Rousey vs. Carano headlines MVP MMA, the first MMA event on Netflix, promoted under Most Valuable Promotions. The UFC had initially planned the fight for late 2025 and offered guaranteed pay, but the bout was canceled when Carano needed more time and the promotion shifted away from Pay-Per-View to Paramount+. The original deal relied on PPV points for bonus money, increasing risk for the UFC. Jake Paul and MVP quickly secured the matchup and built a broader card featuring Mike Perry, Nate Diaz, and Francis Ngannou, plus other fighters including Junior Dos Santos, Salahdine Parnasse, and Phumi Nkuta. The event’s success will determine whether more shows follow.
"The UFC was happy to pay Rousey and Carano for the fight, and had it booked for the end of 2025. However, when Carano needed more time to get ready (she later admitted to losing 100 pounds for the fight over a year and a half), the bout was scrapped thanks to the promotion shifting to Paramount+ and leaving Pay-Per-View behind them. The company, it seemed, no longer wanted to take the risk on guaranteed money, as the original offer to Rousey in particular, which she called the best of her career, relied on PPV points - bonus money based on how well an event sells."
"Enter Paul, Nakisa Bidarian, and their MVP label. They quickly snatched up the fight, signed up Mike Perry and Nate Diaz to face off, as well as lineal heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou. He's yet to lose since exiting the UFC as champion (to be fair, he's only fought once), and for a time was offered kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven. With the Dutch star opting to pursue boxing instead, ex-PFL and UFC heavyweight Philipe Lins stepped up instead."
"Maybe it was time for Paul to give something back to mixed martial arts. And on Saturday, he did just that, with his Most Valuable Promotions banner hosting Rousey vs. Carano, the first-ever MMA event on streaming behemoth Netflix. Lots has been written about the card, but if you don't know by know, know this: Consider Saturday a very important litmus test."
"Junior Dos Santos, Salahdine Parnasse, Phumi Nkuta and more also appear on the card, which, if successful, could very well lead to more shows down the line. It will all come down to how the admittedly aging main event, and some of the night's big stars, perform however."
Read at Cageside Press
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