MVP Promotions, spearheaded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bedarian, made history on Saturday, May 16th, by hosting their inaugural MMA event on Netflix. The Intuit Dome in Los Angeles played host to 22 fighters, with a remarkable eight bouts concluding by finish. The preliminary card, streamed on YouTube, garnered over 350,000 concurrent viewers, while the arena was nearly at full capacity.
The early preliminary fights saw some close calls, with two of the first three going to split decisions. However, Jason Jackson (20-6) delivered a show-stopping performance, securing a 22-second knockout against Jeff Creighton (12-3-1). Namo Fazil (10-1) closed out the prelims with a dominant second-round submission over Jake Babian (6-2). Fazil emerged as a social media sensation, amassing millions of views and proving his potential as a global star. A point of contention arose during the Phumi Nkuta vs. Adriano Moraes bout, which was declared a submission despite Moraes appearing to maintain the choke for several seconds after the final bell. Nkuta’s team has since lodged an appeal.
The main card was a spectacle of decisive finishes, with every fight ending before the judges’ scorecards were needed. Salahdine Parnasse showcased his elite skills in a commanding performance against Kenny Cross, reinforcing his reputation among knowledgeable MMA fans as one of the world’s best. Heavyweight power was on full display as Francis Ngannou and Robelis Despaigne both delivered devastating knockouts. In the co-main event, Mike Perry earned a doctor’s stoppage victory over Nate Diaz. The event also marked Ronda Rousey’s return to the cage, where she swiftly submitted Gina Carano in the first round. Francis Ngannou received a $100,000 bonus, while Phumi Nkuta and Adriano Moraes were awarded $50,000 each for Fight of the Night honors.
Full Results
- Brandon Jenkins (17-11) def. Chris Avila (8-10) by Split Decision
- Aline Pereira (3-2) def. Jade Masson-Wong (3-3) by Split Decision
- David Mgoyan (9-1) def. Albert Morales (19-11-1) by Unanimous Decision
- Jason Jackson (20-6) def. Jeff Creighton (12-3-1) by KO (punch) at 0:22 of Round 1
- Adriano Moraes (22-6) def. Phumi Nkuta (11-1) by Submission (RNC) at 4:59 of Round 3
- Namo Fazil (10-1) def. Jake Babian (6-2) by Submission (D’arce Choke) at 0:58 of Round 2
- Robelis Despaigne (6-2) def. Junior Dos Santos (21-11) by KO (punches) at 2:59 of Round 1
- Salahdine Parnasse (23-2) def. Kenneth Cross (17-5) by KO (body hook) at 4:18 of Round 1
- Francis Ngannou (19-3) def. Phillipe Lins (18-6) by KO (Hook) at 4:31 of Round 1
- Mike Perry (15-8) def. Nate Diaz (21-14) by Stoppage (cut) after Round 2
- Ronda Rousey (13-2) def. Gina Carano (7-2) by Submission (Armbar) at 0:17 of Round 1
Potential Future Showdowns
Following their respective victories, Jake Paul engaged with both Francis Ngannou and Mike Perry. While Paul seemed more open to a potential rematch with Mike Perry in the cage, given his previous boxing win over him, he also expressed openness to facing Ngannou. Nakisa Bedarian confirmed that Jake Paul is slated to compete in the cage in the near future.
MVP MMA’s Future Plans
In the post-fight press conference, Nakisa Bedarian confirmed that MVP MMA plans to host additional events. Potential locations for future cards include Sacramento and France. The promotion is actively building its internal infrastructure to sustain its presence in the MMA landscape.