INGLEWOOD, CALIF. – Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano headlined the first MMA event ever on Netflix. But will there be a second?
The future remains unclear when it comes to the streaming company’s long-term plans for MMA, or if Saturday’s show at Intuit Dome was a one-off driven by the specific stars involved.
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Most Valuable Promotions promoted the event, and co-founder Nakisa Bidarian would have a better idea than anyone. He said Saturday’s event was a test run in his mind. There were certain markers that would need to be hit.
Without knowing for certain, Bidarian said he saw some good indicators the event was a success.
“We’re always transparent and very forthcoming with what reality is,” Bidarian told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “There are a lot of promoters in this game who make vast, vast claims on what they are going to do or what they are going to achieve or the $25 million tournament they are going to do or the number of massive shows they’re going to have. We’ve said the entire time unequivocally this is a test. Let us see if this works. But if this works, between (Jake Paul’s) ability to market, my accounting background and understanding of the UFC, and Ronda Rousey as the face of our promotion inside and outside the cage, we feel like we have a good shot if tonight works. Guess what? It really worked. It really, really worked. You’ll hear about those numbers.”
Fellow co-founder Jake Paul offered up a coinciding take. Not only was it Netflix’s first MMA event, but it was also MVP’s. While Paul has competed on many of his own events, it’s always been in boxing. However, he’s captured the attention of many MMA fans by fighting UFC stars of yesteryear.
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“The long-term strategy is whatever we want to make it,” Paul said. “We’re visionaries. We execute. We put in the time. We put fighters first, and we’re here to disrupt. That’s what we’ve been doing in the whole combat sports world. We did it in boxing, and tonight is an example of what we’re going to be doing in MMA going forward, breaking records. This is the most electric card of the year so far, and it’s really about the fans and the fighters and giving them the entertainment and the content that they want. That’s what I’m all about.
“I’m all about putting fighters first, getting them the paydays, and putting on these insane events like this.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Will Netflix, MVP continue on with MMA? They’re under no illusions
