Jake Paul says his new promotion, MVP MMA, will challenge the UFC by signing top fighters. The group will launch next month with a Netflix event headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano.
MVP MMA debut on Netflix
MVP MMA will hold its first show next month on Netflix. The main fight is Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano. Paul says the event will reach many fans because it is on a major streaming platform and is free with a subscription.
Paul also named other big names on the card, including Francis Ngannou and Nate Diaz. He says the full lineup will bring big fights and big viewership. He told UFCcoverage that the start of MVP MMA is a “monumental shift” for fighters and fans.
Paul’s plan to sign UFC stars
Paul said he wants to give fighters better pay and more exposure. He compared fighter pay in MMA to boxing and argued many UFC fighters make far less than boxers for similar big events. He told UFCcoverage, “I think we just poach all of them, honestly.”
Paul pointed to Francis Ngannou as an example. He said Ngannou fought his way out of his UFC contract, took high-paying boxing matches, and is now fighting for MVP MMA. Paul claimed those moves showed fighters can find bigger pay outside the UFC.
Paul argued that fighters no longer need the UFC to become famous. He said MVP MMA will offer similar or better viewership and more pay. He hopes more fighters will follow the same path and seek new deals.
How the UFC might react
This is not the first time a rival has tried to compete with the UFC. Promotions like Strikeforce, Bellator and PFL have all challenged the company before. Paul said he does not expect Dana White to be nervous. He told UFCcoverage that White is already wealthy and may be content.
Paul also said people often underestimate him and his team, and then they are surprised when he succeeds. He and his partners believe they can be a disruptive force in MMA because of their reach and their Netflix deal.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Ronda Rousey | Headlining MVP MMA debut vs. Gina Carano |
| Gina Carano | Headlining MVP MMA debut vs. Ronda Rousey |
| Francis Ngannou | Left UFC, had boxing matches for large purses; now with MVP MMA (per Paul) |
| Nate Diaz | Listed on the MVP MMA debut card |
For now, Paul’s focus is on the Netflix show. He believes that event will be as big as other major cards and may draw more viewers because it is on a streaming service. The MMA world will watch closely to see whether fighters start moving to new promotions like MVP MMA.
