Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) stole the combat sports spotlight this past Saturday with its debut MMA event on Netflix. In an apparent effort to redirect eyeballs, UFC announced Conor McGregor’s return fight midway through the MVP main card.
UFC had its own event going toe-to-toe with MVP, hosting UFC Vegas 117 in the Meta Apex. That didn’t prevent UFC CEO Dana White from keeping an eye on Netflix though, as White began streaming live on Instagram to announce McGregor’s fight as soon as former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou began his walkout. McGregor is now set to return at UFC 329 to rematch an old foe, Max Holloway, for the Irishman’s first fight since July 2021.
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Speaking Wednesday on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian questioned whether the announcement had its intended effect.
“I view it as confusing,” Bidarian told Uncrowned. “Why would you do that during what is clearly a massive event in sports? Not just in MMA, but in sports. What is the objective? Was it because you didn’t want people to really pay attention to Conor McGregor coming back? Was there some criticism you were expecting because the opponent [Holloway] fights at 145 or 155 [pounds], and Conor’s walking around at 185?
“It made no sense to me. I expected it. I saw all the chatter all week long.”
Right after the MVP MMA event, Paul shared his thoughts on the McGregor announcement decision. He and Ronda Rousey — who took out Gina Carano with a 17-second armbar in the main event — viewed the UFC’s move as a compliment. Maybe the MMA powerhouse actually considered the Netflix event as competition, even if the approach wasn’t ideal if the goal was to make McGregor’s news as big as possible, as Bidarian pointed out.
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Ultimately, Bidarian believes so much more could have been done for the sport’s all-time biggest superstar.
“I felt bad for Conor,” Bidarian said. “I’m so happy he’s back. That’s the biggest personality the sport has ever had, the No. 1 revenue driver the sport has ever had. So great for the business, so great for UFC, great for fans. Give him his own moment. Give him a big announcement. Have him there. Do a press conference. Do something.
“I didn’t see the announcement, but what I’m told is it was an Instagram live with AirPods or Samsung [Galaxy Buds]. I don’t know.”
During his time away from the sport, McGregor has maintained beefs aplenty with the likes of Paul and numerous others. Former UFC star Nate Diaz told Uncrowned that ahead of his Mike Perry bout on MVP’s MMA debut, he had brief discussions with UFC for a potential McGregor trilogy bout. That, presumably, would have been the return fight for McGregor rather than Holloway.
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It didn’t materialize though, and Diaz went on to lose via doctor’s stoppage against Perry, while McGregor is believed to have two fights left on his UFC contract, one of which will be his UFC 329 return. After that, McGregor will be free to negotiate as he pleases.
Despite being on opposite sides of the fence at present, Bidarian insists he wants to be a team player. So if McGregor ever wants to talk, he’ll gladly listen.
“If the day comes that Conor McGregor is a free agent, we will do everything in our power to work with him,” Bidarian said.
“That’s to work with him to do his own events, if that’s to work with him to fight Jake Paul in boxing and MMA, if that’s to try to make Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz and ensure they get the vast majority of the revenue.
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“Conor’s biggest payday of his career, by far, is fighting Floyd Mayweather. The one time he wasn’t within the frame and pay system of his current employer. I know he knows that, and I know he knows the power he has as a brand. I hope we’re able to help him in that one day, if and when he’s a free agent.”
