So, you were looking for a fight? Well, you might not like the ones you’re getting from the UFC, and the UFC might not like the fight it’s getting from Jake Paul. Yet there may be an upside: the fans may be the real winners in the end.
On 14 June, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will stage an unprecedented event at the White House to celebrate 250 years of the United States, and to celebrate the 80th birthday of US president Donald Trump – a close friend of UFC chief Dana White. The fight card was touted in advance as the greatest in UFC history, but the promotion was inexplicably still negotiating bouts one day before they were announced, and fans were ultimately left disappointed with what they were given.
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It’s far from the greatest reason for concern emanating from the White House right now, admittedly, but fans have been given a set of fights largely lacking true stars. And even where Ilia Topuria brings sufficient star power to the main event, he is expected to fold his opponent Justin Gaethje like a South Lawn chair. It’s not the kind of competitive bout, on paper at least, that fans craved.
Influencer-turned-boxer and promoter Jake Paul (left), and UFC president and CEO Dana White (Getty)
It was curious timing, then, when Ronda Rousey’s shocking return to mixed martial arts (MMA) was announced just days before the White House card was unveiled. It’s a return 10 years in the making for the former UFC champion, and 16 years in the making for her opponent and fellow pioneer Gina Carano, yet Rousey will not come home to the UFC. She has even come out swinging at her old domicile. Despite White’s efforts to get her back in the fold a year or so ago, she is returning to MMA with Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), the company spearheaded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian.
At this point, it’s worth noting that White has long seemed to loathe Paul, a dynamic made more interesting by the influencer’s appearance at a Trump rally last week, where the US president endorsed the 29-year-old as a future politician.
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One key reason for White’s agitation towards Paul stems from various business moves made by his fellow American in recent years. While Paul’s boxing career has drawn ridicule and infuriation from many, he has, all the while, built a scarcely-believable women’s roster at MVP, as he and Bidarian (who previously worked with White at the UFC) have established themselves as true supporters of women’s boxing. But the pertinent point is that he has also dipped his toes into MMA. He hasn’t done so in the cage (yet, although more on that later), but previously by attacking the UFC’s fighter pay, investing in its rivals, the Professional Fighters League, and now by staging MVP’s first MMA event.
Again, the timing has surely been intentional. Announcing Rousey’s shock return shortly before the White House card reveal came first; next was adding former UFC stars Francis Ngannou and Nate Diaz to the MVP event, in the fallout of the underwhelming White House news.
White (left) with friend and US president Donald Trump (REUTERS)
Rousey vs Carano, Ngannou vs Philipe Lins, Diaz vs Mike Perry. These aren’t fights to set the world alight, but they do make for a huge event overall on 16 May, one to attract the casual fan. Factor in that it will stream live on Netflix, and it will surely be the most-watched event in MMA this year – even ahead of the White House card, which looks set to stream on Paramount+, with some CBS involvement.
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Rousey, 39, and Carano, 43, have not graced the cage in so many years that it would be unreasonable to expect the highest quality in their fight, but it leans understandably on big-name value, nostalgia, and curiosity.
Then there’s Ngannou, the most devastating puncher in MMA history, who left the UFC as heavyweight champion – amid a bitter feud with White – to cross into boxing and win gold in the PFL. While the 40-year-old didn’t thrive in boxing (he was KOed by Anthony Joshua and unlucky not to win a shock decision against Tyson Fury after dropping him), he returned to MMA looking as good as ever in 2024. His opponent here is a fellow UFC and PFL veteran, but make no mistake: fans will be tuning in to see the freak of nature that is Ngannou, and out of interest as to what’s next for him. The Cameroonian even traded jibes with Paul at last week’s press conference, months after they were in brief talks to box.
Nate Diaz (right) during his second fight with Conor McGregor, an instant classic (Getty Images)
Also 40, the American is one of the biggest names in MMA history, a cult hero turned crossover star thanks to his 2016 clashes with Conor McGregor. Diaz, who submitted the Irishman before losing their rematch, followed a similar path to Ngannou in leaving the UFC to make money in boxing, including a loss to Paul. Now he is back in his preferred sport against Mike Perry, who previously guaranteed excitement in the UFC and now does so in bare-knuckle boxing. Again, fans will watch for Diaz rather than Perry, but this is likely the most competitive match-up of the three.
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All of this gives way to another layer of intrigue.
While White has had his problems with Ngannou, there was a brief window for the UFC boss to make a super-fight between the “Predator” and Jon Jones at the White House, and he surely would have set their differences aside to make it. The window was briskly slammed shut by MVP. There had also been calls from fans for Diaz vs McGregor 3 to take place this summer; that is no longer an option, courtesy of Paul.
A fascinating duel is therefore underway.
Left to right: Nakisa Bidarian, Francis Ngannou, Ronda Rousey, Gina Carano, Philipe Lins and Paul (Getty)
In fairness, for all the faults with the White House card, it’s still a stronger event in terms of competitiveness. Yet this debate is not just about the White House card; the UFC has come under fire from fans for months now, given a perceived, drastic drop-off in the quality of its output and the passion in its promotion.
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With that, MVP appears to be a sudden threat to the UFC. However, in reality, nothing about this is ‘sudden’. Paul’s battle with White and the UFC has been ongoing for years.
Furthermore, MVP is unlikely to be a direct, consistent rival to the UFC. Netflix, as shown by its boxing output, much of which has involved Paul, is only interested in the biggest events. So, if the 16 May card succeeds, three to four annual MMA events might be a reasonable, short-term prediction for MVP, while the UFC will keep appealing to hardcore fans on a weekly basis.
Still, at a time when White has ventured into boxing promotion and ignited a civil war in that sport, it’s intriguing to see someone fire back on a different battleground. If White is taking his eye off the ball in MMA, Paul is just getting it rolling.
