MVP Promotions, spearheaded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bedarian, made history on Saturday, May 16th, by hosting the first-ever MMA event broadcast on Netflix. The Intuit Dome in Los Angeles played host to 22 fighters, with an impressive eight bouts on the main card concluding by finish. The preliminary card, streamed on YouTube, drew a peak viewership of over 350,000, while the arena was nearly at full capacity.
The early preliminary fights saw a few closely contested scorecards, with two of the initial three bouts decided by split decision. However, the prelims were ignited by Jason Jackson (20-6), who delivered a swift 22-second knockout against Jeff Creighton (12-3-1). Namo Fazil (10-1) closed out the preliminary card in spectacular fashion, securing a second-round submission over Jake Babian (6-2). Fazil’s performance captivated social media, garnering millions of views and highlighting his potential as a global star. Despite the excitement, the prelims were not without controversy, as the submission victory for Adriano Moraes over Phumi Nkuta was declared even though Moraes appeared to hold the choke for several seconds after the final bell. Nkuta’s team has since lodged an appeal.
The main card was a showcase of decisive finishes, with every fight ending before the judges’ scorecards were needed. Salahdine Parnasse demonstrated his world-class skills, completely outclassing Kenny Cross. For years, Parnasse has been recognized by MMA aficionados as one of the elite fighters globally, and he emphatically proved his standing against a formidable opponent. In the heavyweight division, Francis Ngannou and Robelis Despaigne showcased devastating power with emphatic knockouts. Mike Perry sent the crowd home thrilled with a doctor’s stoppage victory in the co-main event, while Ronda Rousey made a triumphant return to the cage, submitting Gina Carano in the first round. Francis Ngannou and Phumi Nkuta/Adriano Moraes were awarded Fight of the Night bonuses of $100,000 and $50,000 respectively.
Full Results:
- Brandon Jenkins (17-11) def. Chris Avila (8-10) by Split Decision
- Aline Pereira (3-2) def. Jade Masson-Wong (3-3) by Split Decision
- David Mgoyan (9-1) def. Albert Morales (19-11-1) by Unanimous Decision
- Jason Jackson (20-6) def. Jeff Creighton (12-3-1) by KO (punch) 0:22 into Round 1
- Adriano Moraes (22-6) def. Phumi Nkuta (11-1) by Submission (RNC) 4:59 into Round 3
- Namo Fazil (10-1) def. Jake Babian (6-2) by Submission (D’arce Choke) 0:58 into Round 2
- Robelis Despaigne (6-2) def. Junior Dos Santos (21-11) by KO (punches) 2:59 into Round 1
- Salahdine Parnasse (23-2) def. Kenneth Cross (17-5) by KO (body hook) 4:18 into Round 1
- Francis Ngannou (19-3) def. Phillipe Lins (18-6) by KO (Hook) 4:31 into Round 1
- Mike Perry (15-8) def. Nate Diaz (21-14) by Stoppage (cut) after Round 2
- Ronda Rousey (13-2) def. Gina Carano (7-2) by Submission (Armbar) 0:17 into Round 1
Future Matchup Speculation: Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou? Mike Perry vs. Jake Paul?
Following their respective victories, Jake Paul engaged in discussions with both Francis Ngannou and Mike Perry. While Paul seemed more open to a potential bout with Mike Perry, acknowledging his previous boxing win over him, he expressed less enthusiasm for facing Ngannou. Regardless, Nakisa Bedarian confirmed that Jake Paul is slated to compete in the cage in the near future.
Will MVP MMA Host Another Event?
MVP MMA has confirmed plans for future events, as announced by Nakisa Bedarian during the post-fight press conference. Potential locations being considered include Sacramento and France, indicating the promotion’s commitment to establishing a consistent presence in the MMA landscape. MVP is actively developing the internal infrastructure required to sustain ongoing operations in the sport.
English Translation and Paraphrased Content:
On Saturday, May 16th, MVP Promotions, led by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bedarian, achieved a historic milestone by hosting the first-ever MMA event broadcast on Netflix. The Intuit Dome in Los Angeles witnessed 22 fighters compete, with a remarkable eight bouts on the main card concluding via finish. The preliminary card, which aired on YouTube, reached a peak viewership of over 350,000, and the arena was nearly at capacity.
The early preliminary fights featured some intriguing scorecards, with two of the first three bouts decided by split decision. However, the undercard was ignited by Jason Jackson (20-6), who secured a lightning-fast 22-second knockout against Jeff Creighton (12-3-1). Namo Fazil (10-1) concluded the preliminary card in impressive fashion, achieving a second-round submission over Jake Babian (6-2). Fazil’s performance garnered significant attention on social media, accumulating millions of views and signaling his potential as a global star. The preliminary bouts were not without controversy, as Adriano Moraes’ submission victory over Phumi Nkuta was declared despite Moraes appearing to maintain the choke for several seconds after the final bell. Nkuta’s team has already initiated an appeal regarding the outcome.
The main card was a spectacle of decisive finishes, with every single fight ending before the judges were needed. Salahdine Parnasse showcased his world-class abilities, thoroughly dismantling Kenny Cross. Parnasse has long been recognized by knowledgeable MMA fans as one of the best in the world, and he definitively proved his status against a tough opponent in Cross. In the heavyweight division, Francis Ngannou and Robelis Despaigne delivered devastating knockouts, embodying the true power of the division. Mike Perry sent the local fans home satisfied with a doctor’s stoppage win in the co-main event, while Ronda Rousey returned to the cage in classic form, securing a first-round submission victory over Gina Carano. Francis Ngannou earned a $100,000 bonus, and Phumi Nkuta and Adriano Moraes both received an additional $50,000 for Fight of the Night honors.
Full Results:
- Brandon Jenkins (17-11) def. Chris Avila (8-10) by Split Decision
- Aline Pereira (3-2) def. Jade Masson-Wong (3-3) by Split Decision
- David Mgoyan (9-1) def. Albert Morales (19-11-1) by Unanimous Decision
- Jason Jackson (20-6) def. Jeff Creighton (12-3-1) by KO (punch) 22 seconds into Round 1
- Adriano Moraes (22-6) def. Phumi Nkuta (11-1) by Submission (RNC) 4:59 into Round 3
- Namo Fazil (10-1) def. Jake Babian (6-2) by Submission (D’arce Choke) 0:58 into Round 2
- Robelis Despaigne (6-2) def. Junior Dos Santos (21-11) by KO (punches) 2:59 into Round 1
- Salahdine Parnasse (23-2) def. Kenneth Cross (17-5) by KO (body hook) 4:18 into Round 1
- Francis Ngannou (19-3) def. Phillipe Lins (18-6) by KO (Hook) 4:31 into Round 1
- Mike Perry (15-8) def. Nate Diaz (21-14) by Stoppage (cut) after Round 2
- Ronda Rousey (13-2) def. Gina Carano (7-2) by Submission (Armbar) 0:17 into Round 1
Potential Future Matchups: Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou? Mike Perry vs. Jake Paul?
Following their respective wins, Jake Paul engaged in conversations with both Francis Ngannou and Mike Perry. Paul appeared more receptive to the idea of facing Mike Perry, noting his prior boxing victory over him, rather than Francis Ngannou. Nevertheless, Nakisa Bedarian confirmed that Jake Paul is scheduled to enter the cage in the near future.
Will MVP MMA Host Another Event?
MVP MMA has confirmed that further events are planned, as stated by Nakisa Bedarian during the post-fight press conference. He indicated multiple potential locations, including Sacramento and France, as possibilities. MVP is currently focused on building the internal infrastructure necessary for the promotion to continue its growth in the MMA space.
