Jake Paul suggests that the UFC deliberately sidestepped a direct confrontation with his promotion’s inaugural MMA event broadcast on Netflix. He attributes this decision to the strength of the MVP MMA card, which he believes the UFC recognized it couldn’t outperform.
The MVP MMA event, scheduled for Saturday, features a highly anticipated main event between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano in the featherweight division. The bout is set for five five-minute rounds within a cage, utilizing four-ounce gloves.
Preliminaries for MVP’s card at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles will begin at 6 p.m. ET on Tudum and YouTube. The main card is slated to air live on Netflix at 9 p.m. ET. Other prominent matchups include Nate Diaz against Mike Perry at welterweight, and Francis Ngannou facing Philipe Lins in a heavyweight contest. The undercard also boasts fights featuring Salahdine Parnasse, Junior dos Santos, Jason Jackson, and Aline Pereira.
Jake Paul Praises MVP MMA’s Lineup, Claims UFC Opted Out of Competition
During an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s show, Paul highlighted that the UFC scheduled a Fight Night on the same day, May 16, headlined by Arnold Allen against Melquizael Costa at the Apex in Las Vegas. Paul expressed his belief that the UFC would not have wanted to go head-to-head with his event, stating, “You wouldn’t want to compete with this show, and I don’t think they could.”
He drew a parallel to past instances where rival promotions attempted to counter-program major events. Paul also referenced the UFC’s upcoming UFC 250 on June 14, which features a significant card headlined by Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, with Alex Pereira facing Ciryl Gane in the co-main event. This move by MVP, following their boxing events, signifies a new strategy in the MMA landscape, contrasting with the UFC’s existing broadcast deals.
The UFC has maintained its schedule with a standard Fight Night card on May 16, featuring bouts such as Choi Doo-ho versus Daniel Santos and Ketlen Vieira against Jacqueline Cavalcanti. UFC President Dana White has previously downplayed the significance of MVP’s events. Paul asserts that White appears disengaged, concentrating on his personal ventures.
Rousey, a former UFC women’s bantamweight champion, has been vocal about what she perceives as poor fighter compensation within the UFC. Carano is recognized for her pioneering role in women’s MMA before transitioning to acting. This Netflix broadcast marks a significant entry for the streaming giant into live MMA, while the UFC continues its partnership with Paramount.
