Ngannou fight but declined, having already committed to a boxing match with Oleksandr Usyk promoted by Turki Alalshikh. The Netflix event marks Ngannou’s first MMA bout since 2024.

  • Francis Ngannou Training Footage Sparks Concern for Philipe Lins

    Francis Ngannou Training Footage Sparks Concern for Philipe Lins

    Francis Ngannou has fans concerned for his upcoming opponent after releasing brutal training footage ahead of his Netflix fight against Philipe Lins on May 16. The former UFC heavyweight champion showcased devastating power in camp, sparking reactions across social media.

    Ngannou has not competed in MMA since October 2024, when he defeated Renan Ferreira in his lone PFL appearance. The Cameroonian powerhouse has focused primarily on boxing since leaving the UFC in early 2023, facing Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in high-profile bouts.

    The 39-year-old will return to the cage at Inglewood’s Intuit Dome before Ronda Rousey headlines against Gina Carano on the same Netflix card. Lins, a Brazilian heavyweight, faces the daunting task of standing across from one of the sport’s most feared knockout artists.

    Brutal Pad Work Raises Stakes for Netflix Debut

    Recent training footage posted to Instagram shows Ngannou launching vicious shots at padded-up coach Dewey Cooper. The display of raw power has intensified speculation about Lins’ fate in the matchup.

    Ngannou has not tasted defeat in the cage since 2018. His brutal run of knockouts culminated in dethroning Stipe Miocic to capture the UFC heavyweight title in 2021.

    While Ngannou struggled in boxing, losing a decision to Fury and suffering a knockout against Joshua, his MMA dominance remains intact.

  • Mike Perry Reveals MVP’s Netflix MMA Event Will Feature Something Different From UFC Model

    Mike Perry Reveals MVP’s Netflix MMA Event Will Feature Something Different From UFC Model

    Mike Perry revealed that Most Valuable Promotions will use a six-sided cage for their first MMA event on Netflix. The detail emerged during a recent appearance on the Anik & Florian podcast.

    Perry discussed his upcoming return to MMA when he mentioned the cage configuration. “I think I just demolish this and I do my best, you see the best ‘Platinum’ Perry back in the ring or back in the Octagon or sorry, it’s a hexagon,” Perry said. “We’re fighting in a hexagon here for MVP. Gonna see how that all works out.”

    The hexagon represents a departure from the traditional eight-sided octagon used by the UFC. The PFL uses a 10-sided SmartCage, making MVP’s six-sided design another variation in MMA cage configurations.

    MVP Differentiates From UFC Model

    The cage design is not the only way Most Valuable Promotions is distinguishing itself from the UFC. Reports last week indicated that MVP is paying several fighters flat fees instead of the win bonus structure commonly used in the UFC.

    Perry last competed in MMA five years ago before focusing on bare-knuckle boxing. His return to the sport will take place under the new cage configuration at the Intuit Dome.

    The event is scheduled for May 16 and will stream on Netflix. Perry’s opponent and other card details were discussed in his podcast appearance.

  • Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry Added to Netflix MMA Debut on May 16

    Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry Added to Netflix MMA Debut on May 16

    Nate Diaz and Mike Perry have officially been added to Netflix’s first-ever live MMA event, set for Saturday, May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    The two fan favorites join what is already a loaded card, turning the event into a triple-headliner. The show is promoted by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) in partnership with Netflix and will stream live globally to all Netflix subscribers at no additional cost.

    Full Fight Card

    Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano (featherweight, 145 lbs, 5×5-minute rounds)
    Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry
    Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins

    Diaz vs. Perry

    The matchup has been a long time coming. Perry called out Diaz for years, and Diaz publicly named Perry as one of his top targets for a return to action earlier this year. The booking delivers a street-fight-style confrontation that figures to be one of the most entertaining bouts on the card.

    Rousey vs. Carano Headlines

    Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano — two pioneers who helped build women’s MMA — finally meet inside the cage. Rousey returns to combat sports after nearly a decade away, while Carano steps back in for the first time in years. The bout will be contested under the Unified Rules of MMA using 4-ounce gloves.

    Ngannou Returns to MMA

    Francis Ngannou faces Brazil’s Philipe Lins in a heavyweight showcase. It marks Ngannou’s highly anticipated return to MMA following his PFL championship victory in 2024, after a two-fight stint in boxing.

    How to Watch

    Netflix’s first live MMA event takes place Saturday, May 16, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The event streams live on Netflix and is included with all subscription plans.