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
Rousey vs. Carano Card Adds Another Former UFC Mega Star to May Event Nate Diaz and Mike Perry are set to return to mixed martial arts with a highly anticipated welterweight matchup scheduled for May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The bout, part of a triple-headliner card, will stream on Netflix and feature Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano and Francis Ngannou vs. Felipe Lins. Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced the event, positioning it as a major milestone for the promotion. Diaz, who last competed in MMA at UFC 279 in September 2022, has not fought since submitting Tony Ferguson in the main event of that event. Following his departure from the UFC, Diaz transitioned to boxing, securing a decision victory over Jorge Masvidal before falling to Jake Paul. Perry, meanwhile, has been absent from MMA since April 2021, when he lost a decision to Daniel Rodriguez. Since then, Perry has dominated the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, going 6-0 and holding the King of Violence title. His return to MMA after four years marks a significant moment for the sport. Both fighters expressed excitement about the event. Diaz stated, “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, so get ready for a new takeover again and again until the end of time.” Perry added, “The King of Violence returns to MMA to elbow his opponent in the f*cking face. Saturday, May 16th, on Netflix, Nate Diaz is going lights out.” MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian emphasized the significance of the Diaz vs. Perry matchup, calling it a statement bout for the promotion.#los_angeles #most_valuable_promotions #intuit_dome #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 faces a year out of boxing after second surgery on jaw following brutal Anthony Joshua KO Jake Paul is expected to miss at least a year of professional boxing after undergoing a second surgery on his fractured jaw, sustained during a controversial knockout loss to Anthony Joshua. The 29-year-old YouTuber, known for his high-risk ventures, stepped into the heavyweight division to challenge Joshua in December, despite his lack of experience in the weight class. The fight, held in Miami, ended in a dramatic fashion when Joshua’s powerful right hand shattered Paul’s jaw, forcing him to retire after just six rounds. Paul initially underwent surgery following the fight but required a second operation in late February, which has delayed his return to the ring. When asked about his timeline for resuming training, Paul stated, “Later this year. I got my second surgery recently. The doctors said like four, five, or six months to even be able to spar to see how the bone is healing.” This prognosis suggests a prolonged recovery period, with Paul likely unable to compete until late 2025 at the earliest. The fight with Joshua was initially intended to be a high-profile exhibition bout, but it quickly turned into a spectacle of controversy. Paul had originally planned to face Gervonta Davis in November, but Davis withdrew due to allegations of domestic abuse, leaving Paul scrambling for a replacement. Despite efforts to secure fighters like Francis Ngannou, who had previously lost to Joshua, the match with Joshua became inevitable. Ngannou, who had previously been approached as a potential replacement, declined the opportunity, citing personal reasons. However, the former UFC champion is set to return to the cage on May 16, facing Brazilian Philipe Lins in Los Angeles.#miami #jake_paul #anthony_joshua #most_valuable_promotions #tyson_fury
