MVP Promotions is determined to be a player in combat sports — in boxing and MMA. Led by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, MVP has proven to be aggressive and creative in their attempts to carve a piece of the pie across the combat sports landscape.
I had an opportunity to sit down with Bidarian on Thursday to discuss MVP MMA 1, a potential co-promotion with The Professional Fighters League and the post-event altercation between Claressa Shields and Alycia Baumgardner.
You can watch the full interview here.
- Who: Nakisa Bidarian, MVP co-founder
- Event Discussed: MVP MMA 1 (Rousey vs. Carano), Netflix
- Viewership: ~17 million global peak, 12.4M global average, 9.3M U.S. average
- Projection: Bidarian and Jake Paul had targeted a 20 million peak
- Co-Promotion: Open to PFL, RIZIN, ONE Championship, and KSW
- Shields Ban: Stands; MVP remains open to working with her if “fences” mend
What Did the MVP MMA 1 Viewership Numbers Show?
As I reported earlier in the week, per Netflix and MVP, Ronda Rousey’s 17-second demolition of Gina Carano peaked at 17 million viewers on Netflix. According to Bidarian, the American viewership carried the most weight.
He explained that global comparisons are tricky given international broadcast deals, but said MVP “performed better than anything they’ve ever done in the US market.” The card averaged 12.4 million viewers globally and 9.3 million in the U.S. Bidarian called the consistent viewership across the main card “a pleasant surprise,” noting that boxing usually sees “a massive ramp to the main event” rather than a steady audience.
Why Wasn’t Bidarian Surprised by Rousey’s 17-Second Win?
Bidarian didn’t seem surprised by how easily Rousey won, but he did say he thought Carano might be able to put up a little more of a fight than she did. Still, as it was, Bidarian and others realized that if Carano wasn’t able to stop the takedown, it could be a quick fight.
He also revealed that he and Jake Paul “thought the event could peak at 20 million,” and that the abbreviated main event likely capped it at 17. “If the event would have gone past 17 seconds,” he said, MVP probably gets “closer to that 20 million.” Bidarian did acknowledge the risk that Rousey “has been hurt when she’s been hit with precise striking,” which gave Carano a theoretical path, but once Rousey imposed her will, the finish came fast.
Is MVP Open to Co-Promotion With PFL?
Bidarian seems very open to working with the PFL to continue putting on MMA events. It seems like an ideal marriage for both sides. PFL can benefit from the elevated profile and star power associated with Netflix and MVP, while the latter would have access to a solid set of talent for future MMA cards.
“Boxing comes from a co-promotion model,” Bidarian said, framing cross-promotion as routine rather than radical. He pointed to the signing of Salahdine Parnasse, the former KSW two-division champion, as proof of concept, explaining that MVP approached his promotion to “bring more awareness to this athlete.” Bidarian said MVP is open to similar structures with “PFL, RIZIN, ONE Championship, KSW” — anyone whose talent pool pairs with MVP’s reach.
What Did Bidarian Say About the Shields-Baumgardner Incident?
Bidarian admitted MVP tried hard to sign Shields to a promotional deal and that his company is still open to working with her in the future. However, he did condemn her actions in the altercation with Baumgardner. Video from the incident shows Shields slapping Baumgardner’s hand to punctuate a heated exchange.
Bidarian said Shields “made the right decision for her” by staying with her current promoter, and that the two built a genuine rapport. But he said putting hands on someone in a private VIP setting “is just not appropriate,” and drew a clear line from the Mike Tyson–Jake Paul fight-week slap, calling those “very different things.”
Bidarian added that an apology would have earned his applause, but instead the situation has “continued to be like mocking” it. On potential legal action, he deferred to Baumgardner, while still calling Shields “a special talent” who “deserves more than she’s getting.”
I wouldn’t be surprised if the two sides wind up working together before the end of the year. It will be interesting to see if MVP presents an event with multiple combat sports or keeps things segmented.
In any case, it’s great to have multiple viable promotions to cover and for fans to discuss.
