Most Valuable Promotions launched its first MMA event with Ronda Rousey, former boxers Francis Ngannou and Nate Diaz, Mike Perry, Netflix backing, and one obvious problem that cameras could not completely hide.
Despite the star-studded lineup and global streaming push, large sections of the arena remained empty throughout the night as MVP officially moved into mixed martial arts.
The atmosphere felt strangely flat compared to the scale of the names involved.
Ronda Rousey Return
Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey needed just 17 seconds to defeat Gina Carano in the main event, submitting the women’s MMA pioneer with the trademark armbar that once made her one of the biggest stars in combat sports.
After charging across the cage almost immediately, the Olympic medalist overwhelmed Carano before wrapping things up with the armbar that made her famous.
However, while the action inside the cage moved quickly, the empty seating around the arena became difficult to ignore during MVP’s heavily promoted debut event.
Netflix streamed the card globally as part of its deal with MVP following the success of Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson and several major boxing events.
Perry Beats Diaz
In the co-feature, Mike Perry stopped Nate Diaz after two brutal rounds of trading at welterweight.
Both men went after each other from the opening bell before Diaz’s corner finally halted the punishment at the end of the second round.
After the stoppage, Perry called for an MMA fight with Jake Paul while also agreeing to a future rematch against Diaz.
Elsewhere on the card, former boxer Francis Ngannou flattened Philipe Lins in the opening round before immediately renewing calls for a future showdown with Jon Jones.
Salahdine Parnasse impressed in his United States debut by stopping Kenneth Cross in the first round, while ‘Big Boy’ Robelis Despaigne knocked out Junior Dos Santos in another explosive heavyweight finish.
Empty Arena
For MVP, the event still represented another attempt to prove the company can grow beyond boxing.
Yet the empty seats raised an uncomfortable reality. Outside the UFC banner, even Netflix, Ngannou, Rousey, Diaz, and Perry were not enough to fill the building.
MVP has already enjoyed huge streaming success alongside Netflix in boxing, but the optics surrounding its first MMA launch told a very different story.
Dana White won’t be quaking in his boots.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.
