A New Chapter for Combat Sports

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), the venture co-founded by Jake Paul, is poised to make its grand entry into the MMA arena this Saturday. The historic event, headlined by the highly anticipated return of legends Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, will take place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles and be broadcast on Netflix. According to MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian, the organization is looking to redefine the financial landscape for professional fighters.

Setting a Higher Financial Bar

Since its inception in 2021, MVP has consistently challenged traditional norms in combat sports, particularly within the boxing world. Now shifting that focus to MMA, Bidarian has revealed an aggressive compensation strategy. Unlike the industry-standard 'show and win' structure often associated with the UFC, where starting salaries frequently hover around $12,000 to show and $12,000 to win, MVP has established a significantly higher floor.

«That's guaranteed, and then every fighter has a performance bonus in addition to that, which there are different levels depending on the fighter,» Bidarian explained during a recent interview.

In addition to the $40,000 base pay, the promotion plans to implement various performance-based incentives, including a 'Fight of the Night' award to be finalized by the organizers shortly.

Revenue Transparency and Fighter Equity

Beyond base salaries, MVP is distancing itself from the traditional revenue-sharing models seen in major promotions. While some organizations traditionally allocate approximately 16-20% of company revenue to athlete purses, Bidarian claims MVP’s approach is far more generous.

«The revenue is much higher than 50% to the fighters. Much higher,» Bidarian noted. «Our objective is not to lose money and obviously make a little bit of money, but it’s really about putting the money back into the pockets of the fighters. They’re the ones risking their lives.»

Future Outlook and Expansion

While this weekend's event is currently treated as a standalone production, there is a clear strategic vision for growth. Although no formal long-term agreements exist between MVP and Netflix at this time, Bidarian anticipates that a successful debut will lead to serious discussions about a recurring schedule.

Looking ahead, the organization is eyeing a measured expansion:

  • Initial goals target four to six events annually.
  • Long-term strategic growth is being mapped out with a focus on 2027.
  • The promotion remains heavily invested in the women’s fight scene, eyeing potential future matchups against established stars like Holly Holm, depending on the preferences of the athletes themselves.