Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) is set to make its debut in mixed martial arts (MMA) with an event on May 16 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood. The show will be broadcast on Netflix and headlined by former UFC fighters Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano.
According to MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian, the company may make a long-term move into MMA if the debut event proves successful. MVP’s move into MMA comes as its co-founder Jake Paul has been engaged in a war of words with UFC President & CEO Dana White. Their rivalry could escalate further with MVP’s entry into the MMA scene.
MVP’s Broader MMA Plans Depend on Netflix Debut
MVP has not yet announced any definitive, extensive strategies for MMA. However, according to Bidarian, a more significant play could be in the cards. “I think a lot of it depends on May 16th, right?” Bidarian told the Sports Business Journal. “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.”
MVP has become a broker for Netflix in the fighting industry, initially partnering on the Paul-Mike Tyson boxing event in 2024. This MMA event marks their fourth promotion with the streaming service.
Netflix Opportunity Arrived After UFC Passed
Bidarian has previous experience in MMA, having served as the chief financial officer of the UFC. He said that the Netflix MMA card came about after the UFC declined the opportunity to organise the Rousey-Carano fight.
“Ronda reached out and said, ‘We see what you’ve done on the women’s boxing side, would you be interested?’ And I said, ‘Absolutely, I would love to be if Netflix would be interested in this as well,’” Bidarian said. “And I think Netflix right away recognized that this is more than just MMA. This is a mainstream cultural event.”
Star Power and Event Strategy
Bidarian stated that his analysis of Google Trends data indicated that Rousey’s fights generated the most search interest among all fighters in UFC history. He added that Conor McGregor only surpassed a Rousey fight when he participated in an exhibition boxing match against Floyd Mayweather. MVP is now referring to these major shows as “blockbuster live events,” or BLEs, a variation on TKO Group Holdings’ term for WWE’s biggest shows, premium live events (PLEs).
- Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is also slated to appear on the Netflix card.
- Former UFC star Nate Diaz will feature on the card too.
MVP might adopt a more selective approach to holding events in MMA, rather than attempting to match the UFC event for event. The UFC has contracts with hundreds of fighters and stages multiple shows monthly throughout the year.
Netflix’s Role in Showcasing Talent
According to Bidarian, MVP hasn’t engaged in discussions with other broadcasters regarding collaborations on an MMA card. “[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.