Saturday, May 16, marks an important day in the world of MMA, as Most Valuable Promotions holds its highly anticipated inaugural MMA event.
The Jake Paul-led promotion, after putting on various boxing cards over the years, now looks to start a run in promoting MMA. It looks to be the latest alternative product to the UFC, starting things off with a bang by featuring a mix of star names and up-and-comers.
The main event will feature the returns of two women’s MMA legends — Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano. The bout is scheduled to be a five-round women’s featherweight contest.
This will be Rousey’s first fight since her loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016. The former UFC and Strikeforce champion has since had a pair of stints with the WWE, earning women’s championships.
Carano, meanwhile, has not fought since her loss to Cris Cyborg in Strikeforce in 2009. After MMA, Carano made a career for himself in film and television.
The co-main event will be a five-round welterweight bout featuring Nate Diaz taking on Mike Perry.
Diaz has not fought in MMA since his win over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 in September 2022. Diaz has since fought in a pair of boxing matches, losing to Jake Paul and defeating Jorge Masvidal. Perry has not fought in professional MMA since parting with the UFC in 2021, but he’s made a name for himself in BKFC.
Francis Ngannou also makes his return on this card, taking on Phillipe Lins. This is the former UFC heavyweight champion’s first MMA bout since defeating Renan Ferreira in his lone PFL bout in October 2024. Lins won the PFL heavyweight title in its inaugural 2018 season. He then went to the UFC, losing his first two bouts before winning four straight, before parting ways with the promotion. Lins has not fought since his UFC 299 win over Ion Cutelaba.
Ahead of the MVP MMA card, MMANews’ Thomas Albano and Pranav Pandey shared their thoughts on the event.
What do you think this Saturday’s MVP MMA event needs to do to be considered a success?
Thomas Albano: When I heard Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano was going to happen under the MVP banner on Netflix, my head was scratching. Then they added Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry and Francis Ngannou to the card, and I wondered if this was going to be a one-and-done gimmick show. Then the other names came in, and I’ve seen the pre-event hype behind this card. And I can honestly say I’m super pumped to tune in to MVP’s first MMA card on May 16.
I think for this card to be a true success, MVP has to remember the mission of being an alternative product. Is there going to be Netflix crossover? Of course. That happens with a lot of Netflix products and broadcasts. Does having two people who haven’t fought in MMA in 10+ years each sound concerning? It can be.
But ultimately, it just comes down to the fights delivering. Strong performances and fun fights up and down the card, even if not every fight is a home run, and highlight finishes will gain more traction. The better this card does, the stronger of a start for MVP MMA. And that can mean upward trajectory for future events.
Pranav Prandy: I think MVP has been pretty smart in how they’ve built this card. Stacking the main card with recognizable names who’ve already made a mark in the UFC almost guarantees attention. There’s a built-in audience there, and with the event streaming on Netflix, the reach alone could push it into “success” territory purely on numbers.
That said, I’m not entirely convinced the fight week buzz will match that scale. The pre-fight press conference turnout might not be anything special, which could hint at a softer on-ground presence. But in today’s landscape, that doesn’t necessarily matter as much as digital traction, and I do expect this event to pull solid viewership on Saturday night.
As for what MVP needs to do to be considered a success, in my opinion, most of the heavy lifting is already done. The promotion has been adequate, the names are there, and the platform is massive. Now it really comes down to delivering entertaining fights. If the action lives up to expectations, this event won’t just be a success, it might even force the UFC to pay attention a little more closely.
Do you think Rousey vs. Carano will be a hit or a flop?
Thomas Albano: If we were living in the early 2010s right now, this would be an all-time barnburner for women’s MMA. Carano is a pioneer of this sport for its female athletes. Rousey, meanwhile, built a legacy for herself with each fight, and she is one fighter who helped bring the UFC more and more mainstream in the previously mentioned decade.
But time has not done this matchup any favors. It’s unique, it’s nostalgic, but that’s all. It’s been a decade since Amanda Nunes obliterated Rousey. It’s been longer since Carano ran into Cris Cyborg. The two have name value and star power, especially Rousey, but we shouldn’t expect a war in the cage.
This fight, along with the other names of this card, will certainly bring eyeballs to the point where the event is a hit. The competitiveness and quality of the fight, however? Probably a different story.
Pranav Prandy: I’m not entirely sure this is the fight fans were really asking for, especially when you consider the combined hiatus of both fighters, which is well over two decades. Personally, I’m not that excited for it from a competitive standpoint.
Rousey’s name still carries serious weight, no doubt about that. In fact, this fight could serve as a reality check to see whether she still commands the same level of star power she had during her UFC run. With Carano, I think her presence adds more to the overall spectacle and glamour of the event, which isn’t a bad thing, but it does shift the focus slightly away from pure competition.
When it comes to the actual fight, I don’t expect a high-level MMA showcase. The ring rust is likely to be quite evident on both sides. If they end up delivering an entertaining scrap, then full credit to them, but I’m not counting on it.
So in terms of name value and mainstream attention, I think it will be a hit. But if we’re judging it strictly as a competitive MMA contest, I don’t see it being particularly engaging.
What is the fight you are most looking forward to?
Thomas Albano: I don’t want to discredit the rest of the MVP MMA card. I, for one, actually am looking forward to a Francis Ngannou return. And I want to see the prospective talents that MVP MMA has signed, because the promotion needs talent of the future to be the kind of alternative product it wants to be.
But, come on, there’s only one choice for the people’s main event: Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry.
Of the three major fights on this main card, which have taken a lot of the hype, this is the one I’m most uncertain about. Diaz is always fun to watch, and he’s not going to be afraid to go to war against “Platinum” Perry.
He and Perry will probably have some of those fun exchanges; however, Perry’s aggressiveness and his striking, which he’s developed with the BKFC, might cause a problem and risk opening up a cut on Diaz. Diaz is definitely the better grappler, and getting Perry to the ground should be a mission for him.
However long it lasts, I hope this ends up being the best fight of the night.
Pranav Prandy: For me, it has to be Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry. Both guys are pure entertainment and have built their reputations on bringing chaos every time they step in to compete. It’s always a pleasure watching Diaz fight. There’s a certain unpredictability and toughness he brings that never really fades. On the other side, Perry is coming in with serious momentum, especially off his success in BKFC, and that makes this matchup even more intriguing.
I do think Perry is going to pose some real problems with his aggression and current form. But at the same time, Diaz is not someone who goes away quietly. He thrives in those gritty, drawn-out battles. This one just feels like it has all the ingredients to steal the show.
What name outside of the big 3 fights should people look out for?
Thomas Albano: The obvious answer is going to be Salahdine Parnasse, given how he’s on the main card and how he fared for himself in KSW, becoming a two-division champion.
Parnasse has the opportunity to be that kind of future talent MVP needs beyond established names. He’s 28 years old and comes into this bout with a 22-2 record, one of the top names outside the UFC. He’s been a featherweight and lightweight champion in KSW, and he once challenged for the welterweight title.
For variety’s sake, I’ll also throw in Jason Jackson and Aline Pereira. If you never watched Bellator or PFL, or The Ultimate Fighter season 21, you’ll enjoy Jackson’s abilities in the cage. You know you have a solid card when a former Bellator champion is on the prelims. Pereira, meanwhile, is the sister of Alex Pereira. If she can deliver a knockout, she’ll definitely have some eyes on her in MVP.
Pranav Prandy: One name I’m definitely keeping an eye on is Salahdine Parnasse. He’s already built a serious reputation in KSW as a two-division champion, and this feels like a big moment for him to introduce himself to a wider audience.
What makes his story even more interesting is that the UFC has been interested in him for quite some time, but he’s turned those opportunities down, largely due to financial reasons. That’s not something you see often, and it says a lot about the position he’s built for himself in the European scene.
He’s already a proven draw over there, but this card gives him a real chance to break into the U.S. market in a meaningful way. If he can deliver a standout performance against Kenny Cross, it could shift the conversation around him entirely.
Does the UFC attempt to steal momentum with a Conor McGregor announcement on Saturday night?
Thomas Albano: I’d be more surprised if there wasn’t an announcement. Ariel Helwani mentioned last week that he expected an announcement at UFC 328, but that event came and went with just an update from Dana White that things were looking good for McGregor’s return.
But here’s the thing: If you really think about it, it makes more sense strategically for the UFC to do something like that this week. It’s a way for them to try to drag attention away from MVP. And this theory might have some legs now that the New York Post has reported on details being finalized for McGregor vs. Holloway.
When McGregor vs. Michael Chandler fell through a couple of years ago, did you think it was just coincidental that the UFC’s confirmation — and announcement of UFC 303’s replacement main event — came on a Thursday night during a PFL card?
I fully expect an announcement of McGregor’s UFC return on May 16, especially with the UFC’s International Fight Week two months away. Will the fight actually happen? Who knows. But if things are just about ready, I totally see this happening.
That said, I don’t think it does too much damage to the traction MVP would get anyway.
Pranav Prandy: There’s definitely some noise around a potential Conor McGregor return, possibly at UFC 329 in July, and even Ariel Helwani has hinted that an announcement could come as soon as this weekend.
If that happens, it would clearly be a calculated move by Dana White and the UFC to grab headlines and shift some of the spotlight away from the MVP MMA card. Given the ongoing friction between White and Jake Paul, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if they chose this moment to make a statement.
From a strategic standpoint, it makes perfect sense. If you have your biggest star ready to be announced, this is exactly the kind of moment you use to remind everyone who still dominates the space.
That said, I don’t think it would drastically impact either promotion in the long run. Both sides are likely to generate their own traction regardless. An announcement might steal a few headlines for a day, but it won’t really take anything away from MVP, and it certainly won’t hurt the UFC either.
Will MVP MMA be a one-and-done? Or will there be more?
Thomas Albano: I know Jake Paul is not the most popular person in the combat sports space. I know that to this day, there are people who hate him because he doesn’t fall into the tradition of boxing. I know that his personality can be one that turns people off.
But here’s the thing: If you’re someone who wants to see an alternate product, you have to root for MVP and hope it succeeds. More promotions mean more choice for fans and fighters. Disrupting the UFC’s tight grasp on the combat sports world is a lot easier said than done. However, if that were to happen, it’d have quite the effect on the MMA economy.
With MVP’s commitment to try and do such a thing, it seems clear there will be more events beyond this first one. Two things are going to be needed, however. Firstly, while they loaded this card with names, they still need to save star power to headline future cards. That’s going to be needed while they build their own stars.
That’s the second thing — they need their own homegrown talents that people will tune in to MVP for, regardless of where they’re on the card and who is headlining. Homegrown talents will help to further a strong identity for MVP MMA, and it will do more for showing fighters they have a choice in where they want to take their career and make money.
Pranav Prandy: This is the one I’m least certain about. It’s clear that MVP, along with Jake Paul, is aiming to disrupt the UFC’s long-standing grip on the global MMA market. With Netflix backing them, the potential reach is massive, which suggests they’re at least thinking beyond just a single event.
But sustaining that kind of momentum is a different challenge altogether. To keep this going, they’ll need to consistently bring in big names who can headline and draw attention. That’s not easy in a space where the UFC still holds most of the elite roster.
In a perfect world, something like Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou would be the kind of blockbuster fight that changes everything. Realistically, though, that feels a bit out of reach for now.
I think it ultimately comes down to how this weekend performs. The response they get, both in terms of viewership and overall buzz, will play a huge role in deciding whether this becomes a long-term venture or just a one-off experiment.
