Kamaru Usman Praises MVP's MMA Debut as a Win-Win for the Sport May 4, 2026, 8:50 p.m. ET Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has expressed strong support for Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) as the organization prepares to host its inaugural MMA event on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The card, which will stream on Netflix, features a high-profile main event between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, alongside appearances from veteran fighters such as Francis Ngannou, Nate Diaz, and Junior Dos Santos. Usman, who previously competed in the UFC, praised the event as a significant opportunity for the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) to gain broader exposure. Speaking on his "Pound 4 Pound" podcast with Henry Cejudo, Usman emphasized the positive impact of the event, stating, “It’s going to be an incredible night. I think this is great for the sport of mixed martial arts – a new promotion to really shine a light on the sport. I think it’s all a win-win for everybody here to get the opportunity, and for the sport.” He highlighted the importance of expanding opportunities for fighters, noting that the event represents a step forward for the growth of MMA. “The sport wins this night. It’s not this promotion vs. this promotion. I think it’s the sport as a whole that wins, especially giving an opportunity to more and more fighters to be able to do their thing. I am going to be tuned in, May 16, watching.” Usman’s comments align with his public endorsement of Jake Paul’s foray into MMA, which he has previously praised as a way to bring new audiences to the sport. The MVP card also includes younger, rising talents such as undefeated flyweight phenom Muhammad Mokaev and KSW champion Salahdine Parnasse, showcasing a blend of established stars and emerging prospects.#ronda_rousey #gina_carano #most_valuable_promotions #intuit_dome #kamaru_usman
Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano: Historic MMA Return Headlines Netflix's First Foray into Combat Sports Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano are set to collide in a highly anticipated matchup on Saturday, May 16, at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, marking the first-ever MMA event broadcast live on Netflix. The fight, headlined by Most Valuable Promotions, will take place at 145 pounds over five five-minute rounds using four-ounce gloves. The event will feature a 11-fight card, with the main card beginning at 9 p.m. ET and a preliminary card starting at 6 p.m. ET. Rousey, 39, and Carano, 43, are two of the most iconic figures in women’s MMA history. Rousey, a former Olympic judo medalist and UFC bantamweight champion, became a global sensation after her 2012-2015 reign in the UFC. Her career ended with back-to-back losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, leading to her retirement from MMA in 2016. She later transitioned to professional wrestling with WWE and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018. Carano, meanwhile, was the dominant force in women’s MMA before Rousey’s rise. She and Julie Kedzie made history in 2007 as the first women to compete in a televised MMA fight on Showtime. Two years later, Carano and Cris Cyborg headlined a major event with their Strikeforce featherweight championship bout, becoming the first women to headline a major MMA event. After retiring from combat sports, Carano pursued acting roles in franchises like Fast & Furious, Deadpool, and Star Wars. She recently opened up about her emotional struggles, stating, “I had so much anxiety in my body that my face hurt, my skin hurt me. My soul was just crushed. My heart was broken.” The fight is expected to draw significant attention, with Rousey listed as a -650 betting favorite at BetMGM, while Carano is an underdog at +450.#netflix #ronda_rousey #gina_carano #most_valuable_promotions #intuit_dome
Nate Diaz’s return to mixed martial arts has been confirmed, effectively ending speculation about a potential trilogy fight with Conor McGregor this summer. The American fighter will face fellow UFC veteran Mike Perry on 16 May as part of the undercard for Ronda Rousey’s return to the octagon after a decade-long hiatus. Rousey’s bout against Gina Carano marks a significant moment for women’s MMA, with both fighters competing for the first time since 2009 and 2016 respectively. The event, organized by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, also features a matchup between former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum and Philipe Lins. Diaz’s return to MMA will be his first fight since 2022, when he exited the UFC with a submission win over Tony Ferguson. The 40-year-old has since transitioned to boxing, outpointing Jorge Masvidal in 2024 after a loss to Paul in 2023. Perry, 34, also boxed Paul, suffering a stoppage defeat in 2024. Diaz expressed excitement about his comeback, stating, “Glad to be back in action, it’s time. Don’t forget where this all came from. I got plans on doing a lot more in the next 10 years, no matter where it is. Time to set the bar again.” While fans may interpret his remarks as hinting at a potential UFC return, the timing of his upcoming fight makes a trilogy bout with McGregor this summer highly unlikely. McGregor, 37, is expected to headline a UFC event on 11 July during International Fight Week, following his absence from the UFC’s White House card on 14 June. The promotion’s decision to exclude McGregor from the White House event has sparked calls for a major fight for the Irishman, with a long-awaited trilogy against Diaz being a popular suggestion. However, such a matchup now appears improbable.#conor_mcgregor #ronda_rousey #gina_carano #nate_diaz #mike_perry
Nate Diaz is set to make his MMA return after nearly four years, stepping into the octagon for the first time since his departure from the UFC in 2020. The former welterweight champion will face BKFC's Mike Perry in a five-round welterweight matchup as part of Most Valuable Promotions' (MVP) May 16 MMA event, which will stream on Netflix. The card will also feature the highly anticipated Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano showdown and Francis Ngannou's heavyweight clash against Philipe Lins, making it a triple-headliner for MVP's first MMA event at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian highlighted the significance of the event, stating it aims to surpass previous records in MMA viewership. "Nate Diaz is the Real BMF, and Mike Perry is the King of Violence—this will be a war from the first press conference all the way to the end when one of them has their hand raised," Bidarian said. Diaz expressed his excitement for the return, emphasizing his intent to "set the bar again" and continue his legacy in combat sports. "Don't forget where this all came from," he added, hinting at his plans to remain active in the sport for the next decade. Perry, known as the "King of Violence," previously competed in the UFC until 2021 with a record of 14-8 before transitioning to bare knuckle fighting, where he has gone 6-0. His victories over high-profile opponents like Michael "Venom" Page, Jeremy Stephens, and Eddie Alvarez earned him the symbolic title. Perry also took a detour into boxing, where he was stopped by Jake Paul in July 2024. Despite that setback, he remains eager to return to MMA, declaring, "Saturday, May 16th, on Netflix, Nate Diaz is going lights out." The Diaz-Perry fight will take place under the Unified Rules of MMA inside a hexagon cage, with five five-minute rounds.#ronda_rousey #gina_carano #most_valuable_promotions #nate_diaz #mike_perry
Jake Paul to Return to Boxing Ring in Late 2026 or Early 2027 After Jaw Surgery Jake Paul has confirmed he will be sidelined from boxing competition for several months following a second jaw surgery after his knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in December. The YouTuber-turned-boxer revealed that his recovery timeline places his potential return to the ring in late 2026 or early 2027, as he continues to heal from the injury sustained during the fight. Paul, who suffered a fractured jaw in two places during his stoppage loss to Joshua in the sixth round of their December 19 matchup, underwent his first surgical procedure the day after the fight. A second operation was required in February as the injury progressed. Speaking at a news conference alongside Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, Paul provided an update on his recovery, stating, “The doctor said it will be four, five, or six months to even be able to spar to see how the bone is healing. That puts us maybe late this year or early next year for a fight.” The 28-year-old fighter, who previously competed at heavyweight, plans to return to a weight class he feels more comfortable in after the physical toll of his loss to Joshua. “Definitely will be a cruiserweight,” Paul said. “Joshua’s punches hurt way more than people in my weight class. That’s where I’m best at, for sure, and where I want to continue to climb in the rankings and make some statements.” Paul’s decision to shift to cruiserweight comes after his defeat at heavyweight, where he acknowledged the challenge of facing an opponent of Joshua’s caliber. The former social media personality has faced criticism for his boxing career, but he remains determined to rebuild his reputation through strategic competition.#las_vegas #jake_paul #anthony_joshua #ronda_rousey #gina_carano
